How to verify a Chinese factory before you pay a deposit
Six checks that separate a real manufacturer from a trading company with a borrowed certificate — including the one document…
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Sourcing from China, explained plainly
No jargon, no hype. Field notes from our sourcing team on audits, pricing, quality control and freight.
Incoterms 2020 explained for first-time importers
FOB, CIF, DDP and EXW decide who pays for what and where risk transfers. A plain-English guide with the four terms that actually…
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AQL inspection explained: what "2.5" really means for your order
AQL 2.5 is not a promise that 2.5% of your goods can be defective. Here is how sampling plans actually work, and the three…
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How to order less than the factory MOQ (without paying a premium)
Four practical ways to get a trial order below the stated minimum: stock colours, mixed SKUs, shared moulds and consolidators…
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The true landed cost of importing from China: a worked example
A USD 26,000 FOB order that lands at USD 34,800. Every line item explained — freight, duty, THC, inspection and the fees nobody…
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OEM vs ODM: which one do you actually need?
OEM means the factory builds your design. ODM means you brand theirs. The difference decides your tooling cost, your IP position…
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