How a sourcing project actually runs
Most sourcing pages describe a tidy five-step process that bears no resemblance to reality. Here's what actually happens, including the parts that go wrong.
Step 1 — Tell us what you need
Send us your product and rough volume through the quote form, or book a 20-minute call. We're mostly working out whether it's viable — some products don't work at low volume, and some target prices aren't achievable from a factory worth using. You'll get an honest answer either way.
Step 2 — We find and vet factories
We search Chinese-language databases, trade directories and our own network — including factories that don't market to the West. We qualify 15–20 candidates down to a shortlist of 3–5 that can genuinely make your product, and verify each one is real.
Step 3 — Quotes and samples
Quotes come back on comparable terms, so you can actually compare them. Then samples — expect this to iterate. First samples are rarely perfect, and two or three rounds is normal. It's far cheaper to be fussy now than after 500 units are made.
Step 4 — Negotiation
Price, MOQ, lead time, payment terms, and — the one people forget — who owns the tooling and IP. Negotiation happens in the supplier's own language. This is where our fee pays for itself.
Expect this to iterate. First samples are rarely right. Two or three rounds is normal and it's much cheaper to be fussy now than after 500 units are made.
Step 5 — Production and inspection
We monitor the run and inspect before your final payment is released. Once goods are on a ship, a factory's incentive to fix anything drops to zero — so the inspection happens while you still have leverage.
Step 6 — Shipping to your door
Freight, customs clearance, delivery. Costs passed through at cost.
What can go wrong
We'd rather set expectations honestly.
Lead times slip. Chinese New Year shuts factories for 2–4 weeks and the backlog runs into March. Plan around it.
First samples disappoint. Almost always. Budget time and a little money for iteration.
Prices move. Raw material costs and exchange rates shift. A quote from three months ago is a starting point, not a commitment.
Some projects aren't viable. Low volumes of complex products often can't be made economically. We'll tell you early rather than let you discover it at sample stage.
How we're paid
Transparent, always. You see the factory's real price — we don't mark up your goods or take commission from factories.
Supplier Check — a fixed fee from £199.
Find My Supplier — a fixed fee from £595.
End-to-End Sourcing — a project fee agreed upfront after a free scoping call, so you know the full cost before you commit.