Breaking barriers, one karaoke track at a time! An expedition to China delivers its fair share of surprises…

If you read Tim’s article last week, you’ll know we’ve just returned from an eight-day trip to China. And what a trip it was!

I’ve visited China on numerous occasions, but this time I saw a completely different side to this fascinating country.

The Western world tends to hold certain preconceptions about China. Many people imagine it as an authoritarian, tightly controlled society; certainly not the first place you’d picture letting loose.

But let me tell you, my recent experience couldn’t have been more different from that tired stereotype. Man, the Chinese know how to have a good time!

At least, that’s what became abundantly clear when our hosts whisked us away to a karaoke bar at 1am! A karaoke bar that, might I add, was a two-and-a-half-hour drive from our hotel. But hey, why sleep when you can belt out ’80s ballads in Mandarin!?!

Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships with our Chinese partners, and these connections have become even stronger as a result of our in-person visits.

Sure, it’s easy to handle everything online these days, but I’m a firm believer that face-to-face contact is still key to long-term success.

There’s something about meeting in-person that strengthens these partnerships in ways Teams calls cannot.

Meeting the wider team and seeing the entire operation firsthand from the factory floor, definitely gives you a fresh perspective.

Face-to-face interaction makes the whole innovation process much smoother, too…

It’s one thing to outline what we need for a new product, but it’s a whole different ball game when we can explain to our partners, in person, why certain design elements won’t work. For instance, why our range of bottle protection products can’t be wider than the bottles themselves (it limits how much product can fit on the shelf, in case you were wondering!).

It might seem minor, but this attention to detail is one of the reasons why All-Tag has been so successful. Our solutions protect the product, while being sympathetic to the needs of both the brand and the retailer.

And we manage this far more effectively by being there in person, working side by side with our partners. It fosters a deeper level of understanding and collaboration.

But that’s not all. These visits also allow us to showcase our human side and break down cultural barriers that might otherwise stand in the way of true partnership; even if that does mean subjecting the locals to my, shall we say, ‘unique’ singing talents!

Our Chinese hosts were incredibly hospitable, treating us to meals out after every meeting. However, as a vegan teetotaller, I knew this might pose something of a culinary challenge.

At one particular restaurant, we were presented with a variety of local delicacies including deep-fried bullfrogs, monkfish heads, chicken feet and boiled pig intestines. Let’s just say my options were ‘limited’!

However, what happened next just blew me away…

Between lunch and dinner, now aware of my dietary preferences our hosts had managed to track down a Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant in West Lake, Hangzhou. The gesture was completely unexpected and so appreciated. And, honestly, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had.

The vegetables, complete with black truffle fried rice, tasted exactly like meat. One dish was so convincing, I had to double-check it wasn’t actually chicken! The experience was even topped off with a fizzy, non-alcoholic red wine. Perfection!

That level of thoughtfulness speaks volumes about the strength of our partnership. It seems All-Tag’s continued success, together with careful relationship management, has earned us a coveted spot in their inner circle.

We’ve unlocked a different level of access – allowing us to gain more in terms of innovation, quality, and reliability – while experiencing a side of Chinese culture that most outsiders never see.

In fact, I’d say we’ve got the dream ticket: all the benefits of doing business in China, without the drawbacks.

And if that ticket comes with late-night karaoke sessions and melt-in-the-mouth vegetables, sign me up!