The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-11-15

rude and ungentlemanly; that the same
| praetises that serve to ingratiate
! salesman into the confidence of his pros
| pectiye customer at home, would invite
/ disaster abroad. The Chinese character
| is such that no such word as hurry is
| to be found in his dictionary, and to
! sip tea or smoke for time as prelimi-
| nary to the matter in hand is the most
! likely way to interest merchant. An
intimate acquaintance with the DISPOSE
/ ton of the Chinese merchants is abso-
lutely necessary if one hopes to make
a profitable trade connection. This is
not easy to acquire in so far as the
interior merchant is concerned, for be-
ing preiudiced in advance against the
merit of foreign goods, and suspicious
| of the integrity of the foreigner, the
work of removing these obstacles is
a difficult one, and for that reason al
most all of the large importers at the
ports of China, appoint representative
Chinese to act as their agents in the
outports or in the interior.
No better start, however, can be made
| in a Chinese market, than for the Amer
lean salesman to absorb whatever in
! formation the consul can impart, how
ever unimportant he may deem it, for
his search for information on which to
base his reports, his interviews and
daily contact with the business people
of his section, enables him to gain
| fair idea of the conditions and wants
of the local markets, and at the same
| time to learn of existing preJudices, X
any do exist, and the reasons for such
preiudices. Once the reason for pref
erence for foreign goods other than
American is ascertained, il is not diff
fcult to point out remedy to remove
the barrier, or at least to lessen its
effect on American trade.
The prevailing trade peculiarities, the
temperament of the people, the nation
al characteristics as to tastes, colorS,
lengths and quality, as well as other
demands, are matters that should he
known before hand to the person seek
ing to exploit the markets OF China.
The consulate is the only reliable source
of information to be found and the
advice obtained there will form a valu-
able asset to one about to exploit the
markets of his consular district. The
consular district of Marking, covers the
cities of Marking, Chinkiang, and
Wuhu. the two former on the line Of
the Shanghai Marking railway, Nan
king being the terminus. These cities
are Yangtse river ports having defined
anchorage for six lines Of river steam
ers that ply between Shanghai and
Hankow a distance of 600 miles. With
water and railway facilities between
Shanghai and the above mentioned
ports. il is but natural that the people
draw on Shanghai for their supplies and
necessities. so that as independent trade
markets they are Of little Importance.
am frequently asked by contemplat-
ing American exporters TO give them
an idea of the possibility of success
fully placing their goods in my consul
lar district; to give them the names
of the various dealers in numerous
lines, and in some eases / am asked 70
recommend person to act as their
agent.
/ am obliged to reply that, while
certain compradores, or representatives
Of large Chinese firms are located in
my district. they draw on their prjn-
cipals in Shanghai for their require
ments, and that the inquiries should be
directed TO that port. | believe it would
be safe in every instance for persons
intending to open up trade in China, to
make Shanghai their aim, for that port
is not only the distributing depot Of
almost all Of commercial! and industrial
China but is. on account of its location
and shipping and other transportation
facilities. as web As being the leading
financial center. the best city in the
empire to expedite business with all
parts. The establishment Of q business
at Shanghai would not only give one
the benefit Of that thriving port, but
enable one to meet hurried orders into
the interior as well as to direct the
business from that place.