Aaron on WIRED: What Chinese Manufacturing Actually Is and Why Founders Misunderstand It

Aaron Alpeter recently appeared on WIRED’s Chinese Manufacturing Support to answer a wide range of internet questions about how manufacturing in China actually works.

Aaron covered:

• How Is Temu So Cheap?

• Why Cheap and Premium Goods Come From China

• How (Nearly) Everything Is Made in China

• Which Countries Can Actually Compete With China on Manufacturing?

• Manufacturing Contracts and IP in China

Why Fewer SKUs Build Stronger Supply Chains

If you study high-performing consumer brands closely enough, you’ll start to notice something counterintuitive:

The strongest brands often have fewer SKUs than their competitors.

While many founders believe expansion equals growth, operational reality says otherwise.

SKU sprawl quietly destroys:

• Working capital

• Forecast accuracy

• Supplier leverage

• Inventory efficiency

• Margin durability

And nowhere is this clearer than in prestige fragrance.

Finding Your Fulfillment Fit

Hear from Shipware, Third Person, Redstag and Slotted on Thursday, March 19th at 1pm ET on how to find your fulfillment fit.

Looking to improve your sourcing or move production with confidence?

Our team helps brands find trusted factories, streamline production, and reduce risks when scaling or relocating manufacturing.

Schedule a Call to explore how we can support your sourcing goals.