Consumers want good quality. Consumers pay for high quality. Consumers have come to expect excellent quality. Although most might consider great quality to be what's placed directly into our consumer's hands, it should be facilitated and maintained at every stage of your product's life cycle. From supplier audits to product specifications, production, product inspections and shipping, businesses who choose to insert quality into every aspect of their business may find a more positive customer experience and retention than those who don't. We're here to share two aspects of our quality control processes and why customers continue to choose HB International as their Quality Control specialist.

Plastic. It's a sensitive subject and, yes, we're talking about it. Ideally, we would all love to eliminate waste in a perfect world. However, in reality, plastic isn't the only thing triggering environmental conversations. Even though limiting the use of plastic is commendable, there are many reasons why businesses continue to rely on plastic packaging for their products. We're here, as a team, to address your concerns while simultaneously incorporating our twenty years of packaging experience to share through a realistic lens why plastic packaging can remain an excellent packaging alternative for your product.

No one said managing risks of Asian Sourcing was going to be easy. Yet, businesses seem to continue reaping the benefits of international sourcing and expanding their sourcing landscape. Many of the successes that businesses are seeing stem from many years of relationships and international experience. As the term "Asian Sourcing" continues to bring uneasiness and avoidance, there are countless reasons why those who have committed themselves to Asian Sourcing see more growth and opportunities for their businesses.

Whether for personal or industrial use, battery-powered sprayers are becoming more popular amongst users for various reasons. While manual trigger sprayers will remain essential for smaller tasks, users are discovering the incredible benefits of battery-powered sprayers. The value of battery-powered sprayers stems from their intended use. How you intend to use these sprayers will also dictate the type of battery-powered sprayer you need - and we’re here to help.

First things first - A product's price does not dictate its quality. As consumers, we all value the quality of the products we use. Yet, somewhere along our purchasing journey, we have been influenced to believe that high-cost items equate to high-quality products for many consumers. While businesses have reasons for how they price their products, our HBI team looks to share with you the many ways our customers can produce the products their customers value while keeping costs affordable.

Considered one of the grandest celebrations in Southeast Asia, the Chinese New Year is also the lengthiest holiday of their lunar year. Traditionally, the Chinese New Year lasts 15 days; however, as many workers travel with their families, the celebration dates vary. For businesses relying on our international supply chain, this often leads to an incredibly stressful time and an abundance of uncertainty. As suppliers cease production, there is often the anticipation of when a supplier will reopen, start production, and at what capacity? Our suggestion? Don’t slow down! Use the momentum from your New Year goals and use the CNY shutdown to your competitive advantage. While some businesses may use the excuse of the CNY holiday to sit back and patiently wait for things to happen, this is your opportunity to get ahead and thrive!

It’s 2022, and you have a fresh, new budget, big business goals, but yet - something doesn’t feel quite right. Although you may not recognize it right now, you may encounter situations this year that prevent you from reaching your fullest potential. Unfortunately, if you aren’t aware of these roadblocks, you may not realize how to avoid them or overcome them. While international outsourcing continues to be a conflicting topic of business conversation, we’re here to share with you four subtle clues that may have a positive influence and may even lead you to alter the way you conduct business. Whether you’re looking to invest in international outsourcing or just curious how it could benefit your business, international outsourcing strategies are explicitly geared to play to your strengths and values to meet your business goals.

Now is certainly not the time to go "missing" from your supplier. If you're looking to continue producing high-quality products at an affordable price, it's critical to remain in close contact with your supplier and carefully oversee your order(s). Before the Chinese New Year, suppliers rush through production, doing everything they can to ensure orders placed before CNY are completed and shipped on time. Positive and supportive communication can help to alleviate stress for both of you during this hectic time. Whether virtual or in-person, our global sourcing team has compiled six tips to ensure you continue to have consistent, quality communication with your supplier.

As a Global Sourcing Agency, it is our job to ensure our customers are well-informed of the status of their current projects, future orders, and the holiday schedules of their suppliers. While our world enters a season of excitement and joy, it is also a time that businesses endure a lot of stress. Temporary closures and shut-downs mean stagnant factories and an idle supply chain, as companies strategically gamble through their “built-up” inventory, hoping to appease customers through early Spring. For importers, the anticipation of Chinese New Year (CNY) can create havoc and unwanted agony as the dates of the CNY holiday can range between two weeks and a couple of months.

While 2020 was a year unlike any of us have ever experienced, 2021 has had its trials and tribulations, as well. As we get closer to 2022, now is the most suitable time to reflect, review and evaluate your business and personal successes, as well as areas that may need strengthening. If you’re looking to start the new year off with a “clean slate” or “fresh start,” make time to identify and celebrate your 2021 achievements. What happened this year that allowed your business to thrive? How did your business become better? What is your current business culture like? Do your mission statements and business goals reflect the successes you had in 2021?