Where is the personal space in China? In the cities, there isn't any.
If you are traveling to China to attend the Canton Fair or other trade shows, get used to the crowds. Trade shows are in the larger cities and the population density is extremely high.
Many people go through a sort of Chinese culture shock on their first trip. They bump into people on the street. People are crushing in next to them on the subway. It can be overwhelming.
You won't hear many people saying sorry if they bump into you unless it is an especially hard hit. If everyone said sorry when bumping into someone slightly, that is all they would say all day.
What if you are setting up your own sourcing agency or trading company over in China or the Hong Kong SAR? You must adapt to the environment. Personal space goes from being a bubble around you to a bubble you create in your head.
Peace and quiet or a different location you are planning on going to are how you deal with the crowds. A trick many people use in Hong Kong is to listen to music, videos or podcasts using headphones. This puts a sound barrier between you and the crowded noisy streets you are walking around.
So on your next product sourcing trip grab those headphones, prepare for getting bumped into and don't stress over it.
Personal space and your sanity from the crowds are all in your mind.
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My name is Chris Folino. In 2000 I founded a sourcing agency, Newvision Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong.
I have managed hundreds of millions of dollars in purchase orders and overseen tens of thousands of skus from China.
After returning to the U.S. my interest in sourcing has evolved into the desire to teach others how to successfully source from China.
To learn how to protect yourself and make more money when sourcing from China check out: newvision-asia.com
Buying and sourcing from overseas will never end, but it does evolve. I look forward to educating you on the sourcing process and keeping you up to date on the changes happening in the Chinese sourcing market.
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