Ten steps. Nothing moves until you sign off.
Each step ends with a document you approve before the next one starts. Repeat orders skip steps 3 to 6 and run from production follow-up, which is where retainers and per-container fees keep costs predictable.
Every buyer follows the same ten steps. A first order goes through all ten. A repeat order with an approved supplier starts again at step seven. Each step ends with a document for you to review and approve, and we do not move to the next step until you have.
- 1AgreeDays 1–5
- 2Find & verifyWeeks 1–6
- 3Produce & shipWeeks 6–10
- 4After deliveryOn arrival
- · Steps 3–6 skipped on repeat orders
Discovery call
Proposal and quote
You accept the proposal
Agreement & NDA
Signed contract
You sign the contract
Supplier search
Shortlist of 5–10 manufacturers
You pick from the shortlist
Factory audits
Audit reports with photos and scores
You approve the factories
Samples & testing
NABL results and recommendation
You approve the sample
Spec & negotiation
Signed spec and purchase contract
You sign the spec
Production follow-up
Weekly updates
You see every update
Pre-shipment QC
Inspection and loading report
You release the goods
Documents & shipping
Document pack and tracking
You receive the pack
After delivery
Shipment review, supplier scorecard
You rate the supplier
Step by step
Who does what at each step, and what you approve
- 01
Discovery call
Day 1 · You and us, on a call
You tell us the product, the spec you have or need, the volume, the destination and the timing. We tell you what it should cost from India, what to test for and where the risks are.
Your sign-off
Accept the proposal, or walk away with the notes.
- 02
Agreement & NDA
Days 2–5 · Us
A short agreement sets out the scope, the fee, what is billed at cost, and the sign-off points. An NDA covers your specs, suppliers and prices.
Your sign-off
Sign the agreement.
- 03
Supplier search
Weeks 1–2 · Us, on the ground
We build a long list, check registrations and references, visit where we can, and cut it to five to ten real manufacturers.
Your sign-off
Pick the factories you want audited.
- 04
Factory audits
Weeks 2–3 · Us, at the factories
We audit each chosen factory on site, with photos, video and scores, and tell you what we would fix before ordering.
Your sign-off
Approve the factories that go to sampling.
- 05
Samples & testing
Weeks 3–5 · Us and the laboratory
We collect sealed, coded samples and send them to an NABL-accredited lab for testing to your spec. The lab sends the certificate to you directly.
Your sign-off
Approve the sample you want to buy against.
- 06
Spec & negotiation
Weeks 5–6 · Us, with the factory
We write the spec sheet, negotiate price and terms with the factory's own quote shown to you, and set up the purchase contract between you and the factory.
Your sign-off
Sign the spec and the contract.
- 07
Production follow-up
Weeks 6–10 · Us, every week
We agree a production plan with the factory and send you a weekly update with photos until the lot is ready.
Your sign-off
Read the updates; raise anything that looks wrong.
- 08
Pre-shipment QC
Before dispatch · Us, at the factory gate
We inspect the finished lot against the spec, take counter-samples, and supervise loading with photos of the container and the seal.
Your sign-off
Release the goods on the inspection report.
- 09
Documents & shipping
Dispatch · Us and the forwarder
We check every export document against the contract and your country's rules, coordinate freight on your Incoterm, and track the shipment.
Your sign-off
Receive the document pack and tracking.
- 10
After delivery
On arrival · You and us
We review the arrival with you, handle any claim with the factory using our samples and photos, and score the supplier for next time.
Your sign-off
Rate the supplier and plan the next order.
Questions buyers ask
Before you book a call
How long does a first order take?
From the first call to a signed purchase contract is typically six weeks; production and dispatch depend on the product and the factory's lead time. Repeat orders skip steps three to six.
What if the sample fails the lab test?
We go back to the shortlist. You pay the lab fee at cost for the test that was run; you do not pay to sample a factory we would not recommend.
Who pays the laboratory and inspection companies?
You do, at actuals, with the receipt. We do not mark up third-party costs, and the lab sends its certificate to you directly.
Can I visit the factory myself?
Yes. We arrange the visit, travel with you if you want, and the audit report is a good place to start.
Do you take any payment from the factory?
No. We are paid by you under a written fee, and you pay the factory directly at the price in your contract. The factory's name and invoice are always visible to you.
What happens if the container arrives with a problem?
We open a claim with the factory the same day, using our sealed counter-samples and the loading photos as evidence, and we stay on it until it is settled.
Start with a free 20-minute sourcing review.
Tell us the product, the spec and the volume. We'll tell you what it should cost from India, what to test for and where the risks are. No fee, no obligation, and you keep the notes.