The 360TradeX blog
Long reads from the people who do the work in China every day: how to choose factories, check quality, pass tests and build products that sell. Clear steps, real examples, no jargon.
Featured articleHow to find a reliable factory in China (and spot the ones that are not)Most sourcing problems start on day one, with the wrong supplier. Here is how professionals shortlist factories, and the warning signs they never ignore.Sourcing and factory matching4 min readRead the articleIn short- A great price from the wrong supplier is the most expensive deal you will ever make.
- Check that you are talking to the real manufacturer, not a trading company hiding behind a factory photo.
- Compare at least three factories on the same specification, Incoterm and quantity.
- Write everything down: the quotation is only as good as the details behind it.
All articles
- 01Start with the product, not the platform
- 02Factory or trading company?
- 03Compare quotations properly
- Alibaba is built for international buyers; prices include a margin for that service.Sourcing and factory matching4 min readAlibaba, 1688 or a sourcing agent: which one fits your order?Each channel has a place. The right choice depends on your quantity, your product and how much time you can spend in Chinese.
- 01Turn the idea into a brief
- 02The first sample
- 03Revisions without chaos
- A mould is a one-time cost that can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars.Product development and samples4 min readMoulds and tooling: what they cost and who owns themMany custom products need a mould. It is often the biggest single cost of a project, so it deserves a clear agreement from the start.
- 01White label: fastest and simplest
- 02Private label: your version of a proven product
- 03OEM and ODM
- The material decides which methods are possible.Private label and customization4 min readPrint, emboss, engrave or label: choosing how your logo goes onThe way your brand appears on the product says as much as the logo itself. Each method suits different materials, budgets and quantities.
- 01What can go wrong while you are not looking
- 02The three moments that matter
- 03What a good visit report contains
- Many factories close for two to four weeks around Chinese New Year.Factory visits and management4 min readPlanning production around Chinese New YearFor several weeks a year, most Chinese factories slow down or stop completely. Planning for it is the difference between full shelves and empty ones.
- 01Why sampling works
- 02From lot size to sample size
- 03Reading the acceptance numbers
- Inspect when at least 80% of the order is finished and packed.Pre-shipment inspection4 min readThe pre-shipment inspection checklist, explained point by pointA good checklist turns an inspection from a quick look into a decision you can trust. Here is what to include, and why each line matters.
- 01Legal and identity
- 02Capacity and equipment
- 03Quality control in practice
- Every company has an 18-character Unified Social Credit Code.Factory audits4 min readHow to read a Chinese business licenceThe business licence is the first document to check with any Chinese supplier. A few minutes with it can save you from the most common scams.
- 01Three questions decide the tests
- 02Common test families
- 03When to test
- Migration tests measure what passes from the material into food.Third-party labs4 min readFood-contact products: migration testing in plain languageCups, boards, lunch boxes and kitchen tools touch food, so their materials must not pass harmful substances into it. Here is what that means in practice.
- 01What CE really is
- 02The paperwork behind the mark
- 03Notified bodies and self-declaration
- Children's products need a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) based on CPSC-accepted lab testing.Certificates and compliance4 min readSelling in the US: CPC, FCC and what marketplaces ask forUS rules are product-specific. Children's products, electronics and many consumer goods each have their own documents, and Amazon checks them.
- 01Start with where it is sold
- 02Inside the box
- 03Finishes that change perception
- The dieline is the flat map of your box: cut lines, fold lines and glue areas.Packaging Studio4 min readDielines, bleed and print files: a no-stress guideMost packaging delays come from files, not from factories. Here is how to prepare artwork that prints right the first time.
- 01The room schedule
- 02Sourcing by category
- 03Samples, then production
- Approve physical finish samples, never colours on a screen.Interior and home furnishing4 min readSamples and finishes: avoiding surprises in interior projectsThe colour on a screen, the photo in a catalogue and the material in your room are three different things. Here is how to make sure they match.
- 01Start with the calendar
- 02Build the story
- 03Box, insert and finish
- Official barcodes come from GS1, the global standards organisation.Retail-ready packaging4 min readBarcodes, EAN and retail labels explainedRetailers and marketplaces scan before they sell. Getting barcodes and labels right avoids rejected deliveries and relabelling fees.
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