Inoko Sourcing

CHINA SOURCING FROM GUANGDONG

Get a shortlist of qualified suppliers, contacted in Chinese for you.

We match your product with qualified suppliers from our Guangdong network and brief them in Chinese. You get offers you can actually compare, then deal directly with the ones that fit. Your first project check is free.

✓ 14+ years in Guangdong

✓ 6 languages, including Chinese

✓ Reply within 48 hours

THE PROBLEM

Sourcing from China shouldn’t feel like a gamble.

Most first-time importers lose money for the same few reasons. Not because they’re careless, but because sourcing in China favours people who speak the language and know the market.

THE OLD WAY

✕ Dozens of replies, and no idea who is serious

✕ Factories and resellers that look exactly the same

✕ Slow, vague answers in broken English

✕ Quotes in different formats you can’t compare

✕ A cheap unit price that grows once all costs are added

✕ A deposit sent to a company you’ve never checked

THE INOKO WAY

✓ A shortlist matched to your product and budget

✓ Every supplier asked: factory or trader?

✓ Contact in Chinese, by people who know Guangdong

✓ The same questions asked to every supplier

✓ Offers side by side: price, minimum order, lead time

✓ Our checklist of what to verify before you pay a deposit

The old way costs you weeks, samples that miss your brief, and money at risk on your very first order.

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

THE SOLUTION

How it works

Tell us about your project

Your product, quantity, budget and destination. It takes about 2 minutes.

✓ Photos, links or a description
✓ Target price and quantities
✓ Destination and deadline

We search our network

We contact suppliers in Chinese, explain your project and keep only the ones that really fit.

✓ Matched to your product, budget and minimum order
✓ Your project explained in their language
✓ The same questions asked to every supplier

You get your shortlist

A clear comparison of price, minimum order and lead time. You pick, and you deal with them directly.

✓ Offers side by side, in one format
✓ Supplier contact details
✓ You order directly, no middleman on your invoice

OFFERS

Choose the support you need

Free project check

0 €

Not sure where to start, or if your order is big enough?

  • Send us your project

  • We reply by email within 48 hours

  • A first answer and the best way forward

Supplier List

499 €

For buyers who want to compare before they commit.

  • 8 qualified suppliers, each marked factory or trader

  • All contacted in Chinese on your behalf

  • Comparison of price, minimum order, lead time and sample cost

  • Confidentiality agreement signed first

Trade Fair Visit

1200 €

Can’t travel to China? We go for you.

  • One fair, one product category

  • Up to 10 suppliers met in person

  • Product photos, contacts and a short report

Upcoming fairs
CIFF Guangzhou: 18–21 March 2027
Canton Fair: spring 2027 (dates to be confirmed by the organiser)

TRANSPARENCY

Clear from the start

Included

Supplier search, contact in Chinese, comparison and introduction.

Not included

Quality inspection, factory audits, shipping and the purchase contract. These stay between you and the supplier. We recommend an independent inspection company before shipment, and our checklist below shows what to verify before you pay.

How we’re paid

The project check is free. You only pay for the work itself: the Supplier List or the fair visit, at the price shown. If you order from a supplier we introduced, the supplier pays us a commission. Your price stays the same either way.

BEFORE YOU PAY A SUPPLIER

Six things to check before any money leaves your account.

Most losses we hear about could have been avoided before the first payment. Here’s the short version of the checklist we share with our clients.

✓ Know who you’re paying. Factory or trading company? Ask directly, and check that the company name on the business licence matches the one on your invoice.

✓ Pay the company, not a person. The bank account should be in the company’s name. If a supplier pushes for crypto, a personal account or payment outside the platform where you found them, stop there.

✓ Get every detail in writing. Materials, colours, sizes, packaging, price and lead time go on the proforma invoice before you pay anything. Expensive mistakes usually start with a detail nobody confirmed.

✓ Order a sample, then keep it. Sign and date the one you approve. It becomes your reference if the production run doesn’t match.

✓ Work out your real cost. Unit price, samples, shipping, import duties and VAT. A cheap quote can look very different once everything is added.

✓ Book an independent inspection before the balance. Have the goods checked at the factory before you pay the rest and before they ship. We don’t do inspections ourselves; an independent inspection company does.

With a Supplier List, the first point is already done: we ask every supplier, in Chinese, whether they’re a factory or a trader.

WHAT WE DO

One contact for your China search, in your language.

Supplier search icon

Supplier search

We find suppliers in our Guangdong network that match your specifications, budget and order quantity.

Contact in Chinese icon

Contact in Chinese

We brief suppliers in their own language, so you get real answers and real quotes instead of copy-paste replies.

Offers you can compare icon

Offers you can compare

Every supplier gets the same questions. You receive price, minimum order and lead time in one clear format.

Trade fair visits icon

Trade fair visits

Can’t travel to China? We walk the Canton Fair or another trade fair for you and come back with photos and contacts.

Confidential by default icon

Confidential by default

Your project and your supplier list stay private. A confidentiality agreement is signed before any supplier details are shared.

Six languages icon

Six languages

We speak with you in English, French, German, Italian or Luxembourgish, and with suppliers in Chinese.

Need someone on the ground in China? It’s available on request. Tell us your needs and we’ll confirm the scope and price within 48 hours.

WHO WE WORK WITH

Is this for you?

Entrepreneurs & e-commerce

You're launching a brand or a first product and need reliable suppliers to start production.


Companies & importers

You want new suppliers to diversify or replace your current sourcing, without starting from scratch.



Typical projects

• A first product for your Shopify or Amazon store
• Private label with your own brand
• Replacing a supplier that let you down
• Comparing prices before a bigger order
• Meeting suppliers at a trade fair

Not the right fit? If you need quality inspection, factory audits or shipping handled for you, we're not the right partner for that part. We can recommend independent specialists.

MEET THE FOUNDER

Your voice in Guangdong. Speaking their language.

Hi, I'm Inoko, founder of Inoko Sourcing. For more than 14 years, I've been sourcing in Guangdong, and I keep seeing the same thing: European buyers and Chinese suppliers expect different things, write differently and negotiate differently. That gap is where delays, wrong samples and bad deals begin.

With our partner on the ground in China, we contact suppliers in Chinese ourselves. Nothing gets lost through layers of translation or anonymous agents, and you always know who you are talking to.

✓ 14+ years in Guangdong ✓ Based in Luxembourg, partner in China ✓ 6 languages

Where we meet suppliers

Our sourcing ground in Guangdong

Shenzhen’s electronics markets

Frequently asked questions

What does Inoko Sourcing do?

We introduce you to qualified suppliers from our network in Guangdong, contact them in Chinese and give you a clear comparison. You then deal with the suppliers directly.

How much does it cost?

The project check is free. The Supplier List costs €499 and a trade fair visit costs €1,200. Product costs, samples, shipping and duties are paid directly to the supplier or your freight company.

Do you take a commission from suppliers?

Yes. If you order from a supplier we introduced, the supplier pays us a commission. Your price stays the same either way. You only pay us for the work itself: the Supplier List or the fair visit, at the price shown. The project check is free.

What do the prices in my Supplier List include?

Each supplier quotes us the same things: unit price, minimum order, lead time and sample cost. That's what you compare side by side. Shipping, import duties, VAT and any customs fees come on top, and you pay them to your freight company or customs, not to us. Add them up before you pick a supplier: the cheapest unit price isn't always the cheapest product once it reaches you.

What products can you source?

Electronics, jewelry, fashion, lingerie, toys, accessories, home goods and more. Tell us your product and we'll tell you if we can help.

Can you assist with factory visits and trade fairs?

Yes. Through our Chinese-speaking partner on the ground, we can visit factories for you and report back with photos, video, and a short summary. We can also attend trade fairs such as the Canton Fair on your behalf, shortlist relevant booths, and meet exhibitors for you. Availability and pricing depend on your project, location, and schedule.

Do you check quality or handle shipping?

No. We find and introduce the right suppliers; quality checks and shipping stay between you and the supplier. Before shipment, we recommend an independent inspection company that checks the goods at the factory. Our “Before you pay a supplier” checklist above covers the steps that protect you.

How do I make sure production matches my sample?

Most problems happen between the sample and the production run, so lock things down before you order. Put every spec in writing (materials, colours, sizes, packaging), keep the approved sample signed and dated, and book an independent inspection before you pay the balance. Our part: your project is explained to suppliers in Chinese, so what you asked for is what they understood.

How do I avoid scams and protect my deposit?

The suppliers on your list come from our Guangdong network, and each one is asked whether it's a factory or a trader. Some checks only you can do, because you're the one paying: confirm the company name on the business licence and the bank account match, never pay a personal account or outside the platform where you met the supplier, and keep the balance until the goods have been inspected.

What if the minimum order is too high for me?

Each supplier sets its own minimum, and minimum order is one of the questions every supplier on your list gets from us. We look for suppliers whose minimums fit your budget. Small runs usually mean a higher unit price, so it's worth comparing a few options before you commit.

Is it worth using you for a small first order?

It depends on what's at stake. If you're testing a simple product with a few dozen units, you can often manage on your own with a good checklist, and our free guide is a good place to start. If your product has custom specs or your own branding, or one bad batch would really hurt, that's where a shortlist briefed in Chinese makes the most sense. Not sure which one you are? Send us your project for the free check and we'll tell you straight.

Can I switch from my current supplier?

Yes. Tell us what you buy today, in what quantity and at what price. We look for alternatives in our network so you can compare before you change anything.

How fast do you reply?

Every request gets an email reply within 48 hours.

Does sending a request commit me to anything?

No. Sending your project is free and without obligation. You'll hear back by email within 48 hours.

Ready to find your supplier?

Tell us what you need. We'll reply by email within 48 hours with a first answer and the best way forward.


Not ready yet? Get our free guide, “Sourcing from China: Avoid the Costly Mistakes.”

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