Notes from the cross-border frontier.
Compliance shifts, infrastructure decisions, and operating playbooks for DTC brands moving goods between China and the US.
- StrategyMay 15, 2026 · 7 min read
Logistics Is Your Best Marketing Channel. You Just Don't Know It Yet.
Shipping speed, tracking, and delivery experience shape whether someone buys again as much as the product itself. Here's what we learned building Quince — and why we built QLS.
Read article → - StrategyMay 15, 2026 · 6 min read
The Case for Keeping Your Inventory in China
Inventory sitting on a container for six weeks is cash that isn't working for your business. The case for cross-border fulfillment didn't go away with de minimis — it just got more interesting.
Read article → - ComplianceMay 15, 2026 · 5 min read
FDA Regulation for Imported Products: What It Is and Why It Can Stop Your Shipment at the Border
You've sorted out shipping rates, customs classification, and your importer of record. Then your shipment gets flagged by the FDA and held indefinitely. Here's how to prevent it.
Read article → - ComplianceMay 15, 2026 · 5 min read
What Is a Chinese Exporter of Record and Why Does It Matter for Your Brand?
Most DTC brands know they need a U.S. importer of record. Far fewer understand the export side of the equation. It's quietly becoming one of the more important compliance decisions you'll make.
Read article → - PricingMay 15, 2026 · 5 min read
Fuel Surcharges: What They Are, Why They Exist, and Why They Keep Changing
You agreed to a shipping rate. Then your invoice arrived with a fuel surcharge on top. Here's what that charge actually is and why it's not going away.
Read article → - PricingMay 15, 2026 · 5 min read
DIM Weight: Why Your Package Might Weigh More Than It Actually Weighs
You packed a lightweight product. The scale says 0.3 kg. But your carrier invoice charges you for 1.2 kg. Here's why, and what you can do about it.
Read article → - ComplianceMay 1, 2026 · 6 min read
The Trade Compliance Reckoning: What's Changing and What It Means for Your Brand
If your brand ships direct-to-consumer from China, the compliance model you've been relying on is under serious pressure. Here's what's happening and what to do about it.
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