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The V V G  Collection
Vietnamese & Thai Handicrafts 

Copyright  © 1997-2008 Vietnam Venture Group, Inc. All rights reserved.   Updated October 10, 2008


Verification & Validation Griffins

OUR TERMS & CONDITIONS 1   
Handicrafts from Vietnam & Thailand
As were griffins from mythology, V V G today symbolizes protection, strength, and vigilance.
Read more about mythological griffins 

We work only for committed buyers whose purchases meet our minimum requirements. 2

Click on a product to see more like it

Crackle-glaze vase No. bat2.jpg (21616 bytes) pdl020.jpg (40903 bytes) small table and chair set lion-1_small.jpg (1712 bytes)
Bat Trang Pottery
World famous at affordable prices
Ceramic Pots/Planters
Almost every shape, size, and design imaginable
Lacquered Furniture
Inlaid with mother of pear, egg shell, or wonderfully plain
Stained Furniture Hardwoods from the leading factories Stonework
Table top to Landmarks, fountains and more
Ref: 2D-105 Ref: 2D-111 Ref: 2D-122 Ref:2D-130 Ref: 2D-160 Ref: 2D-175
Doors - follow this link to see more doors and prices

Doors, Wood Doors, Double Doors, Wooden Doors, Carved Doors, Exterior Doors, Custom Doors, exterior doors, double doors, carved wooden doors, external doors, outside doors, outer doors, main entry doors, entry doors, entrance doors, carved doors, wooden doors, carved exterior doors, custom doors, handmade doors, custom made doors, handcrafted doors, wood doors, teak doors, teakwood doors, design doors, hand carved doors, luxury doors, door sale, door manufacturers, made to order doors, designed doors, custom build doors

Americana Rocking Horses Rosewood furniture Teak Furniture Garden Furniture Many others

All New -- 40 pages, hundreds of handicrafats from Thailand -- click here to see more.

 997.05.45_small.jpg (1127 bytes) Tribal Baskets  Made by ethnic minority people in remote areas, we seek a world wide and regional distributors. These products are not yet available for commercial distribution.

SOURCING AGENTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

MISSION

Our objective is to serve the needs of our clients to create significant and sustainable value in terms of cost, quality, and service in sourcing their products from Thailand’s and Vietnam’s supply markets by leveraging our abilities, skills, and strengths accumulated over the decades to the benefit of each client.

We develop long-term relationships based on integrity and transparency in our work, and our ability to identify, qualify, select, and manage Thai and Vietnamese suppliers hired to produce for export on a one-off and/or on an on-going basis.

SERVICES

We provide end-to-end service starting from our strong national and web presence, leading to initial inquiries, through to in-person and hands-on sourcing operations and follow-up with vendors as there may be that need. We operate under a long tested model which ensures that we work exclusively for the buyer. We have no preferred relationship with any of the hundreds of vendors in the region or the dozens of suppliers we source from.  We devote years to researching, locating, and overseeing each vendor, and then building and maintaining a business relationship that is fully devoted towards supporting our clients by continuously improving their product lines. The procedures we follow can be divided into segments.

SEGMENT ONE
Developing Product Needs

SEGMENT TWO
Sourcing

SEGMENT THREE
Management

KEY ACTIVITIES

Analyze client budget

Identify & qualify a short list of sources per priority category

Manage vendor compliance and performance

Analyze supply market

Identify priorities

Prepare RFI and RFQ

Continuously search for and monitor new sources

Quantify cost reductions

Manage the tender process & negotiations

Develop business needs

Manage product quality, vendor payment, and shipping

Define implementation plan

Implement the contract

WHAT WE DELIVER

Estimated & prioritized opportunities to search for the needed quality at the best available price

Meet or exceed client targets of price, quality, & service

Perform Client needs to manage the vendors by supervising production, payment, and shipping.

Continuously improve targets for improved quality and lower costs

The client is given all information with total transparency; we build client relationships based first on performance, then reliability, and finally trust. Our sourcing process expertise that combines operational with program management skills allows us to generate results rapidly across a wide range of products.

Our 15 year established American presence in Southeast Asia, using the skills of our people combined with a broad understanding of both industrial and retail buying practices and requirements gives V V G an upper hand to manage communications with clients and suppliers, both cost-effectively and cost-efficiently.

OUR METHODS

Our people are trained to follow V V G’s rigorous strategic sourcing methodology in order to rapidly demonstrate savings to the bottom line. Our sourcing approach is highly analytical based on making supplier selection decisions as objectively and as fact-based as possible.

Demand Analysis         Supply Analysis            Strategic and Tactical Planning 

Vendor Selection                  Contract Implementation          Vendor Management   

QC & QA Inspections           Shipping Supervision            Follow-up

Key steps in our process include (1) analyzing each client’s individual requirements, (2) expanding our broad knowledge about the supply market structure and dynamics, (3) developing the sourcing strategy for each project, (4) negotiating with and selecting suppliers, (5) implementing each contract, (6) close supervision of each vendor to insure it meets our client’s needs, (7) rigorous quality control and quality assurance inspections, (8) managing payments to vendors and as needed subcontractors and testing services, (9) on-the-spot shipping and export document supervision, and (10) follow-up services to correct errors and place new orders.

In each project we dedicate experienced staff who manage the client’s needs on an on-going basis. The advantages of this approach are significant.

·        Our clients avoid any need to build or manage an internal team but can rely on V V G as their external service provider whose core competency is to run sourcing operations in Thailand and Vietnam.

·        As a Sourcing Service Provider working for multiple companies, we achieve economies of scale which a client on a stand-alone basis could not leverage. We accomplish this through aggregating purchases across multiple customers for the same product lines where possible, investing in broad product knowledge and expertise, and negotiating leverage deals with suppliers

·        Each client selectively picks the products it wants V V G to manage production and export on its behalf.

 

OUR WORK is always for our clients, never for a vendor, and consists of:

 

V V G's SERVICES & FEES

1.  PURCHASING AGENT SERVICES: V V G will advise you about current business and political conditions, introduce you to our factory contacts with whom we have established twelve-year long relationships, explore the nation with you to discover additional sources of supply, and assist (or lead) the negotiations to get the best price possible for your purchase. 

We will take your design needs (photos and drawings) to our factory contacts and obtain for you their lowest price for their best quality products.  We will insure your needs are met. Samples, if required, will be sent for your approval.  

Should you choose to visit Asia and work with V V G, our fully bi-lingual and university educated staff will be your buying guides and translators. They will take you to as many factories and shops as you want to see, and then stay with you as you direct to help arrange all local ground and air arrangements. They will also help you to locate all business and tourist sights of interest, and even make bookings for you. 

V V G sells only to committed buyers. We have more than 35 years experience in international business, law, and trade. Now in our fourteenth year in Southeast Asia, we continue to build relationships with the best crafts people and factories in the region. These crafts people make the highest quality products and sell them to our clients at the lowest prices. 

For every inquiry we accept, we

For every order placed, V V G's staff

1.1 Minimums : 

1.2 Custom Orders & Special Needs.  Whether ordering a new design of your own creation, an existing design copied from a public source, or making changes to any item posted on our web pages, there is sometimes a need for extra effort to coordinate communications between you and the factory to insure that your needs are properly and fully met, the first time. 

There are also times when buyers need extra attention from V V G to insure that they are properly aware and adequately  knowledgeable of the tasks necessary to make international purchases and shipments.

V V G will devote the extra time needed to insure you make the correct decision.

V V G will talk with you by phone or E-mail as needed, and insure the crafts people we work with are able to create your designs as you need them. V V G staff are at all times in close personal contact with the factory managers and staff to insure your needs are always understood.  As needed, we will prepare a Request for Quotation (RFQ) using the specifications supplied by you, and distribute the RFQ to several factories.

VVG staff will personally meet with the factory managers and crafts people, insure that your design is fully understood, revisit the factory to receive and review samples, ship samples, coordinate work between you and the factories as needed to revise the sample, and work on final details to get the order accepted and confirmed.

Challenges requiring a Research Fee.  Sometimes challenges arise on an order that are not expected by any of us. This most often happens when a retailer or consumer does not have prior experience processing sea-freight orders.  However, sometimes:

In these and other rare situations, V V G willingly extends our effort to meet your needs beyond the standard time it takes to process less complicated orders. 

Because we give to you the important product and manufacturing information you need to make your purchase decision, we may need to charge a Research Fee. In this way, you and we are both receiving value for the services rendered.

A Research Fee is charged only after you approve. It is charged at US$ 45 per hour. Time records are kept to the nearest tenth (1/10) of an hour.  This fee is charged to an advance retainer that you will send to us in a minimum amount of US$ 900.

Should there be funds remaining in the retainer, they will be applied to your order.  Should we need to devote more time, you will be asked to refresh your retainer.  You are at liberty to stop our work at any time and no further charges will be made.

However, if your retainer is fully used, we must stop all our work on that project unless and until you refresh your retainer.

We will not charge any Research fee unless you approve before hand.  Then, we will give you all the important information you need to make your purchase decision that would not have otherwise been available. As this information will be unique to your needs and have no value to us or others, we will both benefit from this added service when you pay us for our effort because we are both professionals and this is the way professionals work together.

1.3  Advance Payment.  All orders that do not exceed US$ 10,000 must be paid in full and in advance, both for product and for shipping, at the time the order is placed.

1.4  Deposit with Order.  When orders exceed US$ 10,000, a 50% deposit is required on purchase price and shipping cost before we start to work for you.

1.5  Final Payment.  All payments must be made at least one week BEFORE production is completed.

1.6 Shipping. We prefer to ship freight collect in full container loads (FCL).  Less than full container load (LCL) orders are accepted CIF destination port, or FOB embarkation port.

2.  EXPORT AGENT  SERVICES

2.1 Quality Control - our staff make periodic calls on the factory (at least every 10 days or more often as needed) to meet with management to follow your order. We carefully examine the order in progress and the finished product to insure that it meets your specifications. Errors will be corrected before you see the final product.

2.2 Inventory Control - our staff check the factory production run with your purchase order to insure the totals are correct and are shipped.

2.3 Packing Control - our staff will supervise the important packing stage to insure that factory standard materials are used.  In the event you have requested and paid for additional packing materials, our staff will insure that such has in fact been used to help reduce possible shipping damage.

2.4 Document Control - our staff will  watch over this important aspect of every shipment and see that the proper documents are with your container and sent by express carrier to you.

2.5  Deposit - A minimum 50% deposit is required before we start to work for you.

3.  IN-COUNTRY BUYING TRIPS

V V G is often hired to help committed buyers or just shoppers explore factories and retail outlets, and to close on great buys.  Our work begins before you arrive in Vietnam.  

Prior to your arrival, we research your needs, arrange factory meetings, and give you a complete itinerary and contact sheet listing all the factories we made inquiry of on your behalf.  

We provide a fully bilingual senior staff person who is familiar with the market segment of your interests and has skills in bargaining down all prices. 

We are your agents, not agents for the factories or shops. V V G passes all savings to our clients because we depend on commercial buyers to return to use our services again, and to recommend us to others.

Our fee of US$ 1,200 per day is set high to discourage shoppers who merely seek our contact information.  The fee is discounted for a full 5 day week to US$ 5,000. 

All purchases completed on your trip will be at factory cost, as you and our staff will help you to bargain them down.  All costs during your trip for you and our staff member will be for your account. All fees must be paid in advance. A purchase is completed when you pay the deposit required by the factory.

The first fee payment to V V G must be sent by wire before you arrive.  Should you need our staff for succeeding days, you will need to pay us for each day in advance.

Additional purchases completed within 30 days after you leave will be sold to you Ex Works at factory cost plus 30% as our fee.  Thereafter, our standard fees apply that decreases as purchases increase, dropping to 1.5% on purchases in excess of US$ 1 million.

Payment in advance for the scheduled time is mandatory. Rarely are additional charges made for extra hours on a long day's work. Refunds are not available unless we have not yet started any of our work.

All travel costs for your party and our staff are for your account.  There are no minimum purchases required.

 

V V G's TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Prices and Fees
Payment Terms
Wire Transfers
Export Provisions
US Import Duties
Costs, insurance, freight
Shipping
Additional Terms & Disclaimers
Credit Cards & Letters of Credit
Antiques

To Place an Order, please write to us. Tell us the product reference number, its posted name, and the quantity you need. Tell us any specific details that you want us to know.  We will confirm the price usually within 24 hours. Some products will need more time.

 

Prices and Fees:

All prices and fees are payable only in Dollars of the United States (US$).

All sums will be paid by wire transfers only to a V V G account you will be advised about.

Research Fees @ US$ 45 per hour, when required, are charged to a retainer that you must advance usually in the amount of US$ 900 unless we determine that greater effort will be needed.  We will ask for your retainer to be refreshed as needed.  Excess funds will be applied to your purchase.

Payment Terms:

Note On Wire Transfers: When funds are due, all work will be suspended unless and until V V G receives the funds requested.  Suspension of all work in progress will occur until we receive Actual Payment.

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Export Provisions. There are export duties and restrictions imposed by Thailand and Vietnam on certain products, such as antiques, cultural & religious items, and certain types of wood, whether processed or not.  

Until the laws of Vietnam change, we must work with a State-licensed Import-Export Company. 

On items sold FOB Port of Hai Phong or Saigon, if the factory dealer price does NOT include all standard export license fees, such fees will be for your account and we will advise you.

Some items are not available for export. V V G will advise you of those items should they be on your purchase order.

VAT is sometimes collectable on purchases from Vietnam. There is no VAT on export sales from Thailand but VAT is due and payable on the cost of shipping services if they are not shipped freight collect.

 

 

US Import Duties: Most nations already enjoy MFN or NTR with Vietnam.  Most nations have similar treaty provisions with Thailand.

V V G provides no import customs information.  We are told since early 2005 many imports from Asia are substantially slowed down by HSS/Customs security and tariff payment procedures.

You alone are responsible for all import duties at the port of destination. If you don't have the goods sent to your warehouse, you or a Customs Broker will need to meet your shipment at the entry Port in the USA or other country of destination

You can research the USA duty applicable to items you select. First go to http://dataweb.usitc.gov/   Find and click on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule.   Then search for each item you need.

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Costs, insurance, freight. Obtaining and paying for these items are for your account on FOB sales.  V V G will sell to you on CIF terms (that include these costs) but you must realize that the quoted CIF prices will not be competitive with FOB prices.  Provided you wish VVG to undertake the service, we will be pleased to do so. V V G will not ever be responsible for any import duty imposed by any Customs authorities.

 

Shipping:  

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Additional Terms.

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Credit Cards & Letters of Credit -   Due to the nature of banking operations and the added costs in Thailand and Vietnam, we are not able to accept credit card purchases or Letters of Credit.

 

Antiques - We will serve as your domestic buying agent on the same terms as with the sale of other products. All costs incurred by V V G to complete the sale will be for buyer's account.

Regrets to our International customers. Antiques are not legal for export. Accordingly, the antique offerings here are only for domestic purchase within Vietnam with the strong caveat that they may not be legally exported.  We will direct you to those who say they can export, but we disclaim any responsibility for the export of any antiquities 


The handicrafts we work with include

All New -- 40 pages, hundreds of handicrafats from Thailand -- click here to see more.

Americana
      Wooden Indians & Cowboys
      Rocking & Hobby Horses
Ceramics
      Bat Trang Pottery
      Glazed Pots & Saucers
Doors Hardwoods: Rose & Teak
Furniture
      Carved Hardwood
      Inlaid Hardwood
      Lacquered Hardwood
      Garden Hardwood
      Pine Mass produced   
      Rattan & Water Hyacinth
      Rustic - Provincial Teak

We Also Work With Table Top:
Antiques
Bamboo - woven
Fern leaf - woven
Lacquer ware
Paintings - Vietnam
Palm leaf - woven
Rattan - natural color
Rattan - stained
Sea grass - woven
Stoneware -Vietnam
Wicker products - general

To place an order, please write to us by e-mail 
Some other pages to visit:

Newsletter | Services | People | Articles | Property Development | VVG's Home Page | FAQOur Offices

1  VVG reserves the right to change or modify these terms and conditions at any time and without notice.  Please refer back to this page before making any new order.

2 For Vietnamese goods, minimum purchase for each factory is in the range of US$ 5,000 to US$ 10,0000. Goods from Thailand may be mixed and matched to reach a minimum purchase of US$ 5,000. Custom goods require a minimum purchase of US$ 35,000. Dealer prices are given when purchases exceed US$ 35,000. Our fees then follow a sliding scale until they bottom at 1.5% when purchases exceed US$ 1 million.

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