I recently had an e-mail from a foreign business person asking me to hunt down a Chinese product. Well, that is basically what we do, so at first sight it looked good. The one strange part of this deal, though, was that it was meant for use in a Chinese factory.
In other words, I, myself a foreigner to China, was asked by another foreigner to find a Chinese product for a Chinese factory, when more than likely, there are dozens of people in that factory who could have done just as good a job as I could have in finding the product since they are Chinese nationals. Funny. Seems like taking the long way around to me. All I can assume is that this deal has more than meets the eye.
Sure, we could do what the guy asks, but something just did not sit right with me about the whole idea. Why would this guy ask us to come in? If he has Chinese staff who could do the same job, why does he want an outside company in on things? That just means unnecessary expense for him.
My best guess is that he wants to double check his source prices. He already has a supplier and wants me to use a totally different source as a means of keeping his own employees and those of the product's source company accountable on the price. In other words, from my perspective, that means I will be doing work for free, because I cannot see any way my work to track down that source will turn into profit.
Now, could we alternatively help him do a little third-person accountability check? Could we find a creative way to contact his factory and check their prices? Could we call up his supplier and find ways to make sure their prices are fair? Sure, but not if the entire deal is built on a false premise.
New Frontier China specializes in bridging the communication gap between Chinese businesses and their foreign clients. We have no interest in trying to beat Chinese at their own game, that is, trying to to interject a foreigner into the middle of two Chinese clients. It would never work, and is as close to a hair-brained idea as I can imagine.
For instance, we help people find green tea. It would be quite silly for our company to try to market Chinese-made green tea to a Chinese-speaking market. However, helping Chinese producers market their green tea into new, foreign markets is working together for the mutual benefit of all parties involved. And that is good business.
Mean what you say and say what you mean.
