How to avoid wasting your Shenzhen sourcing trip

A bad sourcing trip feels busy but produces no usable decisions.

Common mistakes

• no product brief;
• unclear target category;
• too many random market visits;
• no translator when needed;
• confusing traders with factories;
• not asking about MOQ and lead time early;
• ignoring compliance requirements;
• failing to take structured notes;
• not defining next steps;
• trying to negotiate before understanding the supplier.

Better trip design

1. Define the objective.
2. Map likely supplier categories.
3. Use Huaqiangbei for discovery where relevant.
4. Schedule focused meetings.
5. Debrief daily.
6. Create a supplier pipeline and next-step matrix.

CTA

Plan a trip that produces decisions