RobinConnect
Your window into China’s real business world
A clear, honest view of how business in China actually works. Stories, field notes, and ground insight from Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area.
How I Helped a Client Source Lab Diamonds 40% Cheaper in China
I had just started prepping my China local business partner project when Miz Tomato messaged me. “Hey Robin, do you know any lab diamond suppliers?” She and her mom wanted to start a side hustle, but every supplier they found, local or on Alibaba was too expensive. It was such
He Spent 14 Years in China’s Gaming Industry. Then He Bet It All on Roblox.
Fourteen years ago, Chandler Huang walked into his first gaming job with nothing but an English degree, a love of games, and a bit of luck. Back then, China’s gaming industry wasn’t what it is today. “I didn’t even know we had a real gaming scene,” he
From Healing People to Helping Her Mom’s Jewelry Business: Trisha’s Unexpected Journey into Sourcing Lab Diamonds from China
When you think of a doctor’s daily routine, you probably imagine hospital rounds, patient charts, or a quiet clinic. You probably don’t picture lab-grown diamonds, customs paperwork, or cross-border supplier negotiations. But for Trisha, a practicing doctor from the Philippines, life had a different plan. A Doctor with
“Rules? I Make My Own.”
Some people follow plans. Nadiyana follows her gut. She didn’t grow up thinking she had to be “different”, it just turned out that way. Her childhood was shaped by movement, curiosity, and a father who didn’t believe in living by other people’s rules. Her dad opened an
