The sourcing notebook
Understand before deciding.
Methods, questions to ask and documents to gather. Each guide connects project preparation with identified resources.
21 guides to explore
Product specifications that make supplier enquiries actionable
Use, specifications, variants and approval: an approach to preparing an import brief before contacting manufacturers in China.
Compare manufacturers using genuinely comparable responses
Build a framework for reviewing manufacturers' proposals: scope, capabilities, documents, variants and outstanding issues before selection.
Prepare compliance questions before sourcing
Identify the product, its use, market and supporting documents to have reviewed before contacting manufacturers in China.
Approve a sample with explicit criteria and reservations
Identify the sample, define the criteria and record outstanding issues to prepare a usable manufacturing reference.
The assignment brief for a pre-shipment inspection
Define the batch, defects, expected evidence and approvals to organise pre-shipment inspection.
Allocate roles before launching an import project
Distinguish project scoping, sourcing, purchasing, inspection and transport to prepare consistent contracts and operational discussions.
Prepare a trade fair in China as a supplier assessment stage
Define the products, organise questions and prepare trade fair follow-up to continue assessing manufacturers.
Maintain project follow-up during manufacturing
Product references, samples, milestones and changes: organise the monitoring of a production project in China with Maison Brach.
Verify a Chinese manufacturer before accepting its proposal
An approach to supplier verification: connect legal identity, production site, declared capabilities and evidence suited to your product.
Prepare packaging and the packing plan before shipment
Connect product protection, packed dimensions, labelling and handling conditions before shipping your production.
Prepare for the Canton Fair around the decisions you want to make
Choose products to examine, prepare meetings and use the responses: a Canton Fair visit brief focused on your project.
At CIFF, look beyond a piece of furniture's first impression
Drawings, finish samples, assembly and delivery constraints: prepare a CIFF visit that serves your furniture project.
Prepare for the CIIE around your development plans in China
Prepare for the CIIE around a market development objective. Organise your product presentation, contacts and follow-up to meetings.
Choose a trade fair in China according to the product you want to develop
Furniture, fabrics, beauty, electronics or general sourcing: choose a trade fair according to the questions to resolve and prepare the corresponding assignment.
Final phase of Canton Fair 2026: prepare a visit that still serves your project
The final phase of the autumn Canton Fair runs until 4 November. How to assess a near-term assignment and prepare meeting follow-up.
CIFF Guangzhou 2027: start preparing your furniture selection now
The CIFF Guangzhou 2027 periods have been announced. Prepare the drawings, finishes and questions that will help you make the most of the March meetings.
CIIE Shanghai 2026: define your business objective before the meetings
Before the November CIIE, structure a product presentation and the market development questions to address during an assignment in Shanghai.
Small parcels to France: changes in July and November 2026
National tax, European duty and handling fees: distinguish the different measures and prepare shipment information for distance sales to France.
Chinese steel in South Africa: understanding the customs notice timetable
SARS notices and the ITAC report: cross-check the steel description, producer and applicable period before preparing an import into South Africa.
South Africa: the scope of measures on Chinese corrosion-resistant steel
ITAC report 778 and its statement concern certain corrosion-resistant steels. The documents to cross-check when reviewing a product reference and its origin.
Djibouti: prepare a logistics project in the international free zone
DIFTZ, storage, processing and onward shipment: the activities described by the operators and questions to prepare for a project between China and East Africa.
Titles shown: 21 of 21
- Project scopingProduct specifications that make supplier enquiries actionable
- SourcingCompare manufacturers using genuinely comparable responses
- CompliancePrepare compliance questions before sourcing
- QualityApprove a sample with explicit criteria and reservations
- QualityThe assignment brief for a pre-shipment inspection
- OrganisationAllocate roles before launching an import project
- Trade fairsPrepare a trade fair in China as a supplier assessment stage
- OrganisationMaintain project follow-up during manufacturing
- SourcingVerify a Chinese manufacturer before accepting its proposal
- LogisticsPrepare packaging and the packing plan before shipment
- Trade fairsPrepare for the Canton Fair around the decisions you want to make
- Trade fairsAt CIFF, look beyond a piece of furniture's first impression
- Trade fairsPrepare for the CIIE around your development plans in China
- Trade fairsChoose a trade fair in China according to the product you want to develop
- NewsFinal phase of Canton Fair 2026: prepare a visit that still serves your project
- NewsCIFF Guangzhou 2027: start preparing your furniture selection now
- NewsCIIE Shanghai 2026: define your business objective before the meetings
- NewsSmall parcels to France: changes in July and November 2026
- NewsChinese steel in South Africa: understanding the customs notice timetable
- NewsSouth Africa: the scope of measures on Chinese corrosion-resistant steel
- NewsDjibouti: prepare a logistics project in the international free zone
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