RonImport
How much of the year do you spend working in China? What do you do there?
I spend a little over a third of the year in China. As it goes, most of the third and fourth quarters are spent at the BDA Asian office in Shekou, near the heart of Shenzhen in the southern part of China. When not in factories or working in the main office, I love to bike ride the countryside. I am fascinated with the local culture and have come to admire the people for the depth of their customs and traditions. I feel that this gives BDA an edge when doing business in the east. Knowing, understanding and being able to maneuver on the ground here, while understanding the culture, definitely helps during business negotiations.
What goes on at BDA's annual Compliance Partnership Summit in China? What sort of feedback have we gotten from attendees?
Each year the attendance gets better and better. This past year we had over 200 attendees. The summit first came about as a means to gather all our partners in one forum and review compliance laws and establish BDA protocol and expectations. Since we were the first to ever try this in China, most outsiders gave the concept little hope. But it was so successful that the local Chinese press picked up the story. Our agenda gets stronger each year and our message of delivering safe and compliant product becomes clearer. We lost some vendors along the way, but our true partners embraced the message, made the changes we expected and together we became stronger leaders in safety compliance. The feedback from this year's summit was the best ever. Now, for the first time, we are seeing proactive suggestions from our partners. This is a strong signal that our message of manufacturing safe and compliant products is BDA's number one goal.
What nations are on the verge of making an impact as global exporters?
China will continue to be a driving force as a global-wide exporter, but does face some economic internal factors that will influence the types of products they produce and export. Wages, inflation, rising costs in materials and the shift in labor will impact the types of products manufactured. Regional shifts in the labor market will define types of production within China. Manual labor in factories will become more isolated as there is an increase in the educated rise of the middle class. Watch for an increase in tech-knowledge-based products out of China. Other nations like India will see an increase in exports. Vietnam will continue to grow as well as some South American countries. On the horizon, look to Poland and some of the former Soviet Union countries to emerge as niche market manufacturers.
How have import operations evolved since you've been in the industry?
The biggest impact on import operations has been the ability to establish factory direct relationships and bypass secondhand touches. This direct to factory relationship allows for more precise communication, less chance of mistakes and most important, the ability to surgically develop product that allows for optimization of the particular skill sets within a certain factory. Now products can be brought from ideation to fruition at particular factories that have the ability to execute the concepts. Also, the factory direct relationship allows for the closer development of shared resources and the ability for us, as importers, to teach and cultivate certain skill sets within a particular factory. This sharing of information has allowed for a cementing of partnerships and brought the factory/importer into a true partnership relationship.
How can BDA maintain its status as a market leader in custom products and importing operations?
Simple—keep doing what we are doing. Communicate, teach, learn, push the boundaries, search out, never say it can't be done, always look outside the box, find solid partners, innovate and look forward.
Always, always remember two important things: First, safe product is not a second thought, it's the first and foremost thought. Second, our clients trust us with their name, their brand. That is an honor, not just a job.
What changes do you anticipate over the next five to 10 years?
The global landscape will continue to shrink. Safety compliance will become a competitive advantage. Companies that have the ability to run "on the ground" and have solid partnerships will rise to the top as the ones who can deliver. Innovation will be driven both ways, from imports to clients and back. Clients will be looking for value-added partners who bring solutions to the table.
What's the best part of your job?
Easy, the people I work with. My partners here at BDA are incredibly talented. My staff is second to none. Both groups continue to teach and push me.
What's the one (non-electronic) item you can't travel without?
My father's ring. He was an immigrant. It reminds me every day that his word and a handshake were as good as any legal contract. I'd like to think I have a bit of that philosophy in me. And I always pack my favorite pillow.