bb Insights
Meeting our makers:
Supplier tour in China.
Factory insights:
Visiting our production partners.
In May, our bb team of ten packed their bags for an exciting expedition to China. The goal: to go behind the scenes and experience firsthand how the promotional products we distribute are actually made. Our biennial China mission is about more than simply seeing production processes.
We want to truly understand how they work and strengthen our relationships with our manufacturing partners. In a world that is faster and more connected than ever, transparency and genuine partnerships are essential. We want to make sure our products don’t just look great, but are also manufactured under fair and responsible conditions. We visited six manufacturers in the Shanghai region – all of them with an amfori BSCI audit, with bb trading as the audit holder.
Travel report:
Production insights.
Day 1:
We kicked things off with a visit to a bag factory that meets the highest standards. Solar panels on the roof already supply 30% of the machines with renewable energy. The factory also offers excellent working conditions and features a modern range of machinery. Afterwards, we visited a ready market to better understand how material sourcing works for smaller production runs and what challenges this involves.
Day 2:
Day two was all about umbrellas and ballpoint pens. We have been producing these products with the same long-standing partners for more than ten years. Both factories still rely heavily on manual work, and we are always impressed by how quickly and efficiently the workers handle complex production processes.
Day 3:
On day three, we visited one of the largest manufacturers of insulated bottles, which also produces for globally recognized brands such as Starbucks. The facility impressed us with its state-of-the-art technology and more than 1,000 employees. Later, we visited a smaller manufacturer specializing in colored pencils and pencils – ideal products for the Swiss promotional products market.
Day 4:
Day four was dedicated to our Corporate Textile department. We visited a manufacturer of safety apparel and gained insight into its specialized production lines for workwear. workwear. A sea of brightly colored fabrics used to make safety vests and other certified workwear defined the factory floor. It was an extremely advanced operation, with four production halls spread across two floors. And, as impressive as that sounds, we only visited the smallest of its three factories.
Day 5:
After traveling back by high-speed train, our team had one final day to explore Shanghai in greater depth. A trip to the Shanghai Tower and a visit to the city’s historic district filled the day.
We returned to Switzerland with many new experiences, broader consulting expertise, and stronger relationships with our manufacturing partners. We would like to sincerely thank all of our manufacturers for the unforgettable moments and their warm hospitality, especially during the wonderful dinners we shared in the evenings. These experiences helped deepen our relationships even further.
Breathtaking:
Impressive observations.
- The incredible dexterity of factory workers as they fold umbrellas and sew textiles
- The advanced equipment in the factories and employee break areas
- A growing understanding of nature and the responsible use of raw materials (dedicated recycling areas for fabric scraps, etc.)
- The many steps involved in producing something as simple as a colored pencil
- TThe incredible hospitality of our Chinese partners and their diverse food culture – 非常感谢
- The height of the Shanghai Tower, the breathtaking skyline, and the cleanliness of the city
Around 40% of our products are custom-made.
That means we manufacture promotional products specifically for you, with custom colors or special requirements, both in Europe and the Far East.
amfori BSCI
More than 85% of our manufacturers in the Far East have an amfori BSCI audit. Since 2009, bb trading has been the first Swiss promotional products distributor to be a member of the amfori BSCI initiative. This makes us a pioneer in our industry when it comes to ethical and responsible sourcing of promotional products.
Custom-made products
Whether you need a custom color or a completely new product development, bb trading has more than 20 years of experience in customized projects. Contact us about your special project.
