SOME EARLY ADVICE

• Do your homework; then take your export strategy to NZTE to see if they can help you in any way, particularly around research. Remember they have an office in Shanghai. Rely on them to help open doors but not to bring you the business. • Map out your supply chain steps right from the goods leaving these shores through to the end consumer. Consider all channels – retail, offline, e-commerce, and so on – as well as regulations at every touchpoint; who you’re placing your trust in; temperature control, auditing, and is your in-market partner looking after your interests? “Have it all fully mapped out and understood before you try and find people. And keep it updated.” • Tmall requires that your brand be within the China market for two years before they’ll accept it on their platform. However, Tmall Global is the cross-border transactional pathway to the Free Trade Zones for Tmall. • Understand what part of the market you’re operating in. How does your export strategy align with what’s going on out there? “Certainly don’t rely on what’s reported in the media, because it could just be based on second-hand information. Cut through the hype. Go to the source and work it out for yourself.”