Tag: Risk of International Sourcing

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BlinkGlobal

How to Prepare For Holiday Season Supply Chain Disruption | BlinkGlobal

For all those associated with the retail industry, the Holiday season begins with Halloween and lasts till the first week of New Year. It is arguably a very busy time for businesses particularly for retailers as the shoppers stock on everything and retailers must remain on top of their game to stay afloat. This year’s Holiday season in particular is going to be more challenging for retailers. The supply chains have not yet fully covered from the pandemic disruptions and the festive season is upon us already. If you are a retailer that sources products from overseas, it is wise to build a supply plan for the holiday season. At BlinkGlobal, we provide international sourcing services to retailers across the United States. In this article, our experts share some valuable tips to prepare your supply chain for the holiday season.

Diversify Your Supplier Base:

This is also a lesson that we all have learned from the COVID disruptions. It seems that the dependency on a single country or one particular to fulfill the needs for raw materials or finalized products is a mistake that businesses must avoid. During the shopping season, many of the suppliers in Asian countries have a lot of orders and they exploit they even charge more than usual. Ahead of the holiday season, spot new vendors and create alternative supply continuity sources. Secondary suppliers will not only ensure resilience in your supply chain network but it will also help you avoid the situational manipulation done by suppliers. 

Partner Up With the Reliable 3rd Party Logistics Company

​It is wise to partner up with a logistics company. Reliable 3PL provides you with real-time counts and being informed about your resources is the key. It helps you track your inventory and sales in real-time and spot potential lapses and leakages. This can also help you prepare for the extended holiday season and predict if your current stock is optimized for holiday sales. With the help of the right and professional consultancy, you’ll be able to source and deliver the right quantity of products that can easily cater to your customer base.

Plan Ahead – Prepare for the Unexpected Delays:

Delivery delays during the holiday season are a common thing. Shipment delays during the holiday season can pose some of the most serious constraints to business operations. Solutions include advanced planning and not relying on the vendor-provided ETA but calculating the expected delivery time yourself. Calculate the probable transit time considering the possible delay factors such as weather conditions, holidays in various parts of the world and then make a plan based on the evaluated factors. Experts suggest adding at least one week to the expected transit time as a provision to the unexpected delays.

Blink Global – Your International Sourcing Partner

It’s wise to partner up with a reliable sourcing company as they have import and export agents that have expertise in cost reduction and quality assurance. With our deep understanding of global sourcing, we supply B2B industrial and consumer products with centralized procurement and high delivery precision. We are ready to help you make the right decision with our Price Audit Services.
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BlinkGlobal

Importance of Cargo Insurance When Sourcing From Overseas | BlinkGlobal

Great opportunities come with certain risks. International sourcing offers a wide range of opportunities to businesses. However, like every other business opportunity, there are some potential risks that business owners and supply chain managers must identify. There is an array of unexpected variables that can create trouble and harm your business.

One big risk factor in international sourcing is the transportation of your goods across the oceans and borders. While international cargo transport has become a lot more secure, it is still advisable to be prepared and take preemptive measures that will minimize the loss if anything goes wrong during the journey. This is where cargo insurance comes in.  

At BlinkGlobal, we provide international sourcing services to clients across the USA. Having years of experience in international trade, we always recommend our clients to get their cargo insured. In this article, our experts share some knowledge on what is cargo insurance and why it is important.

What is cargo insurance?

During national and international movement of goods, your cargo is always vulnerable to potential damages and losses that may occur due to

  •         Inappropriate packing
  •         Vessel Accidents that may occur due to Collison, Heavy weather, Sinking, Derailment
  •         Cargo abandonment
  •         Poor handling at Transits (may or may not be covered)
  •         Customs rejection (may or may not be covered)
  •         Improper storage in warehouses (may or may not be covered)
  •         Employee’s dishonesty (may or may not be covered)
  •         Non-delivery.
  •         Theft
  •         Fire

Cargo insurance provides coverage against all external causes that may damage or cause losses to your cargo during shipping. It is similar to insuring your car. You get your car insured. It may not always get into an accident, but being a vehicle, it is prone to accidents all the time.

You can purchase these policies from the insurance market. If you have a sourcing company on board, they have partnered with various vendors that will provide you the best policy. Cargo insurance is generally covered under risk policy or floating policies.

Is Cargo Insurance required by Law?

There is no such law that binds you to get your cargo insured when you move it around nationally or internationally. However, international trade experts will always recommend you to buy insurance so that you are prepared for the worst-case sceneries. Your hundreds and thousands of dollars are floating in the air or ocean and you have little to no control over the process. It is a wise decision when you compare the insurance cost against the potential losses and the perils associated with cargo movement.

Finding the Right Cargo Insurance

There are different types of cargo insurances and hundreds of cargo insurance providers. Choosing the right type of insurance for your cargo depends upon the worth and sensitivity of your cargo. If your cargo is fragile, we recommend you to get an-all feature coverage. However, these decisions can be confusing. Working with a sourcing an experienced sourcing company like BlinkGlobal can lessen the confusion and help your get the right cargo insurance for you. Let’s Talk!

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BlinkGlobal

5 Devastating Mistakes to Avoid When Sourcing From Overseas | BlinkGlobal

Sourcing is the latest buzzword in the manufacturing and the supply chain. As the business environment is becoming more and more competitive, companies are trying to maximize their gains by sourcing raw materials or finalized products from cheaper destinations. As per the findings of Harvard Business Review and other research publications, certain countries have an inherent advantage in succeeding in particular industries. This is why more and more cost and quality conscious businesses all over the world are turning to overseas sourcing.

However, international sourcing is also a risky maneuver as a lot of your money is at stake. You are not physically present at the location and your money is in a foreign land so you do not have full control over the process. At BlinkGlobal, we help our clients get the best solutions when sourcing from overseas. In this article, our experts share 5 mistakes that you must avoid when sourcing from overseas.

1. Choosing Vendors Without Research

Right vendor selection is the most crucial decision that you need to make when sourcing from overseas. The most important factor to consider when selecting suppliers is to first make sure that they are able to provide what your business actually needs, rather than randomly selecting suppliers who just want to sell.

A good way to get a reliable supplier is by seeking recommendations from your business acquaintances or you can also look for online reviews about different suppliers. Suppliers also have certain rules and requirements like minimum quantity and advance payment. Be an informed consumer and ask important questions like shipping time frame and shipping charges as well as legal requirements such as taxes and duties.

2. Paying Everything Upfront

Since many suppliers offer discounts on paying the total amount upfront, many buyers fall for the temptation which can be risky. If you have a long-term relationship with a supplier, getting a discount by paying everything makes sense but if you are dealing with a certain supplier for the first time, it’s better to obtain credit terms from the supplier. It will encourage the supplier to ensure quality and make the deliveries on time. While developing the contract, clearly mention the specifications and expectations.

3. No Information Security Program

If you have to pass data and sensitive information to your vendor, it is important to make sure that the vendor has an information security program in place. Moreover, the program should highlight its capacity and strengths to protect sensitive information. The program must include administrative safeguards such as strong password requirements as well as physical safeguards such as Account lockouts.

 

4. Not Asking for Product Samples

Don’t hesitate, ask for product samples. Product samples depict the supplier’s capacity to cater to your quality requirements. Most of the vendors will agree to this and will let you inspect the quality of the product. This will also help you analyze if the product can meet your customers’ expectations.

5. Choosing Sourcing Agent over Sourcing Company

Sourcing agents or sourcing companies deal and communicate with suppliers on your behalf. They are supposed to ensure transparency and make decisions that are right for you. Sourcing agents are essentially freelancers with no reputation to uphold. Sourcing agents are present in the country where you want to source from, meaning you can meet them virtually not physically.

Sourcing companies have a vast network and global diaspora of agents with specialized backgrounds in various industries and extensive experience in global trade. As opposed to sourcing agents, sourcing companies have a reputation to uphold.

Let’s Talk!

Reliable sourcing companies such as Blink Global, offer clients a fair comparison of different vendors based on their terms of production, quality, and pricing!