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Awesomers.comIf you are an Amazon seller, ecommerce entreprene Author: Awesomers.com
If you are an Amazon seller, ecommerce entrepreneur, ebay seller or you want to learn how to sell online this Podcast is for YOU! What is an Awesomer? An Awesomer is someone who through a series of long-term actions and behaviors has demonstrated that they are not satisfied with normal. They are achievers to a penultimate degree in their own industry specialty or area of interest. There are no monetary criteria to be an Awesomer, in fact, many mega-wealthy people are not Awesomers. Some of them are Normies. Others are even Basics! Awesomers want to thrive; not just survive. Awesomers are trying to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. They are trying to make an impact, in whatever way they can, on the world. Many Amazon Sellers are awesomers. They took the Amazon FBA opportunity and they siezed the moment by taking action. If you are an Amazon Seller or interested in selling in eCommerce you should take a moment now and listen to all the Awesomer origin stories. Entrepreneurs solve problems in the world. They dont create them. Awesomers are never done learning or improving. To become an Awesomer one must realize the journey to improve is perpetual. In other words, you don't arrive to the land of the Awesomer as a destination. Being an Awesomer means you are on the path of achievement for the sake of improving your life and those around you. Awesomers are 75% more likely to listen to educational or improvement podcasts.** What is a Normie? A Normie is someone who is stable and well established in life and ultimately is satisfied with the status quo. They don't want to rock the boat. They don't want to take risks. Normies are satisfied to survive. Normies are fine, just ask them. Awesomers have no problems with Normies. In fact, most Awesomers are surrounded by Normies who are their close friends and even family. More often than not Normies do not understand the plight of the Awesomer so they will warn the Awesomer to be careful or dont do it or prov Language: en Genres: Business Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Poorly Made in China - Book Review Revisited
Monday, 25 August, 2025
I released Episode 53 of the Awesomers.com podcast some time back, and it's a deep dive into a book that I consider absolutely essential for anyone involved in manufacturing or trade with China: Paul Midler's "Poorly Made in China." If you're doing business there, this isn't just a recommendation; it's a necessity. Paul Midler is a brilliant author who has genuinely lived the stories he outlines in this book. With over 15 years of my own experience trading with China, I can tell you that many of his anecdotes are eerily familiar – often both funny and tragically so. This book offers an extraordinary, in-depth look into how China's export industry truly operates, and indeed, how China itself works. In this episode, I break down some of the most critical concepts Paul discusses, which resonate strongly with my own observations: • Quality Fade (or Product Fade): This is real. Factories subtly reduce product quality over time—thinner shampoo bottles, changed formulas, subcontracting to cheaper facilities, or reducing material weight or thread count. These changes are often hard to detect visually, making vigilance crucial. • "Price Go Up": You've probably heard it. Factories frequently increase prices, citing labor, environmental controls, or raw material costs. Yet, they rarely, if ever, inform you when prices could go down due to currency shifts or other factors. Their objective, after all, is to maximize their own profit. • Counterfeit Culture & Intellectual Property (IP) Issues: The book highlights astonishing instances, like factories copying a customer's product formula and then audacious claiming it as their own intellectual property when asked for disclosure. • Profit Siphoning & Under-reporting: Paul details cases such as Chinese partners in joint ventures siphoning off all profits, and factories under-reporting production of patented goods to avoid paying rightful patent fees, even devising elaborate schemes to circumvent oversight programs. • Manipulation Tactics: I caution listeners about "guanxi" (long-term relationships), which, while valuable, can also be used as a manipulation tactic by factories. Understanding these strategies is paramount to maintaining an even playing field. I truly believe that "knowledge is power" when navigating relationships with Chinese factories. "Poorly Made in China" is one of the very best books I've seen on the subject—extraordinarily insightful and entertaining, despite the serious lessons it imparts. Honestly, I'd consider it "entrepreneurial malpractice" not to recommend it. If you trade with China, buy products from China, or develop products there, reading this book and understanding these dynamics will help you be better prepared and significantly minimize potential problems through proper management. Watch the full episode for a deeper dive: 👉 https://awesomers.com/53 You can also find more helpful processes and procedures on our mailing list at https://awesomers.com. For professional, Amazon-ready product photography for your China-manufactured goods, check out https://symoglobal.com. And for the business operating system for your marketplace business, visit https://parsimony.com. Let me know in the comments if you've read "Poorly Made in China" or experienced any of these situations! If you want to work with me check out https://catalyst88.com and https://humanitynow.com or our new chatbots at https://chat.parsimony.com #ManufacturingInChina #PoorlyMadeInChina #SteveSimonson #AwesomersPodcast #ChinaTrade #SupplyChain #QualityControl #IntellectualProperty #BusinessStrategy #GlobalTrade
