Sourcing & Supplier Guides: B2B Buyer Hub

China wins on tooling depth, material range and unit cost for custom metal and leather goods. A local supplier wins on small quantities, short lead times and easier returns. For a branded program with custom tooling, landed cost from China is usually lower even after freight and duty; for testing a market with 100 units, local is faster.

Ask for the production address, a video walk-through of the line, the machinery list for the processes you need, and a recent test report in the factory name. A trading company will quote the same product but struggle with process questions. It is not automatically a problem, but the price and the accountability should reflect it.

Business licence and registered name, a bank account in that exact entity name, export records, and at least two references in your category. Then place a paid sample order and inspect it against your spec. A deposit request to a personal or third-party account is the single most common warning sign.

Three is usually right: one low-cost option, one mid-range factory with the process you need, and one premium option for comparison. More than that slows the decision without improving it. Send the same RFQ to all three so the quotes are comparable.

They matter for lead time, duties and communication, not for quality. European suppliers are strong on short runs and compliance paperwork; Chinese factories are strong on tooling, unit cost and material variety. The right choice depends on your volume, your market import rules and how much customization you need.