I’m tired of bad news. It’s all over the headlines, and it’s all there ever seems to be when I pull up a text-based search about ‘China’ in any one of the major search engines these days. However, for all the bad news that is being generated, there is a lot of good stuff buried somewhere deep within, if you’re willing to dig for it.

One of the things I have noticed is a general streamlining of things in the foreign trade business; in the area of trade fairs, a sort of cost-cutting effort to trim some fat from trade shows that were usually hosted in multiple venues… multiple cities… and required a lot of legwork on the part of the visitors to get something accomplished. This year, the reality of the CPC missing its elusive 8% GDP goal — by a mile — is pretty clear, and it means that once-headstrong wholesaler juggernaut China is responding with a more intelligent approach to the way business is done, as global market contraction steadily continues.

There are two kinds of people in this world:

Those who were loyal die-hard fans of Michael Jackson, and those who were often shocked by his highly controversial and eccentric lifestyle.

In other words; some people may have loved him, and some may have hated him, but he was impossible to ignore. His career was a classic tale of a musical genius who found his sanctuary in making unforgettable chart-toppers, despite frequently relegating himself to being a lonesome, alien-like figure in the real world. Frequently accused and even persecuted by many, his followers always far outnumbered the naysayers, and they continue to be ardent supporters of his unique and unforgettable style. Legions of Michael Jackson fans — which rank in the several millions – will be on the hunt for anything that can bring them some solace, as news of his death on June 25, 2009 leaves an enormous void that will be impossible to fill. Wholesalers are faced with a vast collection of memorabilia to remember him by (Michael Jackson gifts, souvenirs, novelties, posters, etc.), and these goods are going to be on the move… so it’s up to you to supply them to the world! Are you ready? There’s a lot of people out there, and Michael Jackson products are going to be in high demand… which means all buyers and sellers should start making their purchases now to meet their customers’ huge demand for these types of products.

To put it bluntly, the concept of a social networking site is not very complicated, since every person in the world likes to share and manage information to some capacity. Social networks are also not a new thing any more, and most Internet users have at least delved into the fray by signing on and registering with any one of the dozens of hot social sites like facebook, Twitter, MySpace , LinkedIn, Ning, Last.fm, and Xanga — just to name a few — in an effort to stay on top of news as it develops. It’s become a great way for advertisers to find their markets, and an even better way for sellers to find their buyers.

News headlines are lighting up like Christmas trees, as the news of China’s Green Dam Youth Escort Project are filling PC manufacturers in the overseas trade markets with dread. In a recent report first issued by the Wall Street Journal, details of a new initiative fired off by the CPC (Communist Party of China) has put a full-scale mandate in effect that requires all PC manufacturers to ship every one of those brand-new PC’s slated for export into China with mysterious software from Henan-based Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co. — pre-installed on the hard drive — by July 01 this year.

Yes, that’s the beginning of next month. No, there wasn’t much advance notice.

In spite of all the headlines being made to the contrary, companies that specialize in Wholesale and Retail may find themselves in a position to bargain these days. While the economic crisis that made its appearance in 2008 has yet to show any significant signs of slowdown, there are some tremendous opportunities presenting themselves to the Wholesale community, and all signs point to an increase in these options as the economic slowdown in China continues.

According to a study by AlixPartners, China has slid from the number one spot as the lowest-cost solution provider, as India and Mexico pull up from behind. This has had a huge negative impact on overall manufacture in the PRC, and it comes as no surprise that the recent global recession has taken its toll as plants and factories in Guangdong Province are left with no choice but to shut down and halt production in the wake of reduced international orders. Cheap goods are no longer being churned out at a fever-pitch, and cost savings of 30% are no longer being realized by those on the lookout for the best deals in outsourcing.

Have you thought about launching your own website, in order to inform your customers of all the amazing products and services you have to offer them? Sure you have. Now it’s time to apply that creative energy in the right direction, and build a sleek and appealing Buyer/Seller site that gets the sales you deserve! Building a website doesn’t have to be a pain in the ASP, and it doesn’t even require you to call upon a roomful of pasty-skinned computer nerds… it just requires a solid plan, and a basic time investment. If you’re ready to take the plunge, then take a few deep breaths, and follow our very handy little Top10 guide of ways to get people talking about what you have, not what you don’t have!