COVID-19 pandemic has been rampant in China and abroad successively, it raged in China at first, then it spread abroad, and it has been affecting foreign trade enterprises all the time. However, no matter when it is, Chinese foreign trade enterprises actively respond and strive to save themselves, showing the unique tenacity and tenacious vitality of Chinese enterprises.

[CRISIS] Chinese foreign trade enterprises faced the second crisis at the time of returning to work.
Phoenix Artist Material is a typical export-oriented enterprise, 80% of its products are sold to North American and European markets. Due to the effective control in China, Phoenix Artist Material have been put into production rapidly since the resumption of work on February 10, 2020. However, as the pandemic gradually spread to Europe, the United States and even most countries and regions in the world in March, many overseas customers have asked for delayed delivery, delayed payment and even cancelled orders, and foreign trade business has basically stagnated or even frozen. For Chinese enterprises that have just recovered and are ready to do a lot of work, it is no different from a "late spring cold", and the negative impact is obvious.
As the old saying goes, when the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat come to grief which means innocent people suffering from what happens to others. The domino effect of stagnation in overseas markets soon spread to Chinese enterprises, which are known as "world factories", and foreign trade manufacturing enterprises bear the brunt.
Not only the existing business affected, but also new product development and new business development are hindered. Regularly, the first half of the year is the golden age for overseas market promotion. Phoenix Artist Material will participate in 4-5 international large-scale exhibitions every year, and exchange visits and negotiate new business with overseas major customers.
However, from March this year, Frankfurt (Dubai) Paper Products Exhibition, National Art Education Exhibition and other important exhibitions were cancelled. As early as a few months ago, Phoenix Artist Material had already prepared samples, reserved related booths, air tickets, hotels and so on for these overseas exhibitions. All of these expenses are wasted, and the new product promotion plan of the enterprise is even more impossible to carry out, which is bound to affect the sales performance of the whole year.
In addition to the business stagnation during the pandemic period, the "post pandemic" crisis has not ended, which is adding more uncertainty to the future. The COVID-19 pandemic is rampant around the world, and the negative impact on the global economy is hard to predict. It is still uncertain whether some major overseas customers can survive the pandemic, whether overseas raw material suppliers can maintain normal supply, and whether the whole international market can recover. Any link in the international trade industry chain will be affected by other enterprises, especially for Chinese foreign trade enterprises which are highly dependent on overseas markets, the whole field is highly integrated with mutual stake.

[COUNTERMEASURES] A variety of measures are implemented to stabilize and stop the loss, save the market by a cross-border e-commerce.
The one who dare to face the bleak life is the real warrior. Facing all kinds of uncertainties in overseas markets under the epidemic crisis, Phoenix Artist Material and other Chinese enterprises respond calmly, they have taken various self-help measures. Some of these measures have achieved certain results, and some may have new risks. The transition between danger and opportunity is often in the blink of an eye.

First: do everything possible to maintain stability and stop loss.
As early as the end of February and the beginning of March, the top management of Phoenix Artist Material was keenly aware of the signs of the pandemic overseas, they organized and established the pandemic response team and special response mechanism. One of its major responsibilities was to closely evaluate and guide the foreign trade business. Business managers directly face customers, make full use of remote video and other modern social platforms, and try to keep in touch with overseas customers. For the customer’s demands of delayed delivery, delayed payment, and even cancellation of orders, Phoenix Artist Material respond immediately, combined with the actual situation, and guide the factory to reasonably arrange and schedule the customer’s delayed orders.

Through close external communication and internal coordination, strived to "minimize the number of orders cancelled by customers, minimize the account period extended by customers, and minimize the losses caused by customers delaying or canceling orders." After efforts to control, there are few cancellations of overseas orders, and no more than 10% of orders with delayed payment or delivery.


Second: saving the market by cross-border e-commerce
While trying to stabilize the traditional market, Phoenix Artist Material actively opened up new channels for cross-border e-commerce. As early as 2017, P Phoenix Artist Material opened an online store on Amazon. After two years of development, it has gradually matured. With the outbreak of the pandemic in Europe and the United States this year, cross-border e-commerce business has increased rapidly. The cross-border e-commerce Department of Phoenix Painting Materials actively seized this opportunity and increased its overseas market investment. Since March, the Department has stepped up the preparation of goods, made sufficient inventory, increased product types, so that European and American customers who are staying at home due to the pandemic can have more choices, and made the Phoenix Artist Material a sales leader among Amazon’s similar products. At present, the weekly sales volume of Amazon Phoenix Artist Material store is equivalent to the sales volume of the same period last year. The past March witnessed explosive growth.
Third: based on industry, do well in products


Products are the foundation of manufacturing enterprises. No matter how the external market changes, Phoenix Artist Material always adhere to the production. During the pandemic, overseas factories such as Vietnam and Cambodia stepped up production and fully prepared for the market rebound after the pandemic.
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Step up research and development of medium and high-end pigment products. Since 2019, Phoenix Artist Material has vigorously developed medium and high-end pigment products and committed to changing the situation that the world’s high-end pigment market is monopolized by a few imported brands. For this reason, Phoenix Artist Material introduced the core team of famous British brands with a history of 100 years and adopted the most advanced technology standards in Europe. Phoenix Artist Material meticulously created Phoenix plus Picasso artist grade watercolor, oil painting and acrylic series of high-end pigments, and launched them simultaneously in both international and domestic markets.
Through unremitting efforts, the export contract orders of Phoenix Artist Material in the first quarter (January to March) increased by 35% over the same period of last year, showing an upward curve against the trend.


[FAITH] faith is more precious than aurum.

Although the global epidemic crisis continues, we are still confident in the future. “We believe that God helps those who help themselves. While Phoenix Artist Material and other local foreign trade enterprises, trying to save themselves, they also got the attention from the government and the community. Government have also introduced a lot of relevant measures, which gives enterprises great confidence. I believe that with the introduction of more warm enterprise policies, enterprises will be able to get out of the crisis. The pandemic crisis will finally come to an end, and spring will come after the cold winter.” Said Chen Weihong, chairman of Phoenix Artist Material.