Guides
Step-by-step playbooks for importing from China.
- Guides
Why a Sourcing Agent Beats Buying on Alibaba Yourself
"I'll buy on Alibaba myself and save the middleman fee" — the math often runs the other way. Where the DIY importer loses money on prices, defects and logistics, and what an agent actually delivers for the commission.
Arkadii Vakhnovskyi4 min readRead article - Guides
How We Verify Factories in China: The Silk Way Sourcing Verification Protocol
Supplier verification isn't "checking an Alibaba rating." Here's our real protocol — from confirming the business licence and visiting the factory before the balance payment to pre-shipment inspection — step by step.
Arkadii Vakhnovskyi5 min readRead article - Guides
Full-Cycle China Sourcing vs Freight Forwarding: Who Owns the Risk Between the Factory and Your Warehouse
A straight comparison for commercial importers: how turnkey sourcing differs from a freight forwarder, the hidden risks a "just shipping from China" model leaves on you, and when full-cycle wins.
Arkadii Vakhnovskyi6 min readRead article - Guides
OEM vs ODM: the difference and what to choose for your own brand
OEM or ODM for your own brand from China: how the models differ, who owns the tooling (moulds), ODM design exclusivity, MOQ and a decision checklist.
Arkadii Vakhnovskyi10 min readRead article - Guides
Contract with a Chinese factory: what you must specify
Which clauses you must include in a contract with a Chinese factory: legal entity, seal, quality, payment, Incoterms, penalties, NNN and dispute resolution.
Arkadii Vakhnovskyi8 min readRead article - Guides
How to Pay a Chinese Factory Safely: Escrow, Letter of Credit, Agent
Escrow, a letter of credit (L/C), payment through a vetted agent, or a direct T/T: which way of paying a Chinese factory protects your money in wholesale import.
Arkadii Vakhnovskyi9 min readRead article - Guides
What Is MOQ and How to Lower the Minimum Order Quantity in China
MOQ is the minimum batch a factory agrees to produce. We break down what determines the minimum order in China and how to lower MOQ without sacrificing quality.
Arkadii Vakhnovskyi6 min readRead article - Guides
How to import from China: a step-by-step guide for first-time buyers
From finding a real factory to clearing customs at home — the full sequence of importing from China, and where first-timers lose money.
Dmitry Markov8 min readRead article