Project notes
Short, anonymised write-ups of real enquiries we have worked on: what the buyer asked, what we checked, what we found and where each project stands. Several are still open, and we say so.
Anonymised: we do not name the buyer, their business, the brands involved or the factories. Every fact comes from our own project file for this enquiry; nothing has been added.
Notes
- Checking a Chinese CNC router quote before paying the balanceA UK workshop had a CIF quote for a Chinese CNC router with an automatic tool changer and asked us to check the supplier, the paperwork and the real landed cost before paying the 70% balance.
- Pricing three outdoor sauna tent and wood stove sets for a buyer in the Channel IslandsA buyer in the Channel Islands wanted portable wood-fired sauna tents to resell; we priced three tent-and-stove sets, set out what each minimum order meant, and kept the sauna stones out of the shipment.
- Checking what a 150 kg/h crisp line really means for a small producerA small UK snack start-up asked for a complete potato crisp production and packing line; the capacity it needed meant far more machine than the low marketplace prices suggested.
- Building a three-piece pet-hair kit for a new UK brand, samples firstA new UK pet-care brand wanted a quality-led three-piece pet-hair kit; we shortlisted mature existing products for each piece and quoted a sample round before any production.
- Sourcing bicycle tyres for a UK online retailer: branded and economy rangesA UK online bike-parts retailer wanted a long-term tyre supply; we split the work into genuine branded stock from a verifiable source and a separate economy range with one tread family across sizes.
- Comparing air and sea freight for a small gift-packaging orderA UK gift business asked for baskets, boxes and fillable ornaments in small quantities; freight, not product price, decided the delivered cost.
What we decline
Some requests we turn down. This is what we say, and what we offer instead.
Replica or “1:1” branded goods
In October 2026 a buyer sent us a link to a “1:1” tracksuit carrying a major sportswear brand. “1:1” is replica-market wording for a close copy of the branded original. We do not source, buy, inspect or ship replica branded goods. We can source an unbranded or private-label design that does not copy a brand's logos or protected design, or genuine branded stock where the supply route can be verified.
Per-consumer dropshipping
In September 2026 a UK reseller asked us to send single orders straight to their customers. We are not set up for per-consumer fulfilment. We can source, check quality and ship in bulk to the buyer, or to the buyer's own fulfilment provider in the UK.