15 Tips for Global Sourcing
“A first step would be to go to a book store, find books that you think are done well, look to see where they were done or contact the publisher to see who does their work,” says Clark.
4. Consider a larger printer.
When it comes to an offshore printer, larger may be a safer bet; smaller companies tend to be newer and are more likely to go out of business without notice.
“The smaller printers are also very limited financially if and when problems arise,” says Tom Leach, vice president, sales and marketing for global printing company Leo Paper Group, based in Issaquah, Wash. “They are much less likely to help during the difficult situations. Code of conduct is also a concern when looking at the smaller companies. Last but not least is a BS 7799 Certification, which is a measure … to certify that a publisher’s intellectual property is being protected.”
The major disadvantage to a larger printer is cost; publishers generally will pay a premium for their services because their overhead is higher.
5. Negotiate the deal like any other.
Experts say that negotiating with partners overseas is exactly the same as negotiating with those in the United States.
“Most contracts nowadays are focused primarily on term and schedules,” says Clark. “Ask what is needed to obtain open account status and what sorts of payment terms are available.”
Leach advises, “The best approach is to show how much business you are willing to send to [a] supplier, and let that supplier determine what the best pricing scale is ….” He also recommends publishers do not overstate their future volumes. “A more impactive negotiating tool is a rebate program on the amount of business that has transpired in any given year.”
6. Get the service you require.
