Worries Of Chinese Textile And Apparel Exporters: Missing Spanish Customers

 

At the end of June, many European based clothing brands were entering the discount period in Beijing and Shanghai. 20 percent off, 50 percent off, or even 70 percent off of the price tags in the street and shopping center's brand stores were everywhere, so that the women of the office workers were caught up in the big bags and small bags.

 

In previous years, these brand stores only started selling 50 percent off in China in August each year - the discount period was two months ahead of schedule.

 

Correspondingly, traders in the Pearl River and Yangtze River Delta businesses began to suffer. After the issuance of valuable goods, they could no longer hear the voice of European clothing customers from the phone.

 

Under the sweeping storm of subprime lending, European customers who are always welcomed by Chinese exporters with good reputation and relatively reasonable offer are increasingly becoming new makers of trade risks.

 

    Tormented "Spanish phone"

 

"One of my Spanish clients has worked together for two or three years and has had good communication, but since July, I suddenly can't find him. I can't send an email or call." Wang Hao, a salesman of a foreign trade company in Zhejiang, said. Previously, customers had placed an order for bathroom glass and asked for the August cabinet to be sent to Spain. Because the two sides had a very pleasant cooperation, Wang Hao did not insist on allowing customers to pay in advance, but directly contacted the familiar factory production.

 

Now that the goods are almost ready, the customer is missing.

 

"When the 102 Canton Fair was held last year, our clothing company met a Spanish customer. By the end of the year, the customer had placed an order, with 25 different styles. The total value was $52000, and the initial payment was 17300 dollars. Around April of this year, all the goods were left, and the balance was still 33000 dollars. But until now, the customer still didn't pay. I was very anxious to die. I gave him a call these days, but the phone was always connected, but there was always no answer. Let's help me figure out a way! " A salesperson looks like a netizen asking for help on the Internet "Jiangsu foreign trade community".

 

Recently, in some foreign trade professional forums in China, "Spanish customers" suddenly became a popular discussion key word. Many people have found that some customers will suddenly disappear no matter whether the goods have arrived at the port or the order is still under negotiation.

 

    The depressed salesmen had to comfort each other.

 

"There is no need to rush. Spain has very good control over the capital and has a very good grasp of the financing. They will be able to figure out the time well and drag it to you at the last minute. Don't worry too much."

 

"7 and August is a traditional holiday in Europe. Maybe customers are going to the seaside for somewhere to go on vacation."

 

But the fact is likely that it is far from romantic. France's credit insurance and credit management agency said that according to their statistics, Spain's trade arrears increased by 66% since January 2008, half of which came from the construction industry.

 

"We are now selling foreign trade wholesale Chinese businessmen are on sale, otherwise they can not sell." A staff member of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Spain told the reporter on the telephone that retailers' willingness to continue to purchase was not enthusiastic.

 

Domino's dominoes are still falling, according to the customers of the company. In Spain's neighboring Portugal, the delay in payments has increased by two times. In Scandinavian Denmark, corporate bankruptcies rose by 25% since the beginning of the year.

 

    June, the early discount.

 

It is not only exporters but also those who are enthusiastic about shopping.

 

In the past month, it has been like a paradise for Kate, keen to buy foreign brands. At the beginning of June, Beijing was still wet for 50 percent off days. It did not enter the summer completely. She received many E-mail invitations for online shopping discounts from overseas famous brand clothes. They were new products that were not released in 2008, and the discounts ranged from 50 percent off to 20 percent off. "Not only is the goods whole, new, but also strong." Kate said, "the feeling of Christmas with the biggest discount every year is almost the same."