When I met Appie—a Dutch entrepreneur from Gouda—in Shenzhen, I could tell right away he had a story worth sharing. He left behind a 14-year IT career, traded the stability of office life for a backpack, and ended up starting a business in a city he never even planned to visit.

Appie didn’t come to China with a business plan. He stumbled into it. But that’s exactly why his journey is so relevant—for anyone trying to build something from scratch, especially in unfamiliar territory.

A Flight Delay That Changed Everything

Appie was backpacking through Asia, thinking about hitting up Beijing, maybe Macau. But a canceled flight rerouted his trip. A friend asked him to check out a factory near Shanghai for a potential deal—and that detour changed the course of his life.

“I was supposed to go to Japan or the Philippines,” he laughed. “I ended up in Shenzhen.”

What he found here blew his mind: factories for everything, from smart gadgets to niche collectibles. For someone with an eye on European markets, Shenzhen felt like a giant playground of opportunity.

Starting a Business in a City Where You Don’t Speak the Language

“Translation apps help, but they mess up a lot,” Appie said. One time, a supplier’s message got so garbled, he wasn’t even sure they were talking about the same product.

Then there’s the price game. Some vendors quoted him four to five times the factory cost. “You’ve got to shop around. Don’t stop at the first or even third supplier—check five or six.”

Surprisingly, logistics wasn’t the problem—many suppliers could handle shipping. But trust? That’s where it got real.

“You need people you can rely on,” Appie said. “Without local knowledge, it’s easy to get taken advantage of.”

The Power of One Connection

Everything shifted when Appie met Eddie—an event organizer who introduced him to Shenzhen’s entrepreneurial crowd.

At a local meetup, Appie connected with over 30 founders—some just starting out, others seasoned pros like Tony, who knew the ins and outs of factory negotiations.

“That group changed everything,” Appie said. Through those connections, he learned how to deal with MOQs, negotiate contracts, and find reliable partners.

“Find people who speak both English and Chinese,” he advised. “They make everything easier.”

(If you're looking to connect with bilingual business assistants, platforms like RobinConnect.com help match international entrepreneurs with local expertise—but more on that another time.)

Learning to Read the Shenzhen Market

Shenzhen’s markets are overwhelming—in the best way.

“There’s so much here, it’s hard to choose,” Appie said.

So he went back to basics: he asked friends and family in the Netherlands what they’d actually buy. “How much would you pay for this?” became his go-to market research method. It was fast, low-cost, and effective.

He also learned to move quickly. “Don’t ship by sea—it takes 30 to 40 days,” he warned.

Speed matters, especially when you’re chasing trends. He’s now using air freight for hot products, like those limited-edition dolls that sell out fast. Shenzhen’s supply chain made that pivot possible.

No Rush, Just Steady Growth

Appie’s vision isn’t about overnight success. It’s about building something real.

“I want to grow naturally,” he told me. His plan: start with one or two products, reinvest profits, and slowly expand.

He flies back to Shenzhen every few months to explore new product ideas, check in with factories, and build stronger relationships.

Eventually, he hopes to launch his own brand. Maybe even sell the business one day.

“If a product does well, I’ll brand it,” he said. “That’s how you build something that lasts.”

What You Can Learn from Appie’s Journey

Appie’s story is full of scrappy wisdom. If you're thinking about launching a product or testing a new market—especially in Asia—here’s his advice:

Start Small: Choose low-risk products with low minimum order quantities (MOQs). Learn before you scale.
Speed Is Key: Use air freight for trending items. Delay can kill momentum.
Find the Right People: Local contacts who understand the culture and language can save you time and money.
Fail Forward: Appie’s earlier ventures—coffee, macadamia nuts, alkaline water—flopped. But each one made him smarter.
Ask, Don’t Assume: Talk to real people. Friends, family, strangers on Reddit—get feedback before committing.

My Take

Appie’s journey reminded me that entrepreneurship isn't about having a perfect plan. It's about getting in the game, adapting fast, and surrounding yourself with the right people.

Whether you’re in Shenzhen or somewhere completely different, the formula is similar:

Start small. Stay curious. Build connections. Keep going.

Appie didn’t know what he was getting into when he boarded that flight. Now he’s building something of his own—step by step, deal by deal. And that’s the kind of hustle I’ll always root for.

From Backpack to Business: How Appie Built a Business in Shenzhen Without a Plan