In today's increasingly complex international trade settlements, securing an order not only tests product competitiveness but also a supplier's ability to address real pain points. Recently, Hefei YISHENG Import and Export Co., Ltd. welcomed a special Russian client—a young man who had just resigned from the sales team of global cleaning equipment giant Kärcher to start his own business. Affected by US sanctions against Russia, cross-border online payment channels were blocked, so he chose the most traditional and direct way to express his sincerity for cooperation: carrying $30,000 in cash, he flew to China specifically to visit YISHENG's factory in Dingyuan Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park, Anhui Province, to purchase lithium-ion battery-powered floor scrubbers and sweepers on-site.
1. From Kärcher Salesman to Backpacker Entrepreneur: A Courageous Transformation
This young Russian man had previously worked for many years in Kärcher's Russian sales team, accumulating rich experience in the cleaning equipment industry and customer resources. Recently, he decided to leave his job to start his own business, independently developing a cleaning equipment sales business. With a deep understanding of the industry, he knew the importance of high-quality products and reliable suppliers for startups.
After extensive research and comparison, he focused on YISHENG—a Chinese cleaning equipment supplier with a complete industrial chain. However, a real problem arose: due to US sanctions, Russia's cross-border online payment channels were severely hampered, making conventional settlement methods such as T/T wire transfers and letters of credit virtually impossible.
2. $30,000 in a Backpack: Expressing Trust in the Most Practical Way
Faced with payment obstacles, this Russian customer did not give up. He chose a method that is not uncommon in current Sino-Russian trade but is visually striking—he packed $30,000 in cash into a backpack and personally brought it to China.
Upon arriving at the YISHENG factory, the scene of him taking the cash out of his backpack left a deep impression on the receiving team. “He said it was the most direct expression of trust he could think of,” recalled the YISHENG foreign trade team. “He told us he had reviewed our product information and believed YISHENG’s quality was worth the risk.”
After the cash payment was completed, the customer purchased lithium-ion battery-powered floor scrubbers and sweepers on-site, becoming YISHENG’s new partner in the Russian market.
3. YISHENG Opens VTB Bank Settlement Channel, Seamless Ruble/RMB Exchange
This “backpack cash” incident also prompted YISHENG to accelerate the improvement of its settlement solutions for the Russian market. To provide more Russian customers with a worry-free and compliant payment experience, YISHENG has officially opened a settlement channel with VTB Bank (VTB Bank), supporting direct settlement in rubles or RMB.
According to public information, VTB Bank is the only fully licensed Russian bank in China, supporting direct exchange between RMB and rubles with no limit on settlement amounts and transparent exchange rates, effectively avoiding black market risks. Relying on the Russian domestic payment system, VTB can reduce the impact of SWIFT sanctions and achieve rapid settlement. The opening of this channel cleared payment obstacles for YISHENG's long-term and stable cooperation with its Russian clients.
4. Lowering the Customization Barrier: Minimum Order of 5 Units, 25-Day Delivery, Free Logo Customization
In addition to addressing payment pain points, YISHENG offered this startup client a highly attractive customization support policy to lower the initial startup barrier:
A. Lower Minimum Order Quantity: Minimum order of 5 units for medium to large-sized floor cleaning equipment, minimum order of 10 units for small floor cleaning equipment;
B. Free Brand Customization: Free customization of logo, model label, warning label, instruction manual language, water tank color, and battery configuration;
C. Fast Delivery: Delivery cycle within 25 working days.
These flexible policies allowed this entrepreneur, formerly a Kärcher sales professional, to quickly launch his own branded products with a lightweight start-up approach, without the high minimum order quantities and financial pressure of traditional OEM orders.
5. Two 40HQ Monthly Orders: Rapid Validation from First Order to Stable Growth
The success of the first order quickly translated into continuous orders. This Russian client has now achieved a stable monthly purchase volume of two 40-foot high cube containers (40HQ), including lithium-ion battery-powered sweepers and floor scrubbers, primarily targeting the Russian commercial cleaning market.
From carrying $30,000 in cash to an average of two HQ per month, this young entrepreneur's purchase growth curve not only validates the Russian market's acceptance of YISHENG products but also proves the effectiveness of YISHENG's strategies in solving cross-border settlements and lowering customization barriers.
6. Pioneering Innovation, Collaborative Progress, and Mutual Benefit
"Pioneering innovation, collaborative progress, and mutual benefit" is YISHENG's corporate mission. This collaboration with the Russian client is a vivid illustration of this mission—facing the real obstacles of cross-border payments, YISHENG did not stop at conventional operations but proactively opened a VTB settlement channel and adjusted customization thresholds, removing obstacles for the client with a flexible and pragmatic approach; while the client's courage in transitioning from Kärcher sales to independent entrepreneurship, and their unwavering trust in YISHENG products, have also injected continuous momentum into this cooperation.
The head of YISHENG's marketing department stated, "This client's case shows us that in today's complex and ever-changing international trade environment, what truly impresses people is not only the product itself, but also the supplier's ability and sincerity in solving practical problems. We will continue to support every partner with a dream with an open and flexible attitude, no matter where they come from or how they find us."
