Follow the steps for choosing products, checking suppliers, reviewing samples and preparing shipment. Know what to confirm before making each commitment.
A manageable first order starts with one written brief. Compare several suppliers against it, review physical samples where suitable, and agree the quality, cost and shipment requirements before committing to production.
LIFA organizes China-side supplier communication and follow-up from Hangzhou. You retain control of supplier selection, payments, product compliance and import decisions.
Read the complete China sourcing process →
Write the product specification, quantity, packaging and destination.
Compare supplier capability and replies against that brief.
Align price, minimum order quantity (MOQ), samples, lead time and commercial terms.
Review company details and resolve risk signals before payment.
Agree samples, quality checks, documents and the shipment plan.
Start with the details you have. Mark what is undecided so the supplier or sourcing team can ask the right follow-up questions.
For technical products, include drawings, a bill of materials and datasheets where available. Keep the revision and proposed alternatives clear; confirm technical conformity before price.
Download first-order brief (CSV)
A photograph can start a conversation. A written specification and reviewed sample give the buyer and supplier a shared reference for production.
Align material, dimensions, function, packaging, quantity, minimum order, lead time, sample charges and payment assumptions. Record unpriced items and exceptions before comparing the total.
Review registration details, claimed factory capability, supporting documents, contact consistency and sample results. Keep unresolved questions visible before approving production.
Get help comparing supplier quotations →“What is your best price?” often produces replies for different products. Send the same brief to each supplier, including reference images, quantity, destination and expected timeline. Separate mandatory requirements from preferences.
Decision check: could two suppliers quote the same product from this brief? If not, resolve the missing details first.
The fastest reply is one input. Look at what the supplier actually offered and ask:
Include tooling, inspection, freight responsibilities and quotation validity. A lower unit price can move costs or risks elsewhere.
Check dimensions, materials, finish, function, labels and packaging. Where practical, inspect a physical sample rather than approving production from photographs alone. Keep the approved sample or dated reference and list every required change.
For each check, agree the requirement, method, tolerance, evidence and person authorized to approve the result. Retain original findings alongside corrections and rechecks.
Check company information, factory claims, documents and communication consistency. Verification reduces uncertainty; it does not eliminate sourcing risk. Agree purchase terms, the payment method and the production timeline in writing.
Confirm product compliance and destination requirements with the responsible authority or an appropriate local professional. Use the supplier-verification guide to organize the questions.
Agree inspection timing, quantity checks, condition, measurements, labels, carton details and loading requirements before production finishes. Resolve a failed check or missing document before the buyer releases the affected goods.
Confirm destination clearance with the buyer or local broker unless the agreement assigns it elsewhere. Record each responsibility before booking the shipment.
Keep discovery, sampling, production and shipment decisions separate so you do not commit the full budget while basic questions remain unanswered.
Written specification, sample price, courier terms, expected lead time and what the sample must prove.
Which features are prototype-only, and what will differ in production?
Approved sample or documented changes, aligned quotation, supplier review, purchase terms, payment method, production timeline and compliance plan.
What triggers rework, replacement, a refund discussion or schedule escalation?
Production status, agreed inspection evidence, final quantities, packing list, carton data, labels and required documents.
Are unresolved defects or missing documents linked to a payment condition?
Freight comparison, delivery term, insurance decision, export and China customs plan, consignee details and destination-clearance responsibility.
Who pays each origin, freight, destination, duty, tax and final-delivery charge?
Payment structures vary by supplier and order. These checkpoints help organize a decision; they are not a universal payment schedule.
Identify the exact revision, check the product against it and record required changes. Confirm that the insert protects the same item that will be produced. Plan packaging and labeling.
Agree the measurable requirements, check method and acceptance criteria. Keep original findings, isolate affected products or batches and record corrections before release.
Reconcile carton counts, packed weight, dimensions, labels and the packing list. Confirm protective packaging, freight inclusions, consignee information and destination timing before handover.
Discuss the commercial invoice, packing list and transport document early. Product- or market-specific certificates, permits and test reports depend on the order and destination.
Plan China-side shipping coordination →Start with a product brief: product type, specifications, quantity, destination country, budget range, packaging needs, timeline and any supplier links or reference photos. Mark unknown details for clarification instead of guessing.
Review samples and consider a smaller controlled order where the supplier’s minimum quantity and product economics allow it. The right quantity depends on your budget, market demand, supplier capability and destination requirements. Custom tooling or packaging can have separate minimums.
We help you compare suppliers, quotations and verification findings. You make the final supplier choice and approve payment, compliance and import decisions.
There is no single starting budget. Include samples, tooling if needed, goods, packaging, inspections, freight, insurance, duties, taxes, clearance and final delivery. Keep an allowance for corrections and delays. A unit price alone does not show the money needed to receive and sell the order.
Start with the commercial invoice, packing list and transport document, then confirm whether the product and destination need certificates, test reports, permits or other documents. Agree the consignee details and who handles each clearance step with your supplier, freight provider and destination broker.
Yes. You can request a defined service such as sample follow-up, inspection, order coordination or shipment preparation. For a buyer-supplied supplier, the standard service commission is 5% unless agreed otherwise in writing. If LIFA finds the supplier, sourcing is included in the product quote with no added standard 5% commission.
Use official records for supplier checks and the responsible authority for product and destination requirements.
Requirements vary by product and destination. Confirm current rules before ordering or shipping. Reviewed .
Our Hangzhou team can organize supplier communication, quotation comparison, verification, sample follow-up, inspections and shipping preparation. You approve the scope and the key decisions.
Build a supplier search around the specification, quantity and target market. Review supplier-search support. Keep drawings, sample references, BOMs, packaging files and changes under revision control.
Review company information, supporting documents and factory claims before committing to samples or production.
Align specifications, MOQ, tooling, packaging, checks, lead time, payment milestones, validity and freight responsibilities.
Already found your supplier? Choose only the sample follow-up, quality checks or order coordination you need. For buyer-supplied suppliers, the standard service commission is 5% unless agreed otherwise in writing. When LIFA finds the supplier, sourcing is included in the product quote with no added standard 5% commission. Compare service scope and fees.
Read the full route from a written requirement to shipment preparation.
Review common warning signs and the information to verify before payment.
Confirm the details needed before moving to the next commitment.
List product, freight and destination charges before requesting confirmed quotations.
Explore supplier selection, samples, quality and shipping for new importers and ecommerce sellers.
Use the checklist to find missing details before supplier outreach.
Organize company details, documents, factory claims and open risk questions.
Send the details available so we can clarify the proposed work.
Confirm the rules for your exact product and destination before placing an order.
Review applicable EU requirements, responsibilities and the documents for the exact product.
Prepare customs, product and biosecurity questions, packaging and freight handover.
Review tariff classification, applicable taxes, registration and declaration requirements.
Prepare importer arrangements, classification, labeling, safety requirements and supporting documents.
Share the product, quantity, destination, budget range, timeline and any supplier links. Our China-side team can help clarify the next step in English, Arabic or French. See contact details.
Send your requirements and mark what still needs clarification.
We clarify the work and confirm the proposed scope and quotation in writing.
You approve the supplier, specification, payment and shipment decisions.
