China trip 2026: bb visits long-standing suppliers.

A change of perspective:
Meeting our suppliers in person.

At bb trading, anyone who has been with us for five years gets to enjoy a very special perk: a trip to China to visit our long-standing suppliers. Because strong business relationships are built on more than emails, phone calls, video meetings, and trade shows. They thrive on personal interaction, mutual trust, and the opportunity to see things firsthand on site.

That’s exactly what five bb employees and one member of management experienced on their trip to China this year. The itinerary included numerous production tours, personal conversations, and, of course, Chinese hospitality. One thing quickly became clear: China is not just a manufacturing location, but a country full of contrasts, traditions, and surprises.

From cork to drinkware:
A firsthand look at how our products are made.

The supplier visits quickly showed just how broad the range of manufacturing is.
At a long-standing textile production partner, the group gained insights into cutting, sewing, and embroidery. At a cork manufacturer, the visit covered everything from traditional wine corks to sports products such as massage balls and yoga mats. Another family-owned company, which bb trading has worked with for more than 20 years, showed the team how it manufactures bags and other textile products.

Pencils and colored pencils were also on the tour itinerary. At a manufacturer of high-quality drinkware, the team got a firsthand look at the quality standards behind products that later go on to be used by international brands.
And then there were the umbrellas: at a relatively simply equipped factory, the group got to see just how much hands-on work still goes into making a product like this today.

Handcraft meets high tech:
Two worlds under one roof.

These differences were particularly striking. On one side, production facilities where many steps are still carried out by hand. On the other, highly automated manufacturing operations with robots, in-house testing labs, and external testing experts.
A fully automated production line for drinkware was especially impressive. Here, state-of-the-art robotics, quality controls, and testing processes work together seamlessly.
This incredible range shows just how different manufacturing in China can look: traditional and hands-on, modern and efficient, or highly automated and technology-driven.

Chinese hospitality:
When a cup of tea becomes a gift.

The production tours were not the only part of the trip that left a lasting impression on our team. Personal interaction with our business partners was another important part of the experience.
Hospitality, generosity, and sharing meals are highly valued. When dining at restaurants, hosts often reserved a private VIP room. Meals were served around a round table, usually featuring hot pot and an impressive selection of different dishes.

Not everything was immediately familiar to our travelers – and when it came to some specialties, not everyone was necessarily convinced they needed to see them on their plate a second time.
For those who were open to trying new things, there was even more to discover. The many different dishes served around the table offered plenty of opportunities to try something new and experience Chinese food culture firsthand.

The principle: better too much than too little. And by a long shot. If someone liked something, they got more. And if they finished their plate or completely emptied their glass, they could expect another serving or refill almost immediately.

Even small personal comments could have unexpected consequences: during one meeting, for example, one employee was drinking tea when the host asked whether he liked tea. He said yes – and shortly afterward, the entire group was presented with beautiful tea sets as gifts.

Lesson learned: in China, it’s worth being careful about what you casually mention. Twenty minutes later, you might find a perfectly fitting surprise right in front of you.

Karaoke and foot massages:
Unwinding the Chinese way.

After the visits to the production facilities, it was only natural to make time for some downtime, too. And once again, another side of Chinese culture came into view.

Karaoke is a big part of the culture. But instead of singing together in front of an audience, people rent a private room with a large screen, light show, drinks, and snacks.

The perfect setting to let loose a little – even with your colleagues.

Things were more relaxed during a foot massage. In a private room, the whole group could get a massage at the same time – complete with a huge screen for watching movies.

Ningbo or Shanghai:
Impressive skylines.

China is huge – and the cities are just as diverse. Alongside Shanghai’s skyline, our travelers were particularly impressed by Ningbo’s. The rapidly growing port city offered a striking example of just how quickly urban spaces can evolve.
More broadly, the combination of modern infrastructure, densely populated cities, and impressive landscapes was one of the defining impressions of the trip.

China up close:
More similar than expected.

A trip like this can also change the way you see a country. Before leaving, there were certainly questions: How would the conversations go? Would we find common ground? How easily would we communicate? How open would people be?
Those uncertainties quickly faded through personal interaction.
The encounters were open, honest, and at times surprisingly direct. Some of our conversation partners expressed their opinions very clearly and welcomed the group with a good dose of humor and playfulness.

The similarities that emerged through personal conversations were particularly interesting, too. Our CDO Nicolas Barblan sums up his impressions:

«I was surprised by how many similarities we share despite our different languages and cultures – for example, hard work, efficiency, pragmatism and punctuality. These are qualities we in Switzerland often like to consider typically Swiss. On the Chinese side, it was also emphasized several times how much they value working with Swiss companies – among other things because of their thoroughness, reliability, and high quality standards. Those are exactly the qualities we value in our relationships with our business partners, too.»

These insights are particularly valuable to bb trading. Long-standing supplier relationships are built on more than products and prices. Above all, they rely on trust, mutual understanding, and a shared belief in what makes a strong partnership.

More than a business trip:
Coming home with new perspectives.

This year’s China trip was once again about much more than simply visiting bb suppliers. It was an opportunity to better understand production processes, strengthen existing relationships and gain new perspectives.

China is a country with a long history, deeply rooted traditions, impressive natural landscapes, and highly modern infrastructure. But above all, it is home to people with their own stories, opinions and points of view.

The picture we form of a country does not always do justice to the reality on the ground. Direct contact can change those perceptions and broaden our perspective. And that is exactly what our team is bringing home from the trip: meeting people with respect, openness, and genuine interest, staying curious, and occasionally questioning our own assumptions.

Because sometimes, a better understanding begins exactly where we are willing to look at things differently.