Holidays hold a special place of importance in every culture. Many businesses temporary close for the days or weeks surrounding holidays. This includes various countries that produce very large percentages of goods that sell here in the USA. Offshore manufacturing is responsible for producing most of the goods that sell here in the USA. However, businesses must also be aware of the holiday observances that these manufacturers in other countries have. The following are some tips designed to help your company successfully navigate through the “holiday shipping process”.
Always Prepare for Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year (CNY) is the biggest holiday celebration in China. It is similar to Christmas in the U.S. The official celebration runs for a week and typically takes place in late January or early February. Many factories in China close as much as two weeks prior and stay closed up to two weeks after the official holiday. Manufacturers typically extend this time to allow employees to travel home, celebrate the holiday, and then have the time to travel back to work.
Companies outsourcing to China must have a strategy to mitigate the production downtime. U.S. companies that have been involved in China manufacturing for many years already know how to plan for holiday shipping logistics, but many are “caught by surprise” year after year. If your business is new to overseas manufacturing, or is still experiencing challenges, it’s best to work with a liaison partner.
Manufacturing liaisons like ITI, take the guesswork out of what you can do and what to realistically expect from the inevitable manufacturing slowdowns and holiday shipping delays that happen every year in the time surrounding CNY. One interesting fact: Chinese New Year does not happen on the same day every year.
Remember China’s National Day
Similar to the Chinese New Year – although its celebration lands on the same days each year, there’s also China’s National Day. This holiday is most similar to the USA’s 4th of July as it celebrates the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Also, the holiday always extends for a week, known as the “Golden Week” in China. Factories close for at least that full week, if not the weeks before and after as well for similar travel reasons.
Plan Ahead For Christmas and Shipping Arrivals in the U.S.
Companies should be very aware of not only the Chinese holidays but the American holidays as well. The months before Christmas are typically the busiest time of year for manufacturing companies. As China is one of the global leaders in toy manufacturing the U.S. holiday season is especially hectic for them. So, plan for the offshore manufacturing chaos by focusing on the timing. Work backward from when you need products on shelves, in stock for online purchases, or at the port for pick-up.
Companies should also factor in all the time they need for design, testing, assembly, packaging, and shipping. Manufacturing liaisons like ITI have the experience to help U.S. companies strategize early and plan ahead. Want a little more detail? Click here: Christmas in July.
Offshore Manufacturing Shipping Success Starts with the Right Partnerships
To be sure about the right timing and strategies for shipping logistics of your offshore manufactured products you should work with an experienced manufacturing liaison. ITI Manufacturing ensures our U.S. companies get their products when they need them. We also make certain your products are consistently made to your exacting specifications. This is always our guarantee.
To learn more without making a commitment contact us today. Call us toll-free at (281) 242-7030 to speak with one of our manufacturing experts.
