Have you ever wanted to create something truly unique for your company or brand?
Maybe you thought something like a plushie of your brand mascot or a unique tech gadget might help you win customers over.
But then, perhaps, you felt overwhelmed by how tough it would be to actually turn that idea into a reality?
If you can relate, then you’re not alone. Many companies understand and recognize that customized products can help their brand stand out. The path to successfully sourcing these high-quality products is, however, riddled with complexities.
Arranging manufacturing yourself is time-consuming – you have to handle everything, from finding a reliable factory and communicating your manufacturing requirements to navigating customs and shipping. The journey is often difficult, which is where Wayo comes in.
Wayo offers a seamless AI-powered platform and end-to-end sourcing service that makes it easy to source and create your next custom product. In this article, we’ll explain exactly what’s involved in sourcing your own products, so you know what to expect. And we’ll explain how Wayo can help.
What is the custom product sourcing process like?
There are a number of steps required to successfully source a custom product. If you decide to do it all yourself, here are the basic steps you’ll have to go through:
1. Find the right factory
First, you have to find the right manufacturer for the product you hope to create. You need to find a manufacturer with experience in your product category, and who can produce products at the quality and cost you’re expecting.
To find the right factory, you can:
- Look on online platforms and trade shows. Online marketplaces like Alibaba, Global Sources, or Made-in-China provide directories of specialist manufacturers. However, it can be difficult to judge whether the factory is reputable, reliable, and trustworthy. You can also go to trade shows, but depending on your time and budget, they can be difficult and costly to attend.
- Hire a sourcing agent. Sourcing agents have ready-established factory relationships and local expertise, and they can also assist with language barriers. But there are extra costs, and finding a trustworthy agent isn’t easy.
- Ask for recommendations and referrals. If possible, you should tap into your professional or personal networks for recommendations. However, you’ll be limited by the size of your network.
2. Conduct due diligence checks on your chosen manufacturer
Once you’ve found a manufacturer that seems to be a good fit, you’ll need to verify that they will be reliable.
Generally, you’ll want to:
- Verify factory credentials, which includes checking legal registration and certifications (like ISO certifications).
- Assess manufacturing capabilities to ensure your product can be skillfully and accurately manufactured.
- Evaluate financial stability so you have a good idea of how reliably the factory will be able to maintain operations and fulfill orders.
- Confirm quality management procedures so you know that your product’s quality is up to standard at every step of the process.
3. Finalizing your design specifications
Next, you need to provide your factory with detailed, manufacturing-ready design files and any additional details they will need to properly make your product. You should give detailed specifications about raw materials, dimensions, tolerance, required certifications, etc.
Just as importantly, you need to clearly communicate these requirements with your manufacturing partner to ensure there is no miscommunication. You should also be open-minded to taking a collaborative approach, as the manufacturer may have some expert advice or feedback to offer that will improve your final product.
4. Prototype, test, and provide feedback
After you’ve delivered your design specifications to the manufacturer, you usually then need to request prototypes, test them, and give feedback on them. Pay attention to design issues and test your samples for performance and durability.
Generally, you should only proceed to mass production after correct testing and approval of prototypes. The more complicated or technical your product is, the more important this stage will be.
5. Make sure quality control is in place
Quality control procedures can happen at every stage of production. The right number of inspections varies from project to project.
The three most common types of quality control inspections are:
- Pre-production inspections (PPI)
- During production inspections (DPI)
- Pre-shipment inspections (PIS)
- Container loading checks (CLS)
6. Navigate customs and compliance
Getting your goods through customs is a commonly overlooked step that can cause a lot of headaches if not done properly. Failure to comply with customs regulations can lead to significantly delayed timeline and additional costs.
You should carefully study import regulations for your region, including tariffs and duties. Look into and prepare all necessary documentation.
Many companies decide to hire a customs broker to handle this process for them.
7. Handle international shipping
Choosing the right shipping method requires balancing cost, speed, and reliability.
There are many different options to choose from – the best option depends on the type of product you’re sending, delivery timeline requirements, and your budget. Carrier reliability is another factor to consider.
How Wayo makes overseas custom product sourcing much easier
Wayo was created with all these challenges in mind. Our mission is to make overseas sourcing easy and seamless for companies and creators. You bring your custom product idea to us, and we’ll handle all the headaches of the sourcing process for you.
With Wayo, you can expect:
A complete, end-to-end sourcing service
Wayo takes your designs and handles all the communications and arrangements that follow. We find the best factory and work with them to have your products made. Then we handle quality control, customs, compliance, and shipping. No more sifting through factories, dealing with language barriers, and handling complex production requirements. We build quality control right into the process, so you can avoid costly and time-consuming misunderstandings and mistakes as well.
Wayo manages all the logistics, from documentation preparation to helping you choose the most suitable shipping methods based on your needs. All you have to do is provide your vision!
Access to our trusted supplier network in China
We’ve built a network of hundreds of reliable overseas factories that are experts in their areas of manufacturing. All our manufacturers are pre-vetted for quality, experience, and reliability. As well as ensuring a high standard of quality, our close working relationships allow us to set highly competitive prices for custom goods – up to 50% lower than U.S. vendors.
A user-friendly AI-powered platform
Self-serve design tools and an AI-powered sourcing agent dramatically streamline the sourcing process.
With our Merch Design Studio, you can customize a catalog product in just a few clicks: just pick your product, and then upload and customize the item! Plus, built-in auto-quotes mean that prices change as you design your product, so you know exactly how much you’re being charged to create your product.
If you’re looking for a fully custom product outside of our catalog, you can use our AI sourcing agent, trained to synthesize complex sourcing requests and available 24/7.
Ready to bring your unique product idea to life?
Wayo allows you to focus on what matters most – growing your business.
You can inspire your customers to be more interested in your brand with unique, high-quality custom products. But that doesn’t mean you have to get bogged down in complicated design, manufacturing, and logistics problems.
