How it works
A defined process, priced before it starts
No open-ended retainers to begin with, no vague discovery phase. You know the deliverable, the exclusions and the cost before any supplier is contacted.
01
Qualification call
A short call to confirm the product, the quantity, the timing and the actual commercial question. If the work is not a fit, we say so on that call.
02
Scope and fixed price
You receive the deliverable, the exclusions and the price in writing. For the Supplier Benchmark Sprint that is a flat $750 for one product and up to three suppliers.
03
China-side work
Suppliers are contacted directly in Mandarin, but the buyer-side requirements stay explicit: specification, quantity, MOQ, tooling, packaging, lead time, payment terms and the next action expected from each party.
04
Comparison, assumptions and risk flags
A clean side-by-side comparison surfaces commercial and documentation risks, supplier type, specialization signals and any material assumption that still needs to be confirmed before money moves.
05
Recommendation and review call
A direct recommendation framed as KEEP, RENEGOTIATE, SAMPLE, SWITCH or DO NOT PROCEED, walked through on a review call.
06
Execution, if you want it
Negotiation, sampling, visits, production coordination or ongoing purchasing support, separately scoped. Or take the findings and run it yourself.
What we keep explicit
Details that should not depend on assumptions
- Product specifications and approved samples
- Pricing, MOQ and payment terms
- Production timelines and milestones
- Material changes and approvals
- Responsibilities when something goes wrong
Good fit
When this works well
- You have a defined product or SKU
- You have a target quantity and a destination
- You hold a quote you are not sure about
- You are replacing an underperforming supplier
- You are preparing samples or a first production run
- You buy from China repeatedly and need China-side follow-through
Poor fit
When it does not
- You want product ideas rather than a product
- You want weeks of speculative free research
- You need dozens of unrelated SKUs quoted at once
- You are looking purely for the cheapest possible goods
- You need guaranteed regulatory, customs or quality outcomes
Want to know if your situation is a fit?
A short qualification call is the fastest way to find out. If it is not the right work for us, you will hear that directly.