Sourcing discovery, a first shortlist before you spend

Firms that want a fast view of whether a product category even makes sense for sourcing from China, before supplier selection, samples or an order.

One product family or subcategory, up to five clearly defined products or variants, with a scope check before start. Market research and available factories in China. Shortlist of up to three relevant suppliers. Outline EXW or FOB prices, MOQ and lead-time notes. Catalogues where available. One round of changes from your feedback.

7–10 working days for standard scope.

Direct contact and talks with factories through RFQ. On-site factory check. Samples, quality control and a factory visit. Confirmed, binding prices and freight. Certificate analysis. Contact details beyond the agreed list. Freight, duty and taxes.

Goods, samples, courier, QC, lab, freight, duty and taxes are shown separately from the Papillon fee.

More different products, more factories in the shortlist, a new category or a compressed date are priced as extra in the quote. Each line outside the agreed scope goes as a separate add-on, not as by the way.

Fees are on request. The quote depends on product family, number of SKUs, factories, customisation, timeline and operating scope.

If after discovery you move to supplier selection for the same product family, already done work is credited in the quote.

Sourcing discovery makes sense when you still do not know whether the category fits your price. It does not make sense when you already have a factory and need a sample. Then a narrower execution scope, not this package. Put in the brief product, target quantity, target retail or wholesale price and the date goods must be in the warehouse. Without a price we cannot say whether import pays.

Outline price is EXW or FOB, not landed cost. EXW is the factory-gate price. FOB is the price to the load port. Duty, VAT, sea and local costs come after. If outline goods price already eats your margin, freight will not save it. That is a reason to stop before a sample.

Standard scope is one product family, up to five models, shortlist of up to three suppliers, 7–10 working days. We do not call a factory with RFQ, we do not go to the plant and we do not give a binding price. If you need that, the next step is supplier selection.

MOQ in the report is what the factory says for that model, not a promise we will break it. If MOQ is ten times your first lot, the recommendation is not to go further, or to cut the number of models. That is a useful discovery outcome, not a failure.

The report has up to three accounts, outline price, MOQ, a lead-time note and a recommendation: stop, go to supplier selection, or ask for a sample. It is not a catalogue of thirty links. If an account looks like a trader, that is written. A trader is not automatically rejected. An account that will not give even an outline spec is.

Discovery does not replace quality control. On sourcing execution above 2,000 USD independent inspection is standard, but that comes later, when a lot exists. Here there is still no goods deposit.

The date must stay real. Discovery of 7–10 working days does not include sea of 35–52 days or a sample of 2–5 weeks. If goods must be in the shop in a month, discovery will often say the lot will not make it. That is also an answer.

Sourcing discovery is successful even when the recommendation is not to go further. An outline EXW or FOB that already eats margin will not be fixed by sea. Duty and VAT come after. If that does not fit, a sample is a cost without a decision.

Standard is one family, up to five models, up to three accounts, 7–10 working days, one change round. No RFQ, no visit, no binding price. MOQ is what the account says, not a promise we will break it.

A 7–10 working-day span does not include a sample of 2–5 weeks or sea of 35–52 days. If goods must be in the warehouse in a month, the report says so. QC above 2,000 USD applies to later execution, when a lot exists. Here there is no goods deposit. The agreement from 1 July 2024 is mentioned only as a note that duty is not zero until code and COO are checked in the next step.