Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our sourcing, manufacturing, and production process.
If you need more details, our team is always here to help.
1
Where are you located? Where are your factories located?
Our head office is located in Hong Kong, one of Asia's most international cities, largest trading and shipping hub, and a short drive to most of our factories in Mainland China. Our main manufacturers are mostly located in the Shenzhen-Guangzhou region, but we also work with factories in other areas of China depending on the product type. For candle pouring, we work with a large facility in Vietnam to take advantage of top quality and lower landed costs.
2
I don't like working with vendors in Asia because of the huge time difference. Is there someone closer to my time zone that I can work with?
Yes! We have someone in the US both on the East and West Coast, so all communication will happen on your schedule and we manage the time difference with Asia. This also means that you will have real-time updates and answers to your questions as they come up, not one or two days later.
3
Why should I work with you? What sets you apart from other China-based vendors?
We're glad you asked! In the vendor selection process, an importer should evaluate suppliers across several areas before making a decision. The main areas for consideration are usually: pricing, references, responsiveness, ease of communication and understanding, and evaluation of samples when provided. Within the first two to three interactions with a new client, we aim to have answered all of these questions, and present pricing and a clear action plan and timetable for samples.
4
How does the sampling process work?
This usually depends on your product type, level of customization and time of year. Generally speaking, 95% of samples can be finished within 30 days, and about 70% of samples can be done in 2-3 weeks. If your product is readily available, a stock item, and requires minimal customization, it could be ready in as little as 7-10 days.
5
I already have a supplier that I work with, or I've identified potential suppliers. Can I work with them through you?
Yes, most of the time this is possible. Depending on your specific goals and history with the vendor in question, we can usually integrate them into our network. In most cases we're also able to identify alternative manufacturers who might present a better option when it comes to pricing, quality, minimums, lead times etc.
6
How do you ensure quality? Will there be any guarantees or assurances?
For most production runs, we station a QC inspector on-site, at the factory, for the duration of the production run. In addition, we work with a 3rd party quality inspection company (Winnia Inspection Service) to inspect every order prior to shipment and will supply you with a complete inspection report and, depending on the order size, dozens or hundreds of photos. We guarantee that what you see in the inspection report is what you will receive. We also guarantee that nothing will ship until you've approved.
7
What about product safety and compliance?
This is a very important question that many importers overlook. Depending on the specific characteristics, classification and intended use of your product, we work with testing agencies and laboratories (Bureau Veritas, SGS) to determine what testing is required, and obtain the correct documentation. Some of the most common safety/compliance issues we deal with include Prop 65 lead and cadmium testing, product safety for components to be used as candle holders, safety for children's products among many others.