I had a conversation with one of my long-term clients recently that really meant a lot to me.
We’ve worked together for around 10 years.
Over the years, our conversations have gone far beyond quotations, orders and production. We talk about suppliers, products, business, clients — and sometimes just life.
During this conversation, she reminded me:
“Remember Lynn, time is money and your service costs money.”
And a little later, she said:
“Your time and knowledge plus guidance is your money source.”
I was genuinely touched.
When you work in sourcing and international trade, a lot of the work is invisible.
Checking details. Talking with factories. Comparing specifications. Following production. Spotting potential problems. Negotiating. Answering questions. And sometimes simply knowing from experience that something doesn’t look right.
Those things don’t always appear on a quotation.
But they take time, experience and judgment.
Sometimes we need a client to remind us of that. 😊
After working together for so many years, I’m very grateful that she not only trusts my work, but also sees and respects the value behind it.
For me, that kind of long-term relationship is one of the best parts of doing international business.
Ten years of cooperation, and still learning from each other. ❤️