Supplier research
We select direct manufacturers through a network built over time in China and other markets, made up of factories, agencies, local professionals and contacts developed during trade fairs and plant visits.
International supplier research starts from the technical definition of the product. Before approaching the market we gather information on function, materials, quantity, level of customisation, target price, timing and destination country. This step lets us look for manufacturers that already have experience in the required processing and avoid contacts unsuited to the complexity of the project.
Sourcing is carried out through a network built in China and other markets, made up of factories, agencies, local professionals and relationships developed during trade fairs and production visits. Selection is not limited to marketplaces. We verify specialisation, production capacity, plant availability, minimum quantities, sampling times, commercial terms and the supplier's willingness to handle changes and inspections.
When the project requires it we compare several sourcing countries. Unit cost, duty, transport time, route stability, raw-material availability and supply-chain quality are read together. A lower factory price can become less competitive if it entails expensive moulds, long lead times, additional checks or logistics unsuited to the client's deadline.
Supplier qualification and negotiation
After the first selection we look deeper into the manufacturer's reliability. We analyse the production site, machinery, comparable products, references, quality-control organisation, subcontractor management and consistency of company documents. When appropriate we add document checks, technical video calls, audits or factory visits.
Negotiation concerns the entire balance of the supply, not just the price. We define minimum quantity, cost and ownership of the moulds, sampling times, reserved capacity, tolerances, packaging, payment terms, commercial term and liability in case of non-conformity. Ongoing relationships with factories can favour production priority and faster handling of revisions.
The goal is to build a readable supply chain, with shared specifications and responsibilities defined before the order. This way the client receives a proposal based on the total cost of the project and not on a partial quote bound to change during production.