From Surplus to Shelves: A Chinese Manufacturer's Canadian Story
When Excess Capacity Becomes a Market Opportunity
In 2022, as the world was still finding its footing after the pandemic, Ruizeng faced a different kind of problem. As the head of a phone stand production team at Ningbo Ningshang Trading Group, domestic demand had softened, and the inventory was building up.
The product was good.
The capacity was there.
What was missing was a market.
That's when Ruizeng started thinking about export.
A Different Kind of Market Entry
Reaching Canadian consumers is one thing. Reaching them through Dollarama and Walmart is another entirely. These aren't retailers you simply pitch to — they come with strict supplier qualification processes, compliance requirements, and for electronics-adjacent products entering Canada, regulatory certifications that can't be skipped.
Ruizeng connected with Abridge, and the work began in earnest. The first major hurdle was Canada's IC certification — Industry Canada's regulatory requirement for wireless and electronic devices sold in the country. Getting there meant navigating technical documentation, coordinating with testing bodies, and making sure every product variant met the standard. It wasn't fast, and it wasn't simple. But it was necessary, and Abridge pushed it through.
At the same time, the team worked through Dollarama and Walmart's supplier qualification processes — the audits, the documentation, the compliance standards that large retailers require before a product ever touches their shelves. Each step had its own timeline, its own requirements, its own potential for delay.
On the Shelves, Across the Country
The trial didn't last long before it turned into something bigger. After a short test run, Ruizeng's phone stands moved to full national distribution — in both Dollarama and Walmart locations across Canada.
What started as an overflow problem became a new business channel. A production line that had too much capacity now had somewhere to send it.
The Right Partner Makes the Difference
“I've always been proud of Chinese design and Chinese manufacturing. If we hadn't gone international sooner, it was only because we hadn't found the right partner.”
Ruizeng's instinct had been right all along. The product was ready. The manufacturing was solid. What the team needed was someone who knew how to open the door — and stay in the room long enough to make sure everything on the other side was in order.