ImportDojo Sourcing Service
Get real and vetted manufacturers and suppliers
Looking for an established Hong Kong based sourcing team?
We have been sourcing products for the largest retailers in the world since over 12 years.
Watch the video below to see how we can help you.
Sourcing Packages
Learn more about our process and what we can do for you.
Standard Sourcing
Have a product that’s already in the market but can’t find a suitable supplier that you trust? Want to find out if a product is actually feasible? Choose the basic-rate option to get to know what we can do for you and if you want to take it from there this is the best option for you. We’ll deliver 3 supplier options in this package.
Development Service
Have a product or design in mind & don’t know where to start? Send us your idea and we’ll find the right supplier as well as product costs and feasability evalutation. We’ll deliver 1 customized quotation including all your requirements and two reference quotes of similar items in the market.
Full Sourcing Service
Need help with the entire process from placing the order, get manufacturing done, have an inspection and ship the product directly from China to your doorstep or directly to a fulfilment centre? Then this package is for you. We’ll take care of the entire project for you and keep you informed every step of the way!
Sample consolidation & checking
Need help consolidating samples from more than one supplier? Want to save hundreds of dollars in shipment costs? We will consolidate all your supplier’s samples, have them shipped to our Hong Kong office, consolidate them all for you in one package and ship them to you.
Photography Service
We can take high resolution photography for your products. You simply send us a sample from your supplier in China and we’ll arrange photography with our photographer based in Hong Kong. No more sending samples accross the ocean for photography.
Monthly Sourcing Agent
If you have more than 10 items you want to source and more than 3 full service sourcing requests per month then this service is for you. If you have even more requests per month we are happy to customize offers and discount larger projects. Look at this as your own sourcing office in Asia.
Standard Sourcing Process
How ImportDojo’s Basic Sourcing Service works and how you can benefit from it
Idea
You have a product in mind that is already out on the market and need to find a supplier. You can either book right trough the Basic Sourcing form or contact us with any questions you might have.
Confirmation
Once we get your inquiry and payment we’ll get started right away sourcing. If we have any open questions we will contact you again
Sourcing
We are now contacting the suppliers in our database that most likely fit your product needs. This process takes us usually 7-9 working days, sometimes less, depending on the complexity of your inquiry.
Report
After 7-9 working days we’ll email you the results and report of our findings. You’ll get a full excel report and contact details of the (3) suppliers, pre-negotiated prices and a personal opinion on feasibility. You can either take it from here or you can hire us for sample checking or full service.
Sourcing & Development Service
How ImportDojo’s Sourcing & Development Service works and how you can benefit from it
Idea
You have a product in mind that is based on a product already on the market, you want to make changes to it or customize it and you want to find the most suitable supplier. With this package you’ll get THREE supplier contacts that we find for you that are most capable in manufacturing your product.
Confirmation
We will discuss all your needs via email first to make sure we can help you and determine your needs. Once we discussed all details and payment is complete we’ll get started right away sourcing. If we have any open questions we will contact you again.
Sourcing
Once we have figured out the most suitable supplier with you we will now take the development to its next stage with the final supplier. This process takes us usually 15 working days, sometimes less, depending on the complexity of your inquiry.
Report
After 15 working days we’ll email you the results and report of our findings. You’ll get a full excel report and contact detail of ONE suppliers with the exact requirments of your project, pre-negotiated prices and a personal recommendation. You can either take it from here or you can hire us for sample checking or full service. On top of that we deliver two reference quotes of similar items in the market.
Full Sourcing Service
How ImportDojo’s Full Sourcing Service works and how you can benefit from it
Idea
You’ve sourced a product with us, checked samples and you are ready to pull the trigger on the order. However you’d like a professional team to handle your order with the factory in China. Follow up with us on your previous Flat Rate/Development Sourcing and let us know that you would like us to handle the project with you. We’ll give you a nonbinding offer once we know all the details. Alternatively if you haven’t sourced with us, the Full Service usually requires us to do the Flat Rate Sourcing first. Get in touch with us and we’ll discuss all details.
Agreement
Once we’ve agreed on all details we will ask you for payment. As the next step we’ll work out all details between the supplier and you. This is the only part where we need you: We’ll give you all details you’ll need (weights, measurements, factory address) that you’ll need to create a shipment if for example you are selling on Amazon. We will help you to get labels, bracodes and logos from Seller Central. Once we have all details we’ll get started discussing details with the factory.
Order Placement
We’ll place the order to the factory in your name and discuss all the details with the factory such as delivery & payment terms, quantity, prices, contracts, shipment etc. We will also communicate all requirements that you wish to implement in the product, production, inspection and shipment. We will create a production plan and update you with all details of the order process. As a next step we will send you Proforma Invoices from the factory so that you can make a downpayment for your products. Usually this is 30% of the total order value.
Payment to the factory
We will advise you all details of the factory so that you can make the downpayment for goods. We don’t involve ourselves in the payment, this is between you and the factory to keep things transparent. Usually the factory will ask for a 30% downpayment. At this point the supplier will start purchasing raw material and prepare the production together with the production plan that we’ve laid out together with you.
Order monitoring
Downpayment has been made, all labels, barcodes, logos, are arranged. We are now monitoring the process and will report to you on a weekly basis. Depending on your order quantity, type of product and supplier, this process can take 30-60 days. Usually suppliers will give a 45 days production lead time. 2-3 weeks before shipment we will arrange inspection and shipment with you. This is the point where we designate one of our staff/merchandiser to handle and oversee your order.
Logistics
If you do not have your own logistics provider we will suggest two provider that we have worked with for a long time. These two providers have excellent prices and are experienced delivering directly to Amazon’s warehouse (and other channels). We will help to inquire for you about pricing for either Air or Sea freight, depending on your preferences. Usually prices are DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) so you don’t have to worry about additional taxes, duties and customs procedures. This cost is paid directly to the Third Party Logistics company by you.
Inspection
We always recommend to have an inspection. Even though we monitor the entire order for you and communicate your needs on a strict basis with the supplier, we always suggest to have an inspection. . You’ll wan’t eyes in the factory during production and we will recommend you 2 reputable Inspection companies (starting from 99$) that we have worked with for many years. (or an inspection company of your choice) We’ll give a detailed briefing to the inspection company before sending them to the factory. The inspection company will go to the factory during production and deliver a PDF report of the inspection. This cost is paid directly to the Third Party Inspection company by you.
Shipment
Once the shipment is released we will ask you to pay the final amount for goods to the factory. We will now arrange shipment for you together with the logistics company of your choice. Once goods leave China we will update you with Bill of Lading, shipping documents and tracking number. The logistics company or us will notify you when shipment will arrive.
After Sales Service
If you are facing any problems, need further help or simply want to re-order we are here to help and will negotiate with the factory on your behalf.
Sample Consolidation Service
How ImportDojo’s Sample Consolidation Service works and how you can benefit from it
Inquiry
You have more than 2 samples from different factories that you wish to bundle in one place and send to your home address. Contact us for details of the product and your supplier.
Confirmation
Once we get your inquiry and payment we’ll get started right away contacting the suppliers to get the samples to our office in Hong Kong.
Receipt of samples
Once we receive all samples from the suppliers we’ll check them briefly and bundle them in one carton. If you would like us to to an in-depth check of all samples we can do so at additional cost.
Sending samples
Once we’ve bundled samples in 1 carton or checked them thoroughly (depending on your request) we can send them to your address based on daily freight carrier rates. We’ll give you a tracking number of the parcel together with the expected arrival date.
Monthly Sourcing Service
How ImportDojo’s monthly sourcing service works and how you can benefit from it
Inquiry
If you have more than 3 Full Service Sourcing requests or more than 10 Flat Rate sourcing requests it makes sense to hire us as a monthly sourcing agent. If you have steady business, sample checking or sourcing requests in China it makes sense to have permanent presence in China. We’ll act as your buying office in China and handle all your operations in your name. Contact us for detailed and tailor made pricing.
PRICING
Check out costing below and contact us if you have any questions
Standard Sourcing
169One Product
- 2 items 299$
- 3 items 399$
- every additional item 99$
Sourcing & Development
249 One product
- 2 items 498$
- 3 items 747$
- Every additional product 249$
Full Service Sourcing
750 – 950 One product
- Final price negotiation
- Sample arrangement & negotiation (sample costs not included)
- Preparing contracts for you
- Monitoring the order process
- Arrangement of artwork/packaging (artwork, photo costs not included)
- Arrangement of inspection (Third party cost not included)
- Arrangement of logistics (Third party costs not included)
- Shipment release and after sales service
- Weekly status update about your order
- Help to arrange labels/logo placement in the factory
Photography
49One photo
- White background from 49$
- Mood/Environment picture from 79$
- Model picture from 399$
- Minimum of 300dpi
- Ready within 5 days
- every additional photo 45$ (white background)
Sample Consolidation
from 49$
- Consolidation between suppliers
- Sample checking (from 70$)
- Forwarding services
Monthly Sourcing Agent
2990One month
- 10 Flat Rate Sourcing requests
- 3 Full Service Sourcing packages
- Includes all services as for Flat Rate & Full service packages
- Dedicated employee
- Assortment Development
- Minimum of 2 months
- FREE ACCESS to all of ImportDojo’s courses (value of 797$)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Not sure about the above? Have a look at the most asked questions about our services here.
Me and my team have been based in Hong Kong over 12 years. We also have local Chinese speaking staff that communicates with the factories in Mandarin Chinese. We have collected over 2500 suppliers and contacts in all kind of industries and product categories over the years. These suppliers are usually well known and quality suppliers that manufacturer for retailers like: Walmart, Home Depot, Tesco, Carrefour, Lowes, Amazon, Metro, OBI, Media Markt, Toys’r us, Ikea and many many others. These are suppliers and manufacturers that we trust because:
- We have worked with them for many years
- We know their processes and manufacturing standards
- They have proven to be supportive when problems arise
No. That would defeat our purpose and anyone could do that. While some of our suppliers are obviously on Alibaba we don’t source on Alibaba. Not because we don’t believe in Alibaba but because we have the right suppliers already. Which we either found trough working in China for 12 years, met at exhibitions in person or got referred to them by other factories.
It is always difficult to enter an existing relationship between a customer and a supplier. Often the expectations cannot be met due to the pre-existing conditions between the two of you.
Unfortunately not. We’ve learned in the past that expectations from customers are too high and their knowledge of the manufacturing part in China is limited. Often times customers expect a 20-30% decrease of prices because we’ve entered negotiations. These percentages are unrealistic and unachievable.
Of course we work in your interest, not the factories interest. So we try our very best to meet your target prices and beyond. Sometimes depending on your requirements prices may be a little bit higher than what you would find on Alibaba. However we pride ourselves not in finding the cheapest supplier. We pride ourselves in finding the most suitable fit and supplier for you that can meet all your demands and requirements.
We try our best to find the right supplier for you, meaning we FOCUS on the best fit for your product and personal requirements. Sometimes these can be trading companies who work closely with the actual factory. And very often the trading company has better prices than the actual factory. This could be due to the following reasons:
- The factory itself does not have an export license
- The trading company is the exclusive agent for export
- The trading company has a long history with the factory and is the only one getting the best prices
Of course we have the benefit of being in the same time zone with the factories, therefore we probably get results for you much faster. However you shouldn’t hire us just so that you can slice a day off the process. You should hire us because we look ar your inquiry in detail and follow up meticiously and make sure your demands are met. Most importantly we want to find a suitable supplier for you. So there’s no point in rushing results for you if the supplier is not suitable for you in the end. So sometimes our results will take up to 9 days, but assured we have the right supplier for you.
Many suppliers on Alibaba offer low prices on the site itself to get your attention. Often these prices are based on very high order quantities and do not include any certification, packaging or other requirements. Furthermore, suppliers often treat private individuals different then professional sourcing companies. We will check certificate validity, releveance and we WILL find mistakes and follow up issues even after shipment that they would not expect private individiuals to know/to do. Hence prices offered on Alibaba are often click bait offers and in most cases you’ll be ending up with much higher prices than if we would inquire with the suppliers in the first case. The prices that you’ll receive from us are based on your exact inquiry including certifications & all other requirements that you gave us.
No. The prices you receive from us are transparent and the same prices that the suppliers would give you. We charge our upfront fee and thats it. Since we also give you the suppliers contacts you can check with them yourself.
No. For re-orders of the same item we charge in the range of 650-850$.
Yes of course. We can simply consolidate your samples from different suppliers and send them bundled to you but if you wish we can also check the samples in-depth with a detailed report from us before sending them out. This way we can avoid extra costs to you and filter out samples that do not meet your standards.
When you hire us full time as a sourcing agent we most likely hire an additional person in our office. Meaning we have to file insurances, pension, social security etc. which we cannot set with a cut off date of less than 1 month.
I personally check and reply emails on weekends but our office staff does not. This is also due to the fact that most factories sales reps do not work on weekends. In urgent cases you can reach out to me via email: mail@importdojo.com Our regular office hours are: Mon-Friday from 9AM – 6.30PM
We’ve helped customers in the past however we decided to discontinue this service. Reason being is that you will end up paying more than paying directly to the supplier. Here’s an example: Assumed product costs: 5000$ Transfer Fee to our Hong Kong bank account: 3% Transfer Fee from our account to suppliers account: 3% If via PayPal, extra 6% fees on both sides. So you might be ending up paying 12% more than if you would transfer directly to the supplier.
In some cases suppliers are on holidays, are busy preparing for exhibitions and more. In cases as these please send us the communication and we’ll sort you out. Please also always state that you have sourced trough us when you first contact suppliers.
Still have questions? Get in touch!
Drop us a line. We’ll get back to you within 48 hours!
