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6 ways to manager your Chinese Supplier Relationship
Get the 6-step framework for managing chinese supplier relationships and see how Adanola learned from their failed startup.
Sourcify
May 27, 2025
How to Manage Your Relationship with Chinese Suppliers Amid Tariff Uncertainty
In the face of ongoing US-China trade uncertainty, abruptly cutting ties with Chinese suppliers could create more risk than reward. Instead, brands should take a balanced approach by maintaining strong supplier relationships while exploring diversification, using transparency, trust, and technology as key tools.
Don’t Rush to Cut Ties
Engage in Open and Transparent Communication
Strengthen Long-Term Partnerships Through Trust
Consider Dual Sourcing to Mitigate Risks
Leverage Technology for Better Visibility and Control
Negotiate Fairly and Flexibly
International Container Shipping Rates
Container freight rates are rising, with the Drewry WCI composite index up 2% to $2,276 per 40ft container—still 78% below the 2021 peak but 60% higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Routes from Shanghai to Genoa, New York, and Los Angeles saw moderate increases, and further rate hikes are expected as carriers adjust to growing cargo demand from China.
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Ecommerce on Tap
Founded by two brothers in Manchester, Adanola didn’t have a blockbuster launch or massive seed funding. Instead, their story is centered on perseverance, patient product obsession, and some tough lessons learned from an earlier business failure.
🔑 3 Key Takeaways:
Embrace (and learn from) failure: The founders’ first venture, Zeven Media, ultimately went bankrupt even after a successful run on Dragon’s Den. Instead of giving up, they took their lessons, regrouped, and brought a new level of discipline and product focus to Adanola.
Product obsession pays off: Adanola spent years quietly perfecting their leggings, focusing relentlessly on fit, fabric, and real customer feedback before going big. Their “Ultimate Leggings” launch in 2020, timed with the home workout boom, became a runaway hit.
Scale smart, not just fast: While others chased hype and unsustainable growth during the pandemic, Adanola built profitably and deliberately—avoiding team bloat, minimizing SKUs, and leaning into authentic micro-influencer marketing. Even as they experienced 311% revenue growth from 2022-23, they kept profitability and sustainability at the core.
What really stood out: The founder’s decision to step back and bring in outside leadership at the right time—a mature move that will likely position Adanola for its next chapter of growth.
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