4 Major Steps of Product Sourcing in China

by Adam Gilbourne

Procurement from China is not a job for a lazy person. It is time-consuming and requires experience to do effectively. Here are 4 steps to get better results when procuring product from China:

Step 1: Create a clear set of product specifications.

This ensures you will get more accurate quotations from the factory. You will come across as a professional, experienced buyer who is focused on the product specifications and not just the price. Good factories like working with such buyers.

When creating specifications consider:

What materials are used? What are the dimensions? Is there a production process you require? How will the goods be packaged? Are there any critical functions the product has to achieve? Do you have a product sample to provide the factory? What about CAD drawings?

Make sure your requirements are extremely clear.

Step 2: Get quotations from multiple suppliers

currently producing or capable of producing your product.

You should research trade websites (global sources, etc.), travel to trade shows, or search Chinese-only or other supplier directories.

If you are using a procurement agent, they will have a network of factories they can recommend. Many times these factories or workshops have no online presence and would be impossible to find. Try to investigate as many sources as possible.

Step 3: Sort out the results of your initial investigation.

You may end up with 5, 10 or 20 quotations.

You should ask each supplier if they are currently producing your exact product at their factory. Do they ever outsource any part of production?

What equipment and machinery do they use? How long have they been in business making your specific product? Who else do they sell to? What materials do they use? Where does their product sit in the market (high end, mid end, low end)? What tricks are commonly used to rip off buyers (and increase their margin)?

Arrange samples if possible. Is it a hand-made sample? Or has it come directly from the production line – using the same process as mass production?

Step 4: Visit your shortlisted suppliers.

You may have 10 quotations – but must narrow this down to 1, 2 or 3 short-listed suppliers.

Things to consider: pricing, lead times, experience, materials used and answers to all questions from step 3.

You should now visit these suppliers. You will see the reality on the ground. Does it confirm the story you have been told? Once you are at the factory, many suppliers will give you a helpful overview of their industry. They will explain the common tricks used to rip customers off. You can gain crucial information from these meetings.

Conclusion

At this point you will have enough information to make an accurate choice on the best supplier for your business. But that is not the end of the work. There is plenty more to do; creating sales contracts – which clearly state specifications and expectations, arranging quality control inspections and shipping the goods to your door. We will discuss these steps in future articles.

Adam Gilbourne is the founder of Easy Imex Ltd and helps importers to source product & manage their supply chain in China. He writes advice for importers on the Easy Imex blog. He lives full time in Shanghai, China. You can contact him at adam@easyimex.com