Buying from China without buying the problem
The price on a supplier’s website is rarely the price of your product. Tooling, material grade, tolerances, packaging, inspection, freight and duty all sit outside it, and the failure modes are predictable: parts that do not fit, finishes that wear out, cartons that arrive damaged, and paperwork that stalls a container at the border.
Our job is to remove that variance before you commit money. We buy for UK customers under UK contracts, inspect on your behalf and take responsibility for the result.
What is included
- Supplier identification and shortlisting. We approach manufacturers matched to your specification, capacity and price band, not to an existing affiliate.
- Due diligence. Business licence checks, export history, capacity review and reference verification before a factory is quoted to you.
- RFQ management. Your specification goes out as a controlled document. We compare quotations on like-for-like terms and explain where they differ.
- Sample development. Pre-production samples produced, shipped to you, and approved in writing before tooling or production is released.
- Production management. We hold the factory to the schedule, act as the single point of contact, and escalate rather than absorb delays.
- Pre-shipment inspection. Quantity, workmanship, dimensions, finish, function and packaging verified against the approved sample, with photographic evidence.
- Consolidation and freight. Multiple suppliers combined into fewer shipments where that reduces your total cost. Sea, air, rail or express, FOB, CIF or DDP.
- Export documentation. Commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin and declarations prepared for UK customs clearance.
Typical goods
Injection and blow moulded plastics, die-cast and machined metal components, sheet metal fabrication, assembly and sub-assemblies, injection moulding tools, packaging and secondary packaging, textiles and soft goods, electronics enclosures, cable management, fasteners and hardware, branded promotional and retail display items.
Commercial terms
Orders are quoted per line item so you can see the split between unit price, tooling where applicable, inspection, packaging and freight. Payment terms, currency, Incoterms and ownership transfer are agreed in writing at the point of quotation. We work on both outright purchase and sale-or-return arrangements for suitable clients.
Where you are in the process
Most enquiries arrive at one of four points. Tell us which one applies and we will start there.
I have a drawing
We take it to matched factories, collect like-for-like quotations and manage sample production and inspection.
I have a sample
We reverse-engineer, produce a controlled specification and quote against it so suppliers are all quoting the same thing.
I have an idea only
We develop it with you — CAD, material selection, design for manufacture — and 3D print it in the UK to prove the geometry first.
I need a factory audit
Independent assessment of an existing supplier against capability, quality systems, capacity and compliance.