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Source Haus
Journal

Sourcing, straight
from the source.

Practical advice on factory sourcing, production management and manufacturing, from people who do it every day.

Group of buyers walking through a trade fair hall in China
Sourcing Tips

How to Calculate Landed Cost Per Unit Before You Place an Order

The factory quote is the starting number, not the real one. Here is every line item that sits between the factory floor and your warehouse, and how to add them up before you commit.

30 July 2026Read more →
Founders meeting a supplier at an apparel booth during the Canton Fair in Guangzhou
Sourcing Trips

Canton Fair Guide for First-Time Buyers: How to Prepare and What to Expect

The Canton Fair can compress months of supplier searching into days, or swallow a week for nothing. Here is how to pick the right phase, prepare properly, work the halls and follow up so the fair actually pays off.

27 July 2026
Reviewing design documents and product samples with a supplier at a table in a clothing sample showroom
Sourcing Tips

How to Protect Your Product Idea When Manufacturing Overseas

"Someone will steal my idea" is the fear that stops founders emailing their first factory. The fix is a few documents, a few registrations and the right partner. Here is how to protect your product idea properly.

23 July 2026
Deepak Girdhar, who leads Source Haus international business and sourcing operations in India
Founder Advice

Meet Deepak: Leading Source Haus Sourcing Operations in India

Deepak Girdhar leads our international business and sourcing operations in India, with more than 30 years across trade, shipping, logistics, sourcing and manufacturing.

21 July 2026
Source Haus founder Kristy Withers reviewing material swatches with suppliers during a product development meeting
Sourcing Tips

OEM vs ODM vs Private Label: Which Manufacturing Model Is Right for You?

Most founders hit a wall of acronyms before they hit a factory. Here's what OEM, ODM, private label and white label actually mean, and how to pick the right one for your product.

20 July 2026
Source Haus founder meeting a supplier in an Indian jewellery showroom during a sourcing trip
Sourcing Tips

How Long Does It Take to Manufacture a Product? Lead Times Explained

A product launch lives or dies on timing. Here is how long sampling, tooling, production, quality control and freight really take, and how to plan your launch so stock lands on time.

16 July 2026
A hand holding a six pack of Emwoods whiteboard pencils from the brand's first full production run
Client Stories

From Idea to Production: Following Emwoods' Manufacturing Journey

Behind every product launch are months of sourcing, development and production. Here's what Emily Ellwood's journey reminds us about bringing a product to life.

14 July 2026
LK, the manufacturing expert who has worked alongside Source Haus founder Kristy Withers for 16 years
Founder Advice

Meet LK: 16 Years of Manufacturing Experience Behind Source Haus

For 16 years, LK has helped Kristy navigate factories, production challenges and costly lessons. Today, that experience sits behind every Source Haus project.

13 July 2026
Source Haus founder greeting a supplier inside their workshop, where payment terms are agreed face to face
Sourcing Tips

Factory Payment Terms Explained: How to Pay Suppliers Without Losing Your Money

A factory quote has two numbers that matter: the price, and the terms. Here is how deposits, balances, TT and LC actually work, and how to protect your money before it ships.

6 July 2026
Source Haus team in China reviewing production details with a local manufacturing partner
Founder Advice

Who Owns the Mould? Tooling Costs and Ownership Explained

Your first factory quote has a line most founders do not expect: tooling. Here is what a mould costs, who actually owns it, and how to protect your investment before you pay.

2 July 2026
A sourcing agent walking founders through a factory floor to vet and manage the supplier relationship
Sourcing Tips

How to Find a China Sourcing Agent in Australia (and What to Ask)

A China sourcing agent helps Australian founders find, vet and manage factories. How to choose one, what to ask, and what it costs.

29 June 2026
Meeting artisan suppliers in India to find the right manufacturer for your product
Sourcing Tips

Alibaba Alternatives: Where to Find Manufacturers Beyond Alibaba

Most founders start and stop their supplier search on Alibaba. The best factory for your product might never show up in those results. Here are the Alibaba alternatives that actually work.

29 June 2026
Reviewing products and supplier quotes at a sourcing trade fair stand
Sourcing Tips

Incoterms Explained: What FOB, EXW and DDP Mean for Your Margins

Three letters on a factory quote decide who pays for freight, who pays duties and who carries the risk. Here is what FOB, EXW and DDP actually mean, in plain English.

25 June 2026
Source Haus team on a sourcing trip in India
Sourcing Tips

How to Lower Your MOQ: 7 Ways to Negotiate a Smaller First Order

A factory minimum that is too high stops a launch before it starts. But an MOQ is rarely fixed. Here are seven proven ways to negotiate it down and launch on a run your business can actually carry.

22 June 2026
Kristy and team visiting a factory floor
Founder Advice

Why Most First-Time Product Founders Choose The Wrong Factory

Finding a factory sounds simple. Finding the right factory is much harder. Here are the most common mistakes first-time founders make — and how to avoid them.

2 June 2026
Source Haus China sourcing trip
Sourcing Tips

China vs India: Which Country Should You Manufacture In?

There is no universal right answer. Both countries offer extraordinary manufacturing opportunities. The best choice depends on your product, your budget and the type of business you are building.

26 May 2026
Source Haus group at Canton Fair trade show
Sourcing Trips

What Actually Happens On A Sourcing Trip?

Most people imagine walking through a trade show, collecting business cards and placing a few orders. The reality is very different — and far more valuable.

19 May 2026
Kristy reviewing product specs with factory team
Sourcing Tips

How to Brief a Factory Overseas

The single biggest reason sourcing fails is not the factory. It is the brief. Here is how to give suppliers exactly what they need to quote and sample accurately.

12 May 2026
Source Haus team reviewing supplier documentation
Founder Advice

5 Questions to Ask Before Paying a Factory Deposit

Paying a deposit to an overseas factory you have never worked with is one of the most nerve-wracking parts of product development. These five questions will tell you whether a supplier is worth trusting.

28 April 2026
India Edit group at Jaipur palace
Sourcing Trips

Behind the Trip: What Actually Happens on the India Edit

People always ask what a sourcing trip actually involves day-to-day. Here is an honest account of what we do on the India Edit, and why it is structured the way it is.

8 April 2026
Reviewing fabric samples with supplier
Sourcing Tips

Why Your Samples Keep Coming Back Wrong

Getting a sample that misses the mark is frustrating. Getting three in a row is demoralising. Here are the most common reasons samples fail, and what to do about each one.

19 March 2026
Reviewing production costs with supplier team
Founder Advice

The Real Cost Of Manufacturing A Product (And Why Most Founders Get It Wrong)

Most founders assume the cost of manufacturing is simply the cost of making the product. It is not. Here is the full picture — and why understanding it early changes everything.

3 March 2026
Factory production floor with workers
Founder Advice

From Idea To Factory: The 7 Steps Every Product Founder Should Know

Most successful product founders learn as they go. What matters is understanding the process and knowing what comes next. Here are the seven steps from idea to production.

24 February 2026
Reviewing factory credentials before placing a deposit
Sourcing

How to Vet a Factory Before You Pay a Deposit

The riskiest moment in manufacturing is the deposit. You are about to wire money to a company you have never met. Here is how to verify a factory properly before any money moves.

16 June 2026
Ornate blue and white hand-painted hall inside a Jaipur palace
Quality Control

How to Check Quality Before You Pay the Balance

A pre-shipment inspection is your last chance to catch defects before you release the money. Here is how to check bulk production properly — and why your sample is not enough on its own.

16 June 2026
Exploring a Chinese market to find the right manufacturer
Sourcing Tips

How To Find A Manufacturer For Your Product

After more than 15 years building product businesses and manufacturing across China, India, Vietnam and beyond, finding a factory is actually the easy part. Finding the right factory is where it gets interesting.

5 June 2025
Consulting with a manufacturer before placing an order
Sourcing Tips

15 Questions To Ask A Manufacturer Before Placing An Order

Finding a manufacturer is only half the battle. Before placing an order, make sure you understand exactly who you are working with. These are the questions every product founder should ask.

12 June 2025
Reviewing manufacturing specifications with a supplier
Sourcing Tips

How To Create A Manufacturing Brief For Your Supplier

One of the fastest ways to frustrate a manufacturer is to send a message with no details. A manufacturing brief is one of the most important documents you will create, and most founders skip it entirely.

27 March 2025
Discussing order quantities with suppliers at a trade fair
Sourcing Tips

What Is MOQ? Minimum Order Quantities Explained

MOQ is one of the most important manufacturing concepts you will learn as a product founder, yet it is often misunderstood. Once you understand how it works, you will be in a much better position to negotiate and launch.

24 April 2025
Factory briefing session reviewing production details
Founder Advice

11 Manufacturing Mistakes First-Time Product Founders Make

After more than 15 years manufacturing products around the world and helping hundreds of founders bring products to life, these are the mistakes I see most often, and almost all of them are completely avoidable.

13 March 2025
Source Haus team travelling between suppliers on a sourcing trip
Founder Advice

How To Import Products Into Australia: A Beginner's Guide

For many product founders, importing feels like a mystery, freight forwarders, customs, duties, taxes and a whole lot of unfamiliar language. The good news is that once you understand the process, it is surprisingly straightforward.

27 February 2025

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