There are some world class manufacturing companies in China, run by some great business owners, who are ready and willing to do business on the best possible terms. But how do you find them? Back in 2008, I began sourcing products from China using Alibaba, just like many small businesses do. But no matter how clearly I communicated my requirements, the products received almost never met expectations. Poor packaging, defective items, delays, it was an ongoing cycle of frustration that drained my time, money, and trust.
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The final straw came after we expanded into Japan. My partner there was increasingly concerned about leaking bottles and substandard packaging. Around the same time, I received a shipment of 20,000 tin cans, 8,200 of them were completely unusable. I knew I had to take matters into my own hands.
My Journey to China
I flew to Shenzhen, the manufacturing heart of China, determined to fix the problems face-to-face. I’d been learning Mandarin since 2018, and that decision paid off in a big way. It allowed me to navigate the cities, communicate directly with factory owners and staff, and build trust in a way that simply wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
I have travelled world-wide, but nothing could have prepared me for just how different China was and how difficult it would be to navigate without at least a basic grasp of Mandarin. Over the course of two and a half intense weeks, I visited nine factories across Shenzhen, Dongguan, Longgang, and Guangzhou. One visit alone involved a two-hour bullet train ride, followed by two hours in taxis, and the same journey back. It was exhausting, but exactly what I needed to get to the root of the issues.
Meeting Candy Yan and Discovering ‘Japanese Standard’.
Through a trusted contact in Edinburgh, I was introduced to Candy Yan, a seasoned Entrepreneur who runs both a successful travel agency and a packaging manufacturing business in Shenzhen. She became my guide, translator, friend, and ultimately, a key business partner.
Candy introduced me to a concept that changed everything: “Japanese Standard.” In China, it refers to the elite level of quality demanded by Japanese buyers—precision, consistency, and zero tolerance for defects.
Together, we found a factory that could meet this standard for our tins, and Candy arranged a four-person inspection team to check every single item over a four-day period. This level of quality control is standard in Japan and welcomed by reputable Chinese factories. What did we learn?
As I dug deeper, I uncovered an interesting fact: foreign buyers are often heavily overcharged. Many pay up to 200% more for products, and 35% extra for shipping, simply due to a lack of local knowledge or reliable representation.
I was shocked to realize I’d been overpaying for years. With an annual procurement budget of around £100,000, those unnecessary costs had been a source of leakage I was unaware of.
Why did we start Triscor Global?
After many long discussions with Candy and her network, we decided to start Triscor Global Corporation.
Our goal was simple: To help businesses source the best quality products, at the best prices from top Chinese factories, ensure Japanese Standard manufacturing through our own inspection team, and lock in the best possible shipping rates, end to end.
What We Do Today?
At Triscor Global, we’re more than just a sourcing company. We’re your on the ground partner in China, ensuring a frictionless purchasing, quality control and shipping experience for your company and helping you avoid all of the common pitfalls when doing business in China.
We connect our clients with world-class manufacturers, negotiate the best prices, enforce the highest production standards, and ensure goods are shipped efficiently and affordably. We started this company together because we know the challenges of global sourcing firsthand. Now, we’re making it our mission to ensure you don’t have to.
Tommy Crooks
CEO. Triscor Global.