Start with a clear product specification
Before you contact any factory, write down your product size, material, hardness, color, logo, packaging, and target price. A detailed specification sheet lets factories quote accurately and helps you compare apples to apples. Suppliers who ask smart follow-up questions are usually more experienced than those who promise everything instantly.
Verify the factory, not just the website
Many trading companies present themselves as factories. Ask for the business license, factory address, and a live video tour of the workshop. Check the address on Google Maps, request photos of specific machines such as compression presses or LSR injection machines, and confirm how many production lines they run. A genuine factory can show you the floor, not just a catalog.
Audit capabilities with a small order
The most reliable test is a paid sample or a pilot order. Pay attention to how fast the factory responds, whether samples match your spec, and how they handle problems. Communication speed, honesty about lead times, and the quality of their QC reports tell you more than any marketing page.
Compare quotes on total cost, not unit price
The cheapest unit price can hide expensive tooling, higher MOQs, poor packaging, or slow delivery. Ask for a full quotation that includes mold cost, sample cost, packaging, inspection, and shipping. Compare three to five factories, but weight experience in your product category more heavily than the lowest number.
Protect your brand from day one
Sign an NDA before sharing detailed designs, register your trademark in your target markets, and agree on ownership of molds and custom tooling in writing. Reliable factories will happily document mold ownership and keep your exclusive designs confidential. If a supplier avoids written agreements, consider that a red flag.
Need Help Sourcing?
Talk to our team about your product requirements. We reply within 1-3 business days.
Contact Us