Product margins are won at sourcing, not at marketing. This is the practical sourcing playbook using Made-in-China.com — from idea to samples on your desk.
Step 1 — Pick the product
- Search a category and sort by verified suppliers with 3+ years on the platform
- Check: existing demand (Amazon reviews, TikTok Shop sales via Fastmoss) and room to differentiate (bundle, branding, or a better spec)
- Rule of thumb: your landed cost should be under 25% of your target retail price
Step 2 — Contact suppliers like a pro
Hello, I'm sourcing [PRODUCT] for my brand. Please share:
1. FOB pricing for 100 / 500 / 1,000 units
2. Sample cost and lead time
3. Custom packaging options and MOQ
4. Certifications for [MARKET]
Contact 10 suppliers — three will reply well, order samples from the best two, and compare quality side by side.
Step 3 — Validate before committing
- Sell the sample run locally or via TikTok Shop before ordering 1,000 units
- Pre-orders and waitlists count as validation too — the order should pay for itself
Step 4 — Ship it properly
Use Shippo for fulfillment once you're selling, and collect payments globally with Airwallex so supplier payments and customer receipts don't eat margin.
How to make money with it
- Make money online: private-label products on TikTok Shop/Amazon — the margin you negotiate at sourcing is the margin you market with
- Help your existing business: re-source your current product line at a better cost — the cheapest profit you'll ever find
- Offer it as a service: product sourcing for creators who have audiences but no supply chain — source fee + revenue share