Service 03 · Stage 1 · Source & develop

From reference photo to approved golden sample, managed in Guangzhou.

We manage sampling, OEM and ODM development with Chinese factories: prototypes, materials, tooling, revisions and the golden-sample sign-off that production is measured against. First sample in 10–21 days, each revision tracked, and the approved sample sealed and kept so production cannot quietly drift from it.

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  • 10–21 daysto a first sample
  • $80–150typical courier cost per sample
  • 1sealed golden sample held in Guangzhou
  • 3revisions typical before approval
At a glance
Turnaround10–21 days for the first sample
Required from youTech pack or detailed brief, target quantity, target retail price
Ideal clientBrands developing a custom product or private label
Typical feeProject fee per development, plus factory sample and courier costs at cost

Paid work starts only after you approve the scope and fee. Factory quotes are shown to you unmarked.

What's included

What our sampling, oem & odm service covers.

Brief to spec

We turn a photo, sketch or tech pack into a specification the factory can quote and build against: dimensions, materials, finishes, tolerances.

Factory selection for development

OEM needs a factory that engineers, not just assembles. We match you to one with the right tooling and R&D capability.

Prototype and revisions

Each sample is checked in our office against the spec before it ships to you, with photos and measurements.

Material and tooling advice

Honest guidance on where a cheaper material or an existing mould saves money without hurting the product.

Golden-sample sign-off

The approved sample is sealed, photographed and referenced in the purchase contract. Production is inspected against it.

Compliance from the start

Materials and components chosen with CE, FCC, FDA, Prop 65 or EN71 in mind, so testing does not fail at the end.

How it works

Four steps, no surprises.

  1. 01

    Brief and spec

    You send the reference and targets; we write the spec and confirm it with you.

  2. 02

    Factory and quote

    The right OEM factory quotes tooling, sample and unit price at your quantity.

  3. 03

    Sample and revise

    First sample in 10–21 days, checked here, couriered to you, revised until right.

  4. 04

    Golden sample

    Approved sample sealed and written into the contract. Production starts against it.

Pricing

What it costs.

Development is quoted as a project fee based on complexity, with factory sample charges and courier costs ($80–150 per sample by DHL or FedEx) passed through at cost. Tooling, where needed, is quoted by the factory and shown to you. If you move to production with us, sample fees are often credited back by the factory against the first order, and we negotiate that too.

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Who it's for

When you need this.

When it fits

Launching a private-label product

You want a generic product improved and branded, not copied. That is ODM, and the factory choice matters more than the price.

When it fits

Developing something new

A tech pack or a prototype needs a factory with engineers. We find it and manage the back-and-forth.

When it fits

Burned by quality fade

The sample was great; production was not. A sealed golden sample and inspection against it is the fix.

From the blog

Guides that go with this service.

All sourcing guides →
GuideApproved sample, different production: China’s quality fadeRead the guide GuideSmall MOQ product testing for Amazon & TikTokRead the guide GuideIs your Chinese supplier’s CE or FDA certificate real?Read the guide GuideHow to find a manufacturer in China: 4 routes comparedRead the guide
Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, ask on WhatsApp. A human answers, in English, in Guangzhou time.

OEM means the factory builds your design to your specification. ODM means you adapt the factory’s existing design with your branding and changes. ODM is faster and cheaper to start; OEM gives you more control and defensibility.
A first sample typically takes 10–21 days depending on complexity and whether tooling is needed. Allow for two or three revisions before approval on a custom product.
The approved golden sample is sealed and photographed, written into the purchase contract with tolerances, and used as the reference for in-line and pre-shipment inspection. Payment is tied to passing that inspection.
We use NNN agreements (non-use, non-disclosure, non-circumvention) with Chinese factories where the design justifies it, and advise on registering your design in China, which is cheap and worth doing.
More from one team
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Free assessment

Tell us what you're sourcing.

Send the product, target quantity and destination country. Within one business day we'll confirm feasibility, recommend the right service scope and quote the fee and timeline.

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Paid sourcing work starts only after you approve the scope and fee.