Manufacturer sourcing
We identify the factories able to meet your requirements, then compare their prices, lead times and conditions.
From the idea to production,we structureyour sourcing project.
We support entrepreneurs, brands and professionals in finding manufacturers and developing products, all the way to delivery.
The SourcingSourcing. Design. Delivery.
Finding a factory is not enough. Its capacity has to be checked, its prices compared, its documents verified and every production step followed.
We centralise the exchanges, ask manufacturers the right questions and help you decide with full visibility.
Between France and ChinaThe SourcingSourcing. Design. Delivery.
Services
Support shaped around each project.
Product development
Dimensions, materials, formulation, packaging. We turn your idea into a brief factories can actually work from.
Supplier verification
Licences, certifications, test reports, production capacity. We gather what makes your decision safer.
Negotiation
Prices, minimum quantities, mould costs, packaging, lead times and payment terms.
Production follow up
Quantity and material confirmation, file approval, schedule tracking, progress photos and videos.
International freight
Air, sea, road, rail or express. We study the solution suited to your goods.
On site support in China
Trip preparation, trade fair selection, factory visits, appointments and negotiation support on the ground.
Method
How a project unfolds.
Six moments, one continuous progression. You stay the decision maker throughout.
Present
You send us your product, your quantities, your budget and your schedule.
Study
We analyse the request and determine the level of support it needs.
Propose
We send a proposal detailing the steps, the deliverables, the fee and the lead times.
Search
We start the manufacturer search or the product development.
Select
We present the results and support you in choosing the right partner.
Produce
Samples, prototypes, production, quality control and freight, depending on the service chosen.
Manufacturing models
Five ways to have a product made.
Very few people know the difference. It changes the budget, the lead time and the result.
White label
You select a product or a formula already developed by the manufacturer, then sell it under your own brand.
An existing catalogue product, your name on the label.
Private label
Same principle, with deeper customisation of the product and the packaging.
The manufacturer base, your fragrance, your texture, your box.
OEM
The manufacturer produces to your own specifications, your design or your formula.
Your drawings, your materials, your mould.
ODM
The manufacturer takes part in the development and proposes technical or creative solutions.
You bring the intent, the factory brings the solution.
Fully bespoke
The product is created from scratch. Technical development, mould, prototypes and testing.
Several versions, several months, a product that did not exist.
Existing productBuilt from scratch
International freight
We support you all the way to the delivery of your goods.
Finding the right manufacturer is only one step. Once production is finished, the freight still has to be organised, the right solution chosen, the parties coordinated and the costs anticipated.
Air
For small volumes and short lead times.
Sea
For large volumes and controlled costs.
Road
For continental deliveries and the last mile.
Rail
A middle ground between air speed and sea cost.
Express
For samples and urgent shipments.
Sectors
What we work on.
Beauty and cosmetics
Aesthetic equipment
Wellness
Textile
Professional furniture
Packaging
Accessories
Innovative products
You want to
- Create a brand
- Develop a new product
- Build a custom range
- Find a factory
- Compare several manufacturers
- Replace a supplier
- Improve an existing product
- Create custom packaging
- Launch a production run
- Have goods inspected
Your project is not on the list? Let us talk.
Our values
What you can count on.
Transparency
We tell you what is possible, and also the limits, the costs, the lead times and the risks.
Confidentiality
Your information, your ideas, your documents and your concepts are handled discreetly.
You decide
You understand every step and remain the decision maker throughout the project.
Tailored
No identical solution for everyone. Every project is studied individually.
About
Between France and China.
The Sourcing is an agency specialised in international sourcing and product development.
We support those who want to create a brand, launch a range, develop a bespoke product, find a factory or replace an existing supplier.
We work mainly with manufacturers based in China, and we search in other countries when the project calls for it.
Thanks to our field experience and our presence between France and China, we make the exchanges between clients and manufacturers easier.
Founder, The Sourcing
FAQ
A manufacturer designs and produces the product in its own factory. A supplier sells a product: it can be the manufacturer itself, but also a distributor, a wholesaler, a trader or an intermediary. Every manufacturer is a supplier, but not every supplier is a manufacturer. We identify the partner best suited to your project, based on your objectives, your budget and your needs.
China represents a significant part of our network and our experience. Depending on the project, the product and your requirements, we can also search for manufacturers in other countries.
Every request is studied individually. Some projects may be declined because of regulatory, ethical, technical, financial or logistical constraints.
No. You can come to us with an idea, references, photos or an existing product. Depending on the service chosen, we can help you structure the specification.
The MOQ is the minimum quantity a manufacturer accepts to produce. It varies with the product, the material, the customisation, the packaging, the formula, the manufacturing technique and the factory.
We can request a lower MOQ or look for alternative solutions. The supplier remains free to accept or decline.
Yes, when technical capacity, quantities, budget and lead times allow it. A fully bespoke product may require technical development, a mould, several prototypes, testing, larger quantities and longer lead times.
In most cases samples, prototypes and their shipping are paid for. Some manufacturers refund the sample cost after an order, subject to their own conditions.
The fee depends on the product, the number of manufacturers searched, the level of customisation, the research required, the number of prototypes, the level of follow up, the inspections, the freight and the duration of the project. A tailored proposal is sent after the request has been analysed.
Lead times vary with the product. A manufacturer search can take several days or several weeks. A bespoke project can take several months across research, prototypes, changes, approvals and production.
We can request and analyse the documents provided by manufacturers. Depending on the product, further verification by a laboratory, a specialised body or a regulatory consultant may be necessary.
Responsibilities vary with the product, the destination market, the role of the manufacturer, of the importer, of the brand and the applicable regulation. You must check the obligations that apply to your activity and your product. We can help gather documents and point you towards specialised professionals.
Some services can be limited to searching for and presenting suppliers. The level of information, the deliverables and the conditions are set out in the commercial proposal.
Every request is studied. The budget has to remain consistent with minimum quantities, samples, prototypes, packaging, production, testing, freight, duties and the support fee.
Tell us about your project using the form. The request is studied before a first call is arranged.
Contact
Tell us about your project.
Describe the product, the quantities, the budget, the level of customisation and the launch date you are aiming for. You can also send photos, references or a specification document.
In writing
For detailed enquiries and full specifications.