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.

What’s a Wholesaler to do? First of all, there is a gradual attitude adjustment taking place, as factories in China are far more receptive now to custom orders and creative input from buyers, and the stranglehold that manufacturers had while times were good is quickly loosening. Even the Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ’s) of last year have given way to numbers that push past the half-way mark, and even less in some cases. These dreaded MOQ’s, which were the bane of many a Buyer’s / Retailer’s existence, are surely being driven down as the shareholders in China lose their patience.

A shortage of work means an excess in labor, and this can make those hard-to-complete quick orders a reality. Factory bosses in China can hire the day-labor crews they need to promote rapid turnaround, and this can come in handy for the Wholesaler who is looking for something unique to fill a gap in a niche market. Another point to consider is the interest payments that are shaved off of an order when the start-to-finish time is reduced by a couple of weeks on an order that carries a balance.

One of the greatest benefits to anyone looking for the right deal is the security of dealing with companies that have access to cash reserves. In the highly-developed East Coast cities of Zhejiang Province, this may not be so simple; but as one ventures West towards Sichuan, there are suddenly a lot of incentivized areas that are getting special attention.

It pays to keep your ear to the ground, because as China’s economy continues its historic rise and fall, there will be multitudes of chances for the Wholesaler to find the best prices on merchandise that may have been inaccessible at another point in the not-so-distant past. There are large stores of unfinished and raw goods waiting for the final touches before export, and they aren’t doing anyone any good sitting in a dark warehouse gathering dust. Some items to be watching for are furniture, crafts, clothes, and bags. In some cases, even the machinery that the factory was once using to produce the goods are prime candidates for sale at rock-bottom prices.

Staying behind the 8-ball is not always easy, but when you stop to consider that China’s annual growth goal is pegged at 8% for this year, it suddenly seems a lot easier. Watch for the inevitable sub-6% figure, and be sure to line up early and reserve your place as things continue to move towards a buyer’s market for the Buyers.