Sourcing policy

Review: confirm this reflects how the business actually vets suppliers before publishing. Any named certification scheme or audit standard should be one you truly apply.

What this covers

This policy sets out how we find factories, how we check them, and where we draw the line. It applies to every supplier we put in front of a client, in the Far East and on our other lanes.

Finding the right factory

We start from your spec, your target landed cost, and your deadline. Then we look for makers who can hold all three at once. A quote that ignores capacity or quality helps no one, so we screen for real fit before we shortlist.

Checks before we recommend

• Trading history and company standing, checked against independent records.
• Production capacity, so a factory can hold your volume without cutting corners.
• Certifications relevant to your product, verified at source, not taken on trust.
• A physical sample, assessed before any deposit is paid.

Ethics and working conditions

We expect suppliers to meet basic standards on labour, safety, and lawful conduct. Where a factory falls short and will not put it right, we walk away. Our approach to forced labour and human trafficking sits in our modern slavery statement.

Review: state which audit standard or code of conduct suppliers must sign, and how often you re-check. Do not imply a formal audit programme unless one runs.

Restricted and regulated goods

Some goods need a licence, a certificate, or special handling to enter the UK. We flag these early and will not book a shipment that cannot clear lawfully. Product-safety and labelling checks happen at the sourcing stage, while a change is still cheap.

When something goes wrong

If a supplier misses a standard after we have recommended them, we tell you plainly and help you move. One named contact stays on the account, so you are never handed around.