Furniture From China: Foshan Furniture Markets

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furniture from china

August 2, 2021

Shunde, located in China, is especially famous for global standard and quality furniture that fascinates thousands of foreign buyers every year.

If you want to visit Chinese furniture markets for the first time, then there are essential tips that can help you in achieving your desire.

We hope you must love our mentioned steps and ultimate guideline in this article.

Let’s jump into the main topic!

Step #1: Which Furniture Markets Should You Consider for visiting?

wholesale Furniture market
In the Foshan wholesale furniture commercial center, you’ll see numerous large and small furniture wholesale markets.

You would be surprised to find out different quality furniture in this location.

Generally, there are 5-furniture markets in Foshan of China:

1. Louvre international furniture Exhibition Center.

The Louvre / LFC is the largest and most famous furniture mall in Shunde.

You will find high-end furniture with extraordinary quality in this mall.

Excellent rates at every item will blow your mind too.

It’s very comfortable and easy to explore and visit.

This mall is the primary source of China’s furniture industry.

The shops in this mall are known as trustworthy and highly scam-free.

Assuredly the price approximately is in the medium range.

2. SUNLINK Furniture City.

This furniture wholesale market is our preferred.

There are southern and northern furniture centers in this market.

Products in the northern center are of high quality than the southern center.

Despite this, the Southern District contains more dealings as the price is closer to the public.

3. Shunde Dynasty Furniture Wholesale Center.

In this market, the price is not low, but the quality is pretty good. There are more brand chain stores.

4. Tuan Yi International Furniture City.

This market has many cheapest stores.

5. Red Star Macalline Brand Furniture Exhibition and Wholesale Center.

This marketplace is well-known as a chain furniture brand, it has several branches throughout the country.

You can refer to our article on the furniture market: Foshan China Furniture Markets.

The location of the google map corresponding to each furniture wholesale market is as follows:

The furniture markets are mainly distributed beside the Foshan South Avenue:

The furniture market you will go to is like this:

Step #2: Choose The Furniture Market According to Actual Demand.

Foshan wholesale Furniture Markets analysis

We took the main 6 different wholesale markets and analyzed them separately:

  • Number of Shops
  • Market Consumption Level
  • Types of Furniture
  • Human Traffic
  • Deal Volume
  • Product Freshness
  • Professional Degree
  • Services

(6 stores respectively Louvre, SunLink (north), SunLink (south), Red Star Macalline, TuanYi, Dynasty)

So let us intuitively reflect on the real situation of each store:

(This analysis table represents – Riwick on the analysis of the furniture market, unofficial analysis. There is no commercial nature.)

From the analysis diagram, we have settled that:

1. THE LOUVRE (RICH PLACE)

Though the product freshness, service, and professionalism all are leading other stores, its high level of feasting has caused a relatively small volume of transactions that is comparable to other markets.

However, because of having this attraction, the movement of people is high in low-cost performance. (Rich place)

2. SUNLINK(NORTH) (RECOMMENDED)

It’s the same as the Louvre. But the price of the product is more advantageous than the Louvre.

3. TUAN YI (RECOMMENDED)

The price is cheaper and the variety is moderately complete. But the style is relatively old, the update is not regular.

4. RED STAR MACALLINE

It’s brand chain stores, but the geographical position is not good (completely independent, but look at the stores’ distribution) as a direct result of traffic is greatly reduced.

Thus store business is not good.

You might as well go to the past, after all, it is a big chain of furniture stores in China, big groups listed in both Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Prices aren’t low, the style is updated and common.

5. SUNLINK(SOUTH) (RECOMMENDED)

I praise this store. It is next to the Tuan Yi, the price is similar to the Tuan Yi. They have a variety of styles and the style is usually updated.

6. THE DYNASTY

The low version of the Louvre, the number of shops in general, the price between the Louvre and the north district. Style update fast, breed small.

After reading this, we believe that you already have your own choice.

Step #3: Pay Attention to The Skills when Buying Furniture.

Furniture Business Card

Bargaining and bargaining is the key to well buying in China.

A bit of bargaining is required so that nobody seems as you are foolish.

I know that most westerners seem bargaining is disturbing because they have never practiced this habit in their own country.

1. Ask and Compare

The first hour or more should spend on knowing prices from various sellers. Don’t ask only one product price you need; if you focus only on a single product, the wholesaler may think that you are interested in it, and he will raise the initial cost.

Therefore, asking prices for a variety of products let them understand what you want. After purchasing, take a business card of the seller and the price tag on the back of the card.

The wholesale furniture markets tend to be large, so it helps to get the business card from sellers so that you can track your steps. Remember to take pictures of your favorite products and stores to compare in the future.

2. Strive for Higher Profits.

Once you’ve identified the product you want and studied the same wholesale price, then be prepared to have at least two wholesalers start the buying process.

According to my experience, sometimes, due to many external reasons, bargaining with the wholesaler is not smooth. Consequently, the standby supplier is ready.

The furniture wholesalers usually give an initial price. Thus there will be enough price negotiations. Counter that with your low ball figure that should be lower than what you expect to pay.

At the same time, if you buy a quantity enough, you’ll get more discounts. Once prices are agreed, break the negotiation and ask the seller to prepare an estimate. Its local dialect, which is called universal “Fa Piao,” is almost nothing but a contract to sell.

At this point, you need to pay about 5% of the total price of the selected product as an initial deposit.

Final Words of Wisdom.

In China, negotiation is a normal part of everyday business.

It could be lots of fun and financially could be rewarding if you can take it positively. Do not feel shy about bargaining.

Step #4: Shipment and Payment.

Shipping - Riwick

According to the International Trade Terms, FCL, LCL, Bill of Lading, the beginners abide by the terms that can be frustrating.

Most importantly, maximum people in this industry can’t explain in simple English how the shipping process operates between 0 and 1.

There is a lot of knowledge that International Marine knows, nevertheless for furniture, we only need to learn the following:

When you start to import from China, shipping is an essential thing to be concerned about.

You need to choose the size according to your product volume by following.

  1. 20” GP container: 5.9*2.32*2.36m; Capacity: 25-28CBM; Payload:17.5 Ton
  2. 40” GP container: 11.6*2.32*2.36m; Capacity: 55-58CBM; Payload:22 Ton
  3. 40” HQ container: 11.6*2.32*2.68m; Capacity: 65-68CBM; Payload:22 Ton
  4. 45” GP container: 13.58*2.34*2.71m; Capacity: 78-86CBM; Payload:29 Ton

Please check the following information for more regular terms:

1. EXW( Ex-works)

You must arrange transport permission for using all ways from factories/warehouses in Foshan to the destination port. Besides, you are responsible for all export processes.

2. FOB ( Free onboard)

The FOB price includes EXW price, trucking charge, THC (terminal handling charge), customs cost. Usually, the trucking charge and THC will be depending on the total volume of the shipment.

We will arrange cargo to the port of Guangzhou or Shenzhen, handling the export process. Your own forwarder will manage to ship from Port Guangzhou/Shenzhen to your place. LCL(less than container load) and FCL (Full container load, including 20GP, 40GP, 40HQ, 45GP) both are available.

3. CIF( Cost, Insurance, and Freight)

We will organize shipments to your port of destination.

But you need to manage the shipment from the destination port to your warehouse and conduct the import process.

One more tip for shipping:

If the CIF price is very low, please pay more attention. This is the system that forwarder uses to attract customers. It will charge you a lot when picking up cargo at the port of destination.

Normally the charge of the destination port can be asked in advance. If you could find a reliable forwarder at your side, FOB or EXW terms will be better than CIF.

If you are inexpert about the shipment, you can read this article to gain international shipping knowledge:

 

Shipping Tool

Shipping rates, tax tariffs depend on logistics agents, location, season, etc. Please, contact us out for more detailed information.

Please choose your region on the left below and the port city nearest to your location or the city of destination on the right.

Attention: The calculator only provides estimated costs without customs clearance in the county of destination.

Shipping cost calculator

Here you can calculate the delivery cost of your products to the nearest port.

If you can’t find the port you need above, you can contact us.

Region:

Port:

Results:

Approximate shipping costs from Foshan (China) to Singapore (Singapore) are 1350$ for 20ft container and 1550$ for 40ft container.

Shipping time for furniture from China

 Shipping time starts when a container leaves the port in China and ends when it reaches the port of destination. Delivery time for furniture (or other goods) from China depends on the country and the city of destination.

For Northern and Southern America, African, Asian countries and UAE delivery time is about 30 days. For the rest of the countries, the delivery time is about 40 days.

About Payment

We might follow the most common payment methods in the furniture trade:

1. Telegraphic Transfer (T/T)

 The wire transfer is a standard bank transaction, placed either through the use of online banking or at a local bank branch. All Chinese manufacturers use bank accounts to accept this payment method.

Although it is a standard process of transaction, it does not provide any protection itself. It is different from the letter of credit (LC); we will review it a bit. However, it does not mean that T / T must be an unsafe payment method.

 

2. Paying the right amount at the right time is the key to success.

The standard payment period is a 30% deposit in advance before manufacturing, and a balance payment needs to occur after completion. But before shipment (or at least before the issuance of the original bill of lading), the time of the second and final payment should be if there are any critical conditions.

This is all about giving incentives to suppliers to comply with your requirements. You can take this incentive before the compliance and quality are validated by fully paying the vendor.

Therefore, after the quality inspector approves the batch, and before the final laboratory test returns, the balance must be withheld. Although this payment method does not protect the initial deposit, the supplier still has a lot of losses, even if the deposit payment is guaranteed.

Chinese manufacturers usually gain very thin profits. Even if they neglect the buyer’s request and try to sell domestically, possibly, they would undoubtedly fall into substantial losses. Since the transaction is not completed, the supplier can quickly fail.

 

T/T payment process

  • Deposit payment (30%)
  • Production begins
  • Production is completed
  • Quality Inspection / Compliance Testing
  • Buyer approval batch
  • Delivery to the loading port (e.g., Guangzhou)
  • B / L scan copy provided
  • Loading and shipping
  • Balance payment (70%)
  • The seller sends the original bill of lading and other shipping documents (on request
    Destination port unloading)

Letter of Credit (L/C)

It’s different from T / T, the letter of credit (LC) lets the buyer ask the supplier to fulfill specific pre-determined requirements before the transfer of funds, thereby adding a layer of security.

It is not only for paying a payment, plus it significantly decreases the buyer’s risk. When paying using the letter of credit, there arises a question that after which conditions the amount would be released.

After completing the buyer’s conditions, the bank will automatically release the funds to the supplier, and then automatically credit the buyer after meeting these conditions.

Remember, bankers, are not business experts. Once they receive the required documents, they transfer the committed funds.

Before the transaction is completed, it is up to the buyer and the seller to exchange specific documents.

Here are a few examples of these conditions:

 

  • Bill of lading (issued on or before a specific date to avoid delays)
  • Approved quality inspection report (to avoid defective shipping items)
  • Approved laboratory test report (to prevent shipment of non-compliant items)

Letter of Credit Payment Procedure

  • The seller and the buyer sign in a sales agreement uttering the conditions that must be met before the payment is released.
  • The buyer contacts the local bank and applies for a letter of credit.
  • The buyer’s bank contacts the seller’s bank (in China) and provides a letter of credit.
  • The seller’s bank contacts the seller and counsels the buyer.
  • Production begins.
  • Production is completed.
  • Quality Inspection and Product Testing.
  • Delivered to the port of shipment and do the shipping process
  • Provide necessary documents (such as quality inspection reports, test reports, and transport documents) to local banks.
  • If the conditions are filled up (i.e., the correct file is submitted), funds will be released.

Payment Method Comparison

Payment provider: Never forward payment.

To get what you asked, you have to give the supplier an incentive to follow your instructions.

How and when the suppliers pay and may be the deciding factor between success and failure. By making full payment to the manufacturer, you will eliminate their incentive to obey the terms of the contract.

Yes, you can still find quality problems, but if the facts prove that a large number of units are defective – or worse, if the batch does not meet the requirements, you will leave little ammunition.

Although 30% of the advance payment is required, pre-production, but the final balance payment (usually 70% remaining) can only be paid in the following situations:

  • A) The quality of the product has been verified.
  • B)Compliance with all applicable safety standards and regulations (such as material restrictions and labeling requirements) has been verified.

We can learn from experience that Chinese suppliers are easy to deal with as long as the Chinese suppliers’ benefit – in this case, they get paid.

Of course, they may exit, you still lose the deposit, but selling these goods in the domestic market is rarely a feasible option for the supplier. Whatever you do, you must first complete the payment until the quality and compliance are verified.

Bonus Step #1: Some Suggestions for Furniture Imports.

furniture sourcing agent

For first-time importers, try to find a furniture sourcing agent to assist you.

Although we have already described a lot of ways to find the right furniture supplier, for international trade, good suppliers are not enough. You also need to deal with a series of product inspections, shipping, payment, and more.

Then you need to find a sourcing agent in China. They will help you deal with everything in China and teach you how to obtain products from China. The right sourcing agent will help you a lot.

Here is a good article on China Manufacturing: To Sourcing Agent or not to Sourcing Agent

1. What Kinds of Sevice You can Get from a Chinese Sourcing Agent?

There are many types of services. Nonetheless, they are roughly divided into 4 points:

  • Help you find a read factory in China that manufactures your products.
  • Manage the production of your products.
  • Inspect the quality of your products.
  • Arrange shipment of your products.

You can also learn more in this article: Best 10 China Sourcing Agents.

 

2. Freight Forwarders and Shipping Companies

Finding the right shipping company or cargo forwarder in China can be an intellectual challenge.

If you choose to complete all the import process yourself, perhaps these shipping companies can help you.

Freightos.com

Essentially, through the Freightos Marketplace, importers can easily compare, book and manage international shipments of more than 50 freight forwarders.

They are very focused on supporting small importers and provide some powerful support resources as well as live chat and phone support.

Freightos’ ordering process is simple, including streamlining the transfer of your documents to freight forwarders and centralized freight management.

 

Tryfleet.com

Tryfleet.com is the official website of Fleet Logistics, a logistics and supply Chain Company that also provides transportation services by connecting freight services with customers and importers.

The fleet was established in 2014 as an online logistics market where you as an importer can contact shippers and other service providers.

This service can help you find the best solution for your cargo transportation at the best price and let you make an informed decision.

Flexport.com

Flexport is a unique freight forwarding company, as many people often call it Ocean Uber. The company was founded in 2013 based on an online dashboard that connects importers and freight forwarders.

It is also the first company to achieve the digitalization of international shipping, allowing importers to move goods to transparent areas more easily.

The company’s regional China headquarters is located in Shenzhen, China. They also have another office in Hong Kong. This is a technology company that lets importers book, track, and process their goods through an application or an online dashboard portal.

You can also access logistics and freight service providers on their online portal. Overall, the company is still young, but it is increasing and is one of the best among importers’ digital services and online tools.

Bonus Step #2: 7 tips for visiting furniture markets(mall) in Shunde Foshan China.

Riwick sourcing

If you are planning to purchase furniture for your home decoration, restaurant, or hotel stuff in China, please pay attention to the seven tips that make your trips much easier and efficient.

1. Drawing

First of all, it is essential to bring your drawings along with the tour, no matter purchasing a home, restaurant, or hotel.

That’s the soul of the trip, especially for your home case.

Why am I telling this?

For an instant, last time my client came with his family to buy their home furniture and decorations, but all of them forgot to take the drawing.

You can imagine the probable size of the sofa, dining set, or TV cabinet. Still, it’s hard to order the window, tile, door, sanitary, kitchen cabinet, and wardrobes without the detailed dimensions.

Then the clients only can confirm the order after back to their country.

In this case, we spent a lot of time in the confirming process, and the production day also would be delayed.

 

2. Item list

Most of the customers ignore this list; you will get stuck once you didn’t make the item list.

It is better to give us a detailed item list in the order that we can suggest the best route for you.

As well, when you finish one item, you can mark on that, it’s more effective to avoid repeating the order.

3. Time

Many customers come to China not only for the furniture business but also love to travel to HK, Macao, or somewhere else.

If so, we suggest that you can take more than 4-days for the business trip.

For example, for home stuff, one of our clients came to order for his 400 square meters house. There are multiple items he needed to check, like sanitary, construction, and lighting.

Unfortunately, he only stayed 3-days with us for purchasing the whole stuff. Only we got only two days to check the furniture price, design, and dimension. It was a short time for finding out the best item for him.

At last, he had to confirm the order in a hurry and feel exhausted. Therefore, we suggest arranging more than 4-days for your perfect ideas.

4. Comfortable sneakers

Just for the kind reminder, we have been meeting with many clients wearing flat shoes to go to the market.

That’s painful after 2-3days, lasting walking when your ankle gets hurt.

5. Currency

We use CNY (RMB) in China market, it is better if you have some exchanged money in advance.

Otherwise, we also can exchange for you, depending on the daily trading rate.

6. Food

Mostly, every country and area has its diet habits, do not worry about telling us, there are dissimilar tastes in China, and we will arrange the most excellent restaurant for you.

7. Sim card and VPN

Honestly, we can’t visit Google, YouTube, and Facebook, or something like this website in China due to the government policy.

You need to arrange a VPN account if you need to use these platforms.

We can resolve this difficulty if you want. Moreover, it is worth it if you belong to a temporary SIM card for the current period. You can buy it from the airport during landing, or we can solve this.

Bonus Step #3. 6 Things You Should Know When Buying Furniture from China.

Furniture Solutions & Furniture Direct

Buying furniture is the chief cost for any office or home. But do you know you can significantly reduce the cost when purchasing and importing from China?

Yes, it is possible when buying furniture from China wholesale markets or furniture factories. The prices for furniture from China are incredibly lower in comparison to buying at local retail prices in particular if you don’t live in China

If you want to buy home appliances, furniture, or other products, you will require to walk in the right place. Through reading this Bonus segment, you may know more about buying the right furniture at a reasonable price that will retain your smile continuously.

 

1. Wholesalers may Provide Lower MOQs than the manufacturers.

There are frequent reasons that I why buyers prefer purchasing wholesale goods instead of buying customized or private label products.

  • Firstly, it is possible to check a wholesale product on a website.
  • Secondly, wholesalers are capable of providing lower Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) in comparison to manufacturers.
  • Several wholesalers permit you as a buyer to buy just a small number of pieces per stuff. In comparison to a manufacturer, the MOQ may be 300 to 500 pieces in every color or product.

Therefore, buying at a wholesale price is merely more practical for your home’s furniture. Thus, that is why we prefer buying your furniture at China wholesale markets to ensure you get them at cheaper rates.

 

2. Quality control

In China, there are various sourcing companies are providing quality regulatory services. However, we find out what they should inspect.

The following descriptions are essential for importing furniture from China:

Fire retardant inspection

While the majority of obedience inspections can be performed in a laboratory, fabrics’ fire retardant ability can also be observed with a stopwatch and a lighter.

Visual inspection

Look for probable damages or utilization of incorrect components and materials. We ensure that all your furniture has been checked and has attained the minimum demanded quality.

Furthermore, we do counter-checking your products to confirm that none of them have got damaged after leaving the hands of wholesalers.

In case of substandard or damaged goods, we take them back to the wholesaler for either a refund or a substitute for the damaged product.

In several markets, many compulsory Fire Retardancy Regulations exist that apply to different kinds of furniture.

For example, in the U.S, no federal framework importers of America are required to observe. Yet, the only existing and mandatory is California Technical Bulletin 117 (TB 117) as both customers and retailers demand it.

On the other hand, there are obligatory Fire safety standards in the European Union that consumers are compelled to comply with. They include EN 597-2, EN 1021 -2, EN 597-1, EN 14533, and EN 1021-1.

Therefore, we always communicate with our customers and the suppliers for discussing the standards which are mandatory to be adhered to and fulfill.

 

4. Shipping and logistics since furniture is designed to be heavy when other heavy units are added on top of it; it breaks easily.

Several wholesalers know this, whereas others intentionally do not mind when packing it.

As such, we agree with wholesalers to pack them well even to offer suitable space for unloading.

And since furniture not only takes up a big space but is also heavy, we base volumes based on a container instead of the unit bases.

We even allow you as a customer to state the unit’s number you want to be loaded in a container. We also offer appropriate advice to all our customers on loading.

 

5. Locating the appropriate furniture manufacturer.

When purchasing furniture from China, you need to measure various factors in potential candidate sellers.

The following are examples of the factors to assess:

Business scope

The business scope describes the reason for setting up the company. Thus, when assessing true manufacturers, look for production, manufacturing, and furniture.

That is precisely what we do when finding your furniture. Some traders tend to have business scopes comprising various diverse products. Such traders include words. For example, wholesale and you should not buy from them.

Registered capital

Low registered capital indicates that the retailing company might be small. Since there is no actual gain of buying from traders, you should evade them.

We also do not buy your furniture from such suppliers. A furniture maker is supposed to be having a million RMB in registered capital and must be stipulated in his/her business certificate.

Quality Management System

A quality management feature, such as ISO 9001 function, is tracking and preventing issues concerning quality. ISO 9001 is important because it is only appropriate for the manufacturers and not the traders.

Do you know the importance of filtering the suppliers when purchasing furniture from suppliers of China? It is because many manufacturers of furniture don’t produce for the developed markets, and therefore, they offer the quality choices and stability you can pay.

Consequently, we look at our customers’ market status and contact the best wholesaler who meets our customers’ demands in terms of quality.

 

6. Custom duties, you must pay import duties for every item that you buy outside your country.

In this case, furniture is not an exception. The inspiring news is that anybody wishing to import into the EU or USA pays only a 0 – 5% duty rate for a majority of products.

You can either clear your furniture from the customs department by yourself or employ a customs broker for doing that job.

It is most sensible for you to hire one as they understand the clearing process better than you. Wholesale furniture is one of the most expensive things that you do for your house.

Therefore, you should be fussy and careful to ensure buying furniture that must satisfy you. Some of the important things are that you should know when purchasing is where to buy and the best price for your furniture.

We provide the best furniture sourcing services from China and, therefore, you should consider buying with us!

Bonus Step #4. Why Engaging a Furniture Sourcing Agent is Better Than Online B2B Platforms.

Swissotel Foshan, Guangdong

With the rapid growth of the Internet, searching for the Chinese furniture supplier directly on B2B online platforms is one of the most common ways.  For a furniture business outside of China, B2B is a source of furniture from China.

But is it indeed the best way to find a supplier for your business? Not really.

A better way is to engage a professional furniture sourcing agent who will give quality advice and assistance on every single aspect in the process of supplier sourcing.

Below we are going to explore four reasons why engaging a professional sourcing agent can be a better option than sourcing from online B2B platforms.

1. Handle all your communications and save your time.

When you are sourcing through an online B2B platform, you are dealing with multiple representatives from multiple furniture suppliers in China, all at the same time.

This process is very tedious, time-consuming, and inefficient.

You could have directed this valuable time and energy into other more important parts of your business, such as your sales activities.

A solution for this inadequacy is to engage a sourcing agent who can handle all communication and consolidate all information for you to make an effective decision.

A furniture sourcing agent is principally your sourcing adviser and assistant, who helps you throughout the whole furniture sourcing process. From the initial stage of selecting the best supplier for you, right to the very end when you receive your furniture.

Furthermore, the issue of a communication barrier is inevitable when dealing with a China counterpart. This is an essential aspect when you are trying to source your furniture from China, as the slightest miscommunication might lead to a situation whereby furniture is manufactured to the wrong specifications.

The right sourcing agent eliminates all risks by conducting useful discussions with the suppliers on your behalf.

2. Experts in the furniture industry.

On the B2B platform, the sheer amount of companies, each with their differing offers in terms of materials, shape, and sizes, can be overwhelming to you.

It’s tough for you to identify a suitable supplier who can fulfill your needs in every aspect, including price, quantity, and quality.

When you wholesale furniture from China, you need to be sure about the quality of the purchased furniture as the quantity is mainly involved. Furniture from different suppliers may or may not meet your requirements.

Furniture sourcing agents mitigate this risk and expedite the selection process with their familiarity with the China furniture market. They can fast recommend suppliers that are best suited for your necessities, with an optimal level of pricing and quality.

With their specialized knowledge of the furniture industry, they can even conduct discussions that involved specific information on your behalf.

They understand the products offered by different furniture suppliers and their respective manufacturing capabilities to ensure that the factory can fulfill your order quantity.

Therefore, the right sourcing agent will make the process of sourcing from China much more comfortable than using a B2B platform.

3. Familiar with the China wholesale market.

The business standards and regulations in China can be very different than those in other countries. When you deal directly with a furniture supplier in China through a B2B platform, a difference in culture or expectations might lead to conflicts.

Wholesale of furniture involves the delivery of large and heavy objects, which might be subject to a long list of regulations before they are cleared to be shipped out of the country.

If a regulatory problem arises, some smaller suppliers might not have the resources or workforce to help you resolve the issue promptly.

Having a sourcing agent to give you relevant advice regarding the business cultures of China can be highly beneficial. Another risk is when sourcing, the reliability or legitimacy of the furniture supplier might be questionable.

Although B2B platforms perform for verification on the entities, nothing beats “insider information” from the local sourcing agent regarding the reliability of individual suppliers. For example, a bad reputation of a furniture supplier might not be reflected by the B2B platform.

4. Help you monitor the whole process.

The purchasing process takes an extended period, the full cycle of selection, confirmation, production, and delivery might take weeks or months to complete.

Yes, you might have visited your supplier’s factory during the early stages, but later on, you might not want to have frequent visits to check on the production.

In this case, the sourcing agent act as a local independent party to help you monitor the progress in China while you are away on the other side of the world.

For example, periodical visits to the supplier’s factory for supervising the production and for quality inspection purposes. It is essential to have someone local who can check and confirm something promptly during the different stages of the production. This is something that a B2B platform cannot offer.

Although B2B platforms offer comparisons between different furniture suppliers, they are unable to give industry-specific advice. This is where sourcing agent comes in; they provide valuable information by your specific requirements that can help you to make an informed decision.

Not only your sourcing agent helps you to oversee the production, but also they ensure a smooth delivery process by making sure all the relevant documents and regulations are fulfilled.

 

A valuable investment over the long term.

Furniture businesses all over the world are gathering their products from China. Many business owners prefer to wholesale furniture from China due to their manufacturing capability and affordability than the other parts of the world.

With the list of reasons specified above, we’re sure that you now realized the sourcing agent or your business partner. They will support you and advise which B2B platforms cannot offer.

Therefore, choosing a familiar agent for a reasonable fee is a challenge for you. Yet, attempt to select someone with whom you feel comfortable with making your next reliable deals and can import expected furniture from china.

Now It’s Your Turn!

Did you learn something new from this article?

Wholesale Furniture guide?

Or if you’ve any questions, don’t be late to leave a comment.

We’ll love to hear your sound and will try to provide the best suggestion.

So, leave a comment below right now. Thanks for your patient!

Jason Law

Jason Law

Author

One of the founders of Riwick and worked for 4 years in the management of a large furniture factory.

He founded Riwick in 2015 and is in charge of web promotion and running the business.

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11 Comments

  1. Fraser Smith

    Hi, thanks for the great guide.

    Can you give an indication of costs of a buying agent please?

    Reply
    • Riwick

      Hello, Fraser Smith
      The general case is 3%-10% service charge, which is based on the total amount of products you purchase. Sometimes there will be some extra fees. For example, our extra cost is 150rmb/day for an agent to serve you when you are in Foshan China. The service includes transportation, translation, and sourcing. (Actually, our charges have been written on the our website:
      Services-and-fees).

      Reply
  2. Alan Sarwer

    Hello! I am interested in visiting the markets. I am from Argentina. Is there any way to meet the sellers before traveling? Know the products and some prices. Thank you

    Reply
    • Riwick

      Hello! As long as you provide relevant pictures or requirements, we can ask the supplier for the price. Thank you.

      Reply
  3. preneet malhotra

    We have specific items we are looking for and would only make the trip out if that furniture is available. We are looking for desks, beds, living room sofas and chairs, stools, benches, consoles in good quality for our home. Do you have a catalogue or could you source the stuff for us? What are your charges? We woudl also need to have the furniture collected and shipped to Hong Kong.

    Reply
    • Riwick

      Hello preneet malhotra, If you can provide a more specific furniture style, or budget. We will give you more suggestions and more catalogues. Charges can be viewed here. In fact, we will send you a separate email, and you can check it out. Thank you.

      Reply
  4. Chris BLAIR

    I am looking for small furniture and wooden décor items to complement other ranges I already buy in China, Vietnam and Malaysia. I hope to visit in late November.

    Reply
    • Riwick

      Our colleagues have already contacted you. Thank you.

      Reply
  5. Belinda Naiken

    I would like to find out about buying sanitary ware, furniture, kitchen cabinets,doors and window frames etc from china.

    Reply
    • Riwick

      Hello Belinda Naiken,

      Our colleagues will contact you ASAP, thank you.

      Reply
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