Sourcing guides / founder notes
I visited 66 glove factories in person
From PPE exports to AnythingChina: why showing up matters, and why clear questions come first.
Fangsheng HePublished My starting point
During the pandemic, I visited 66 glove factories with a small team while working on mask and glove exports. That historical project experience is part of how I understand supplier search, communication and delivery today.
Write the questions before the visit
For a new sourcing task, I recommend defining the address to check, the person to meet, the products to see, the records to capture and any samples to collect. A visit answers a limited set of questions. Company statements, direct observations and unknowns should remain separate. Photos do not replace specialist testing or a formal audit.
Why I started AnythingChina
I want to connect that practical experience with AI's ability to organize a task. The customer's assistant clarifies the goal, plan and acceptance criteria; I confirm local conditions, people and costs. The aim is to bring back information useful for the next decision.