How a sourcing project actually runs

What you are buying, at what volume, and by when.

• Product specification, target landed cost, and order volume — including whether this is a trial order or an ongoing programme.
• Your quality tolerance and any regulatory requirements in the destination market (CE, FDA, SONCAP, KEBS, and equivalents vary by product and country).
• Timeline constraints, especially any hard dates tied to a season, tender, or existing contract.

You receive: A written summary of requirements and an honest read on whether we are the right partner.

Factories shortlisted against your spec, and verified.

• Shortlisting across the relevant manufacturing cluster — different provinces dominate different categories, and starting in the wrong one costs weeks.
• Business licence verification, export history, and production capacity checked against your volume.
• Where the order justifies it, an on-site visit or third-party audit before any commitment.

You receive: Three to five vetted candidates with quoted pricing, lead times, and MOQ.

Samples are produced and reviewed before terms are fixed.

• Pre-production samples reviewed against the agreed specification, with revisions where needed.
• Commercial terms negotiated on your behalf: unit price, MOQ, payment schedule, and Incoterm.
• A golden sample is retained as the reference standard that later inspections are judged against.

You receive: An approved reference sample and a signed proforma invoice.

Inspected at defined checkpoints, not just at the end.

• Incoming material checks before the line starts, so a substrate problem is caught before it becomes finished stock.
• During-production inspection at roughly 20–30% completion, when a systemic defect can still be corrected.
• Pre-shipment inspection against AQL sampling once goods are 100% produced and at least 80% packed.

You receive: Inspection reports with photographic evidence at each checkpoint.

Goods are booked, documented, and cleared into your market.

• Mode selection — sea LCL, sea FCL, air, or rail — based on your cost/urgency trade-off.
• Documentation prepared and checked: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and any product-specific certificates.
• Customs clearance coordinated at destination, with duties and taxes calculated in advance so the landed cost holds.

You receive: Delivered goods and a complete document set for your records.