Supplies of PPE remain a challenge for many countries throughout the world including the UK. We thought we would share just some of the challenges faced when trying to purchase PPE at the moment. We can start with looking for a factory that has spare capacity you can purchase. Many have their entire production capacity…
The shortages of PPE in the UK is talked about on a daily basis. The extent of the shortfall is hard to assess with some saying there is no shortage with plenty of supplies available, just a difficulty with logistics getting it to those who need it. At the same time we read reports of…
Yet another order of desperately needed PPE equipment dispatched today by our hard working staff. Another 100,000 face masks and face visors on the way over the next few days. It’s important we all try and do our bit to help keep our hardworking front line staff safe. That includes not just hospitals, but also…
It’s an unusual site in Western Europe to see people out and about wearing face masks – but sadly its becoming all to common. In Italy it’s very common now, in Germany it’s recommended you wear one when you go out and France has just ordered 1 billion masks! They are also now starting to…
How times have changed – the world feels almost unrecognizable to the world we knew just a few weeks ago. Businesses have had to change too. For our part we have been inundated with requests for help sourcing personal protective equipment (PPE). In particular we have had a lot of requests for face masks, face…
As the country enters what is going to be a very challenging and difficult period we have switched are attention to helping businesses and the country in the best way we can. We have therefore been in regular contact and latterly intense negotiations with suppliers in China. One of the biggest challenges has been sourcing…
Update on the commercial situation in China on 26 February 2020. Over the past week we have had some good news coming out of China with the number of new cases being reported falling and in some areas such as Shanghai and Beijing that has fallen to zero. Whilst that does bring the prospect…
Update on the commercial situation in China on 19 February 2020 The effects of the corona virus outbreak (or COVID-19 as it’s now called) continue to be felt across China. There are however some positive signs. Both the number of new cases and the number of fatalities is falling and has done so for the…
Wednesday 12 February 2020 Following a government ordered extension to the Chinese New Year Holiday businesses were expected to re open yesterday 10 February. However due to the on going virus outbreak this has not been straight forward. In some areas including Hubei the virtual lockdown continues making it impossible for factories and businesses to…
31 January 2020. Following the announcement yesterday evening by the WHO declaring the coronavirus a global health emergency we have been asked by a number of our customers whether goods coming from China during this viral outbreak are safe or whether there is a risk of infection being transmitted by this route. There is a…
29 January 2020. A number of our clients have contacted us regarding the situation in China and how it may impact on their business. At the present time China is still in the Chinese New year period where staff are on holiday and businesses closed. We were expecting the majority of businesses including banks…
Normally at this time of year we would send New year greetings and best wishes to all our customers and people we know, however given the events unfolding in China and having just come back from a visit to China we felt it more appropriate to remember all those people we know in China, and…
My annual visit to China was as usual eventful and full of surprises. The pace of change in China never ceases to amaze me and this time was no exception. Reports the economy in China is slowing are undoubtedly true but one should not underestimate the size and power of the economy here. The economy…
Now the general election is over we can turn our intention to Christmas. The tree lights are on as we sit in front of the log fire with some chestnuts generally roasting on the fire perhaps? Surely one of those evocative Christmas sights and aromas. But stop if you will and spare a moment to…
Yet another consignment of plywood delivered safely to one of our customers. This particular consignment was different as it contained off cut ply. An environmentally favorable supply using off cuts which would otherwise be discarded or simply burnt. The quality however is very high using BB quality face veneers and high quality waterproof glues making…
Christmas is nigh upon us. As Christmas rapidly approaches our last shipments of goods from China are being dispatched. Christmas starts early for us – in fact many initial enquiries come in January and February with firm orders being placed by March, giving plenty of time for manufacture and shipping. There are always a few…
As yet another deadline for Brexit approaches the uncertainty for UK businesses continues. As a result the value of Stirling plummets to new depths and the costs of imports increases. Every way you turn the message seems doom and gloom, from suggestions of food and medicines shortages to queues of lorries stretching from Dover to…
The week starts with news of a successful delivery of fork lift trucks and electric pallet trucks to one of our customers. Single large items of Machinery like this come with particular challenges from choice of the right product, ensuring the product is suitable for use in the UK and checking all the relevant certificates…
Shipping rates from China to UK are currently low due to a sluggish market and poor demand. As shipping lines struggle to fill their half full vessels a relative price war has erupted and there are good deals to be had. The current situation has been on going for over a month now and is…
We often get approached by clients who have tried sourcing and buying products from China but have run into difficulties . Many are new to this but some have been buying from China for years. We see some common threads and many of these problems are easily avoided by careful planning before you start searching…