In this episode, Erin and Jackie break down one of the most overlooked reasons products go wrong in manufacturing: communication. Drawing from decades of hands-on sourcing experience, they explain why most factory issues aren’t production failures — they’re messaging failures — and how founders can dramatically improve outcomes by communicating with clarity, structure, and intention.

You’ll learn how to work effectively with overseas factories across time zones and language barriers, how to give feedback that actually gets executed, and when it’s worth hopping on a call instead of sending yet another email.

If you’ve ever thought, “That’s not what I asked for” when a sample arrived — this episode is for you.

• Why over 50% of factory mistakes stem from miscommunication, not capability
• How written communication (email, WhatsApp, WeChat) changes meaning across cultures
• Why factories execute what you say — not what you mean
• The importance of one email per day and keeping everything in a single thread
• How filler words like “try” and “just” create confusion
• Using bullet points, color-coded replies, and visuals to eliminate ambiguity
• How to give sample feedback that’s clear, actionable, and respectful
• When to pick up the phone (or jump on WeChat) to save days of back-and-forth
• Cultural nuances in communication styles across regions
• Why consistency and documentation protect both you and the factory

• “Factories don’t fail you — communication does.”
• “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”
• If you didn’t write it down, it didn’t happen.

Key Topics CoveredMemorable Takeaways

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