Buying wholesale products from China can widen a shop’s range and improve margins, but the first order is where most mistakes happen. Shop owners often buy too many items at once, skip samples, or discover shipping and customs costs only after the goods are paid for. This starter checklist is written for small and medium shops, online and offline, that want to source a first assortment from China in a controlled way. Work through it before you contact suppliers, and you will ask better questions and get quotes you can actually compare.
Part 1: Your shop and your product list
Before you look at a single supplier, take a little time to define what your shop actually needs and which products are sensible for a first order.
1. Start with your shop, not with the catalogue
It is easy to be impressed by the range of products available. Start instead with what your shop needs.
- Who are your customers and what do they already buy from you?
- Which products sell well and which ones are you missing?
- What price can you sell at, and what does that mean for your buying price after all costs?
- How much storage space do you have for stock?
- How quickly does stock usually move in your shop?
Write down a short list of product categories and a rough selling price for each. This keeps the search focused.
2. Choose products that are realistic for a first order
Some products are easier to start with than others. For a first order, many shops prefer:
- Standard products that do not need moulds or major changes.
- Items that are easy to ship, not fragile, very heavy or bulky.
- Products without complex certification, or where requirements are clear for your market.
- Items you can test easily, so you can judge a sample yourself.
Products such as electronics with batteries, cosmetics, children’s toys and food-contact items can be sourced from China, but they often need certificates, test reports or specific labelling. Check the rules for your market before you choose them.
Part 2: Specifications and quantities
The next step is to turn your product list into something a supplier can quote on. This is where many first orders go wrong, because vague requests produce quotes that cannot be compared.
3. Prepare a simple specification for each product
A supplier quotes what you ask for. For each product, prepare:
- Description: material, size, colours, finish.
- Quantity: what you want to buy first and what you might reorder.
- Packaging: individual packaging, barcodes, labels, master cartons.
- Branding: whether you want your logo or your own packaging.
- Photos or links to examples, with notes on what you want to be different.
Even a one-page sheet per product makes it far easier to compare quotes.
4. Plan quantities and MOQ
Minimum order quantities shape your first order. A supplier’s minimum may apply per item, per colour or per order value, and the unit price often falls as the quantity rises.
- Decide the total budget for your first order, including shipping and import costs.
- Spread it over a manageable number of products, rather than buying very small quantities of a huge range.
- Ask suppliers whether a lower first-order quantity is possible, for example with standard colours or packaging.
Our article what is MOQ explains why minimums exist and how to discuss them.
Part 3: Choose channels and check suppliers
With specifications ready, you can decide where to look and who to trust. These two steps go together, because the channel you choose affects what you need to check.
5. Decide where to buy: market, trader or factory
Wholesale products from China come through different channels:
- Wholesale markets such as Yiwu, practical for many different items in moderate quantities. See our Yiwu market guide.
- Trading companies, which combine products from several factories.
- Factories, better when you want one product in larger volume or with changes.
- Online platforms, which can list any of the above.
For a shop assortment with many items, markets and traders are often the practical starting point. Our article on how to buy wholesale from China compares these options in more detail.
6. Check suppliers before you pay
Before paying a deposit:
- Ask for the business licence and check that the company name matches the invoice and bank account.
- Ask whether the supplier produces the item or sources it.
- Request photos or videos of the actual product and packing, not only catalogue images.
- Compare several quotes for the same specification.
Part 4: Samples, terms and quality
Once you have a shortlist, the next three steps protect your money. They take some time, but they are much cheaper than receiving an order you cannot sell.
7. Order samples
Samples are the cheapest way to avoid an expensive mistake. Order them for each new product, check them against your specification and keep the approved sample as the reference for the order. Our guide on how to order samples from China explains the process.
8. Agree terms in writing
Before confirming the order, agree on:
- unit price and quantity for each item;
- payment terms, for example a deposit and a balance after inspection;
- production or delivery time as stated by the supplier;
- packaging, labels and carton marks;
- the Incoterm that defines where the supplier’s responsibility ends.
9. Plan quality checks
When goods come from many suppliers, check them before they are packed for export. A check against your approved samples covers quantity, appearance, function, packaging and labelling. It is much easier to fix a problem in China than after the goods reach your shop.
Part 5: Shipping and import costs
Logistics is often treated as the last step, but for a shop it can decide whether a product is worth buying at all.
10. Plan shipping and import costs early
Shipping and import costs can change the profitability of a product significantly, especially for bulky, low-value items. Before you finalise the order:
- get a logistics quote based on the expected cartons, weight and volume;
- plan consolidation if you buy from several suppliers;
- check import documents, product classification and any certificates.
Customs requirements differ by country. For details, contact our team in China.
Checklist summary
| Area | Ready before you order? |
|---|---|
| Product list linked to your customers and selling prices | ☐ |
| One-page specification for each product | ☐ |
| Budget and quantities, MOQ discussed | ☐ |
| Suppliers checked: licence, factory or trader | ☐ |
| Samples approved and kept as reference | ☐ |
| Terms agreed in writing | ☐ |
| Quality check planned before shipment | ☐ |
| Shipping quote and import requirements checked | ☐ |
How TOPDANBAZ helps shops
Our team in Yiwu works with shops and resellers that want to source from China without travelling for every order. We help with product search, supplier checks, price and terms negotiation, samples, inspection and logistics coordination, including consolidation of goods from different suppliers. We are not a marketplace; we work on the products your shop needs. You can read the process on our how it works page.
FAQ
How many products should a shop start with?
There is no fixed number. A smaller range with sensible quantities is usually easier to manage, check and sell than a very wide range bought in tiny amounts.
Can I buy mixed products in one order?
Yes, usually from several suppliers. The goods are then consolidated in a warehouse in China and shipped together.
Do I need my own brand to buy wholesale from China?
No. Many shops start with standard products. Custom branding is possible, but often comes with higher minimums.
If you have a product list for your shop, send us a product request and our team will come back to you with the next steps.
