ET2C’s buying office model gives you a dedicated team in China, Vietnam or India without an agent’s hidden mark-ups or the creeping overheads of your own office. Costs are transparent, and you deal with your suppliers directly.
Quick answers
How is ET2C’s buying office model paid?
Through a transparent structure: a fixed fee for the infrastructure, the cost of a team sized to your needs, and a commission element. Unlike a trading agent’s mark-up, every part is visible to you.
How does the buying office model compare with running your own office?
It avoids the salaries, office rent and other running costs of your own office, which tend to creep up over time, so costs are easier to budget.
Global sourcing strategies that focus on Asia buying office , particularly China, can face numerous challenges.
- Navigating local regulations
- Managing supplier relationships
- Communication
- Working Time Zone issues
These complexities can be overwhelming, especially for companies without the experience or skills of operating in the region.
What a team on the ground delivers
Moving Global Sourcing and Procurement to Asia will have immediate benefits. As your network of suppliers or products grows buying becomes more complex.
The biggest opportunity to deliver incremental growth is establishing a buying office team to deliver global sourcing ambitions. Having a team on the ground in your chosen market delivers
- Enhanced supplier relationships
- Faster to market innovation
- Better product pricing
- Enhanced Quality and Compliance
For businesses aiming to set up Asian buying offices to streamline their sourcing operations, our buying office model offers a smart, low-risk alternative to traditional methods.
This model, rapidly delivers you a dedicated team on the ground who can deliver immediate margin and product improvements. Removing the risk of setting up an inhouse team in new country.
The Benefits of ET2C’s Buying Office Model
Our buying office model provides companies with a local presence in countries like China, Vietnam or India. Removing two major headaches in global sourcing :
- Agents who charge a commission based on the value of the goods, this can often be invisible masking the true cost of goods.
- In-house buying offices that require extensive overhead, including staff salaries, office rent, and other operational costs, which can be difficult to manage remotely.
Our buying office model offers simplicity, transparency, and peace of mind, whilst delivering product and pricing benefits
ET2C International Asian Buying Office Model
ET2C are a UK based Global Sourcing company with over 25 years trading experience. Our 200 colleagues are based in 7 offices across Asia. China, India, Vietnam and Turkiye. Ensuring you always have a presence on the ground to support your Strategic Sourcing and Procurement requirements.
We have pioneered the development and running of buying office models for clients in USA and Europe for over 20 years. Delivering all the benefits of a dedicated Purchasing team whilst mitigating all the risk of establishing and managing a team and facilities in a new country.
Drop us a line if you would like to learn more about how we can help you establish a team contact@et2cint.com
Cost savings and predictability
One of the most compelling reasons to choose our buying office model is its cost efficiency. When working with percentage-based agents, businesses often face higher costs as their order sizes grow. The agent’s commission is usually tied to the value of the goods, or charged as a separate fee on top, so the more you order, the more you pay, even if the agent’s workload stays the same. This misaligns incentives: agents may prioritise order value over cost savings for the client.
With our buying office model, costs are transparent and predictable, with no hidden mark-ups. That makes budgeting and forecasting easier, without unexpected charges or spiralling expenses.
More Control Over Your Supply Chain
Establishing a buying office team in Asia allows businesses to directly manage their suppliers, giving them greater control over quality, timelines, and compliance.
Our buying office model gives you the best of both worlds: direct control over your operations, with the added security of local expertise. Your dedicated team on the ground handles day-to-day supplier management, carries out quality control and keeps production on track, while keeping you informed at every step.
Because the team works only for your business, you can set clear standards for quality, delivery times and cost management.
Enhanced Transparency and Trust
One of the challenges many businesses face when outsourcing to Asia is a lack of transparency. Traditional sourcing agents might obscure the actual cost of goods or fail to provide regular updates, leading to distrust and uncertainty.
Our buying office model is designed for maximum transparency. Every part of the fee is visible to you and the team works only for your business, so there are no hidden mark-ups or conflicting incentives, and you gain full visibility into the process. Every step, from supplier selection to quality inspections and shipment tracking, is shared with you, allowing you to make informed decisions.
This level of transparency builds trust, not only with your buying office team but also with your suppliers. With a clear and open line of communication, you can ensure that your orders are processed to your exact specifications.
How ET2C’s buying office model reduces risk
Minimizing Hidden Costs
In traditional asian buying office setups or when dealing with third-party agents, unexpected costs are a common challenge. These may include markups on goods, storage fees, or inflated logistics charges. Over time, these additional costs can erode your profit margins.
With our buying office model, there’s a clear agreement on the scope of services, meaning you don’t need to worry about hidden costs.
Ensuring Compliance with Local Regulations
Navigating the legal landscape in countries like China, India or Vietnam can be difficult for companies unfamiliar with local laws and regulations. This is where a local asian buying office becomes invaluable. ET2C International Asian Buying Office model supports you with
- Recruitment process
- HR Management
- Office space
- Legal
All delivered by our team in market. Allowing you to concentrate on the benefits of Global Sourcing.
This minimizes the risk of legal complications and helps protect your business from fines, delays, or other regulatory issues that could disrupt your supply chain.
Maintaining Quality Standards
Without local oversight, ensuring consistent quality from suppliers can be challenging. Under our buying office model, your team carries out regular quality control inspections to make sure goods meet your standards before they ship, which reduces the risk of receiving defective products and saves both time and money.
Accelerate your margins with ET2C‘s Unique Asia Buying Office Model
If you’re ready to take the next step toward a more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable global sourcing strategy, reach out to us today.
OOur unique Asian buying office model is designed to meet your unique needs, offering you the peace of mind that comes with local expertise and unwavering commitment to quality. Drop us a line at contact@et2cint.com. To see how the costs compare for your business, take the Buying Office Model Test.
David Young
Position: Group Marketing Director
David Young is an experienced strategic sourcing commentator and thought leader with over 20 years of marketing and innovation experience. Connect with David on LinkedIn or david.y@et2c.com.
