Sector guides

Sourcing advice gets more useful the more specific it is. What ruins a furniture order is not what ruins an electronics order, and the compliance load varies enormously between categories.

These guides go sector by sector: what to specify, what typically fails, which UK obligations attach to that product type, and where having someone on the ground changes the outcome.

Sourcing custom packaging and print from ChinaColour, structure and the UK taxes that attach to packaging. How to get print right first time and avoid an expensive tax surprise.5 min readSourcing for cafes and hospitalityFrom branded cups to furniture, what independent cafes and restaurants can source from China — and what to watch for.5 min readSourcing electronics from China: a UK buyer's guideCertification, safety and security obligations make electronics the highest-admin category to import. What to specify, test and document.5 min readSourcing furniture from China: fire safety, freight and finishFurniture is bulky, fragile and heavily regulated for fire safety in the UK. How to specify it, ship it economically and avoid the expensive failures.5 min readSourcing catering equipment and supplies from ChinaFood contact rules, electrical safety and the realities of commercial use. What UK hospitality buyers should specify and check.4 min readSourcing apparel and uniforms from ChinaFabric, fit and labelling are where apparel orders fail. What to lock down before production, and why the first bulk run rarely matches the sample.5 min readSourcing beauty and personal care products from ChinaCosmetics carry safety assessment, labelling and responsible-person duties in the UK. What that means before you place an order.5 min readSourcing fitness and sports equipment from ChinaLoad ratings, weight-based freight and product liability. What to specify for gym equipment that carries people.4 min readSourcing homeware and kitchenware from ChinaFood contact rules, breakage in transit and the finish standards that drive returns. What to specify for homeware that survives the journey and the dishwasher.5 min readSourcing toys and gifts from ChinaToys are among the most enforced categories in the UK. Age grading, testing and the documents you must hold before a single unit sells.5 min readSourcing pet products from ChinaChew toys, bowls and bedding fail in ways that reach the customer fast. What to test, and why pet products deserve toy-level scrutiny.4 min readSourcing promotional merchandise and branded goodsBranding, minimums and lead times for merchandise that carries your name. How to get print and quality right when the product is your marketing.5 min readSourcing signage and display from ChinaColour accuracy, weather resistance and fitting. What to specify for signage and retail display that arrives usable.4 min readSourcing construction materials from ChinaPerformance declarations, heavy freight and site deadlines. What UK contractors and developers should lock down before ordering.5 min readSourcing solar, battery and renewable energy products from ChinaChina dominates renewables manufacturing, but electrical safety, battery transport and warranty enforceability decide whether an order works out.5 min readSourcing machinery and industrial equipment from ChinaMachinery brings safety obligations, spare parts risk and commissioning. What to settle before you commit to a capital purchase.5 min readSourcing medical devices and PPE from ChinaMedical devices need a UK Responsible Person and MHRA registration whatever the class. PPE needs neither and is UKCA marked, with the category deciding whether an approved body is involved.5 min read