How it works

From brief to bill of lading.

A new sourcing project typically runs 8–16 weeks from first brief to containers landing at your port. Here's exactly what happens along the way, stage by stage, with the timing and deliverables you should expect from us.

i.
Week 1 / Brief & feasibility

Discovery call & brief

We start with a 45-minute call to understand your product, quantities, target landed cost, compliance requirements, and delivery window. Within 48 hours we come back with a written feasibility assessment and proposed engagement model — or we tell you honestly if we're not the right fit.

  • Discovery call with our sourcing lead
  • Written feasibility assessment within 48 hours
  • Proposed engagement model & fees
  • NDA and sourcing agreement execution
ii.
Weeks 2–4 / Sourcing

Supplier shortlist & quotation

We identify 3–5 factories that match your spec, conduct preliminary due diligence, and solicit quotes. You receive a side-by-side comparison sheet showing price, MOQ, lead time, and factory profiles — with our honest recommendation and reasoning.

  • 3–5 shortlisted factories identified
  • Business licence verification for each
  • Side-by-side quote comparison
  • Our written recommendation
  • Sample request coordination
iii.
Weeks 4–6 / Samples & selection

Sample evaluation & factory selection

Samples arrive at our Guangzhou office for initial QC, then ship to you by express courier. We facilitate any revisions, align on final specs, and lock in the chosen factory with a production agreement covering materials, tolerances, and packaging.

  • Samples received & pre-inspected in Guangzhou
  • Forwarded to you by express
  • Revision rounds coordinated if needed
  • Production agreement executed
  • Deposit arranged & escrowed through us
iv.
Weeks 6–12 / Production

Production management & inspection

We manage the factory day-to-day: weekly progress updates, material verification, in-line inspections, and escalation of any issues before they compound. You receive a weekly report with photos and a live production timeline.

  • Weekly production status reports with photos
  • Pre-production inspection of materials
  • During-production inspection at 40–60% complete
  • Issue escalation & resolution
  • Packaging approval before final run
v.
Week 12–13 / Final inspection

Pre-shipment inspection

Once production is 100% complete and packed, we conduct a full pre-shipment inspection using AQL sampling. You receive a detailed PSI report; only after your sign-off do we authorise the factory to release goods for shipment.

  • AQL-based sampling inspection
  • Functional testing where applicable
  • Packaging & labelling verification
  • Full PSI report within 24 hours
  • Your sign-off before shipment release
vi.
Weeks 13–16 / Shipping

Freight, documentation & delivery

We book freight at our negotiated rates, coordinate the factory hand-off, produce all trade documents, and monitor the shipment until it clears customs at your destination. Container tracking links are shared daily.

  • Freight booking & container loading supervision
  • Full document pack (invoice, packing list, B/L, CoO)
  • Daily tracking updates
  • Destination customs coordination
  • Post-delivery reconciliation & final invoicing
After delivery
§ Ongoing

And then we do it again.

i.

Reorder planning

We track your sell-through data and flag reorder windows before stock runs low. Repeat orders typically move 40% faster than first runs.

ii.

Continuous improvement

We review every completed project for cost savings, lead-time improvements, and defect-rate reductions. Expect 3–7% cost optimisation on recurring SKUs.

iii.

Range expansion

As we learn your brand, we proactively surface new product ideas from our factory network — including products you may not have considered sourcing from China.

Ready to begin

Every project starts with a brief.