The useful starting point
A manageable first order starts with a clear brief and a written agreement about the products, delivery and payment.
01
Start with a product and a customer
Choose which of the three initial categories you want to sell and who will buy it. A useful brief identifies a product format and the questions a buyer will ask: fit, size, finish, storage, use and what comes in the package.
For car covers, start with body styles and exact vehicle information. For sunshades, identify windscreen dimensions and centre obstructions. For boot organisers, compare the footprint, capacity options and the room needed to open the lid.
02
Write a buying brief a supplier can answer
List the requested variant, target quantity, colour or size mix, destination country and seaport. Mark which details are essential and which can be compared across options.
Keep one line for each requested SKU. Record the agreed product description and attach the images that show the exact option. Avoid treating similar listing images as proof that two variants have the same construction.
03
Decide what a sample needs to prove
If you request a sample, define what you want to check before it arrives: dimensions, fit, surface and lining, assembly, included parts, packing or the steps needed to demonstrate the item.
Confirm the sample version and its delivery cost. A sample is useful when it is identifiable and comparable with the product named in the final order. Record any changes before purchasing a larger quantity.
04
Review the complete quotation
Read the product lines, quantities, currency, packing and included services together. A CIF quote should name the destination port and explain the scope of sea freight, cargo insurance and export arrangements. Import clearance, taxes and onward delivery are arranged by the buyer.
Check destination port charges, unloading costs and any changes to the carton data with the carrier and your import broker. Keep the quote validity, stock or preparation assumptions and estimated timetable visible.
05
Agree payment, delivery and inspection
Before funding an order, align the commercial order with the payment transaction. Product descriptions, quantities, dispatch timing, destination, inspection and fees should be consistent.
For an eligible escrow transaction, use the official platform account and accepted instructions. Check what records are needed to show shipping and receipt. Confirm what to do if the delivery or products do not match the agreement.
06
Keep a usable record of the first order
Save the quotation, confirmed specification, product images, payment reference, shipping records and any agreed checking evidence. On arrival, record carton condition and reconcile the delivered variants and quantities.
Use the agreed process and timeframe to report a problem. After the order, update your buying brief with the confirmed packing data, product observations and customer questions that will improve the next enquiry.
Your next step
Bring the details you already have to an enquiry. We will identify the product information and commercial conditions still needed for a quotation.
Start a buying brief