Shanghai sourcing agent
Sourcing Agent in Shanghai for Brands That Make Custom Products
A sourcing agent in Shanghai is a local team that finds and vets Chinese manufacturers, manages samples and production, inspects goods before shipment and arranges shipping for overseas buyers. Owl Sourcing is a Shanghai sourcing agent for quality-focused brands in the US, UK, Europe and Australia that make custom products. We have been sourcing since 2016, and our founder brings 20 years of industry experience.
Send us your product, target quantity, target cost and timeline. You will receive a formal quote within 2–3 working days.
- Sourcing since 2016founder with 20 years of industry experience
- Shanghai teamvisits suppliers and inspects your goods
- Inspected before shipmentagainst the sample and standard you approved
- Formal quote in 2–3 working daysin USD, GBP, EUR or AUD
What our Shanghai sourcing team does for you
Our Shanghai sourcing team acts as your own office in China. We turn your specification into a shortlist of capable manufacturers, run the sampling until you approve a reference sample, follow production, inspect the goods before they ship and arrange delivery. You deal with one accountable team in English, and we handle the factories in Chinese.
- Supplier search and vetting. We match your product to manufacturers that already make similar items, then check their capability, capacity and export experience before any sample is made.
- Samples and development. We manage sample rounds, material choices and changes until you sign off a reference ("golden") sample. For new designs, see custom product development.
- Production follow-up. We confirm materials and schedules with the factory and send you progress updates during the run.
- Quality control. Every order is checked before shipment against the approved sample and a written standard. More on our quality control in China.
- Consolidation and short-term warehousing. Goods from more than one supplier can be brought together at our Shanghai warehouse or one of our partner warehouses before shipping. Short-term warehousing is included, and the period is stated in your quote.
- Shipping. Door-to-door or to your port, by sea or air. You are the importer and pay the import duties in your country.
Not sure which products we handle? See the categories on our custom products page.
Why work with a sourcing agent based in Shanghai?
A sourcing agent based in Shanghai sits next to one of China's largest manufacturing regions and its busiest port. The Yangtze River Delta around Shanghai (Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui) is within a day's travel for factory visits. The Port of Shanghai ranks first in the World Shipping Council's Top 50 Container Ports list, so full containers and consolidated loads leave from the same city where your goods are checked.
For custom products made to your specification, being close to the factories matters more than being close to a wholesale market. Shanghai also has two international airports, so you can fly in, visit the office and see a factory on the same trip.
A team in Shanghai, without opening your own office
Many brands consider building their own team in China. But opening an office in Shanghai costs far more than most expect:
- People: you have to recruit, pay salaries plus high social insurance contributions, and keep recruiting as staff move on.
- Premises: office rent, plus someone flying to China to view spaces and negotiate with the landlord.
- Legal: leases follow the landlord's terms, so every document needs review by a law firm and translation from Chinese into English. Legal fees can run as high as RMB 2,000 an hour.
- Running costs: furniture, office equipment, and accountants who know cross-border business.
- Closing costs: if your plans change and you need to close the Shanghai office, the company has to be deregistered step by step under Chinese law. Your legal representative may need to fly to China in person, and you'll need lawyers and a foreign-affairs accounting firm to handle the liquidation. It takes time, effort and extra money.
From opening to closing, that's a heavy load for a small or mid-sized company. With Owl Sourcing, you work with our established Shanghai team and infrastructure, and you carry none of these costs.
If you are visiting Shanghai to buy ready-made goods in person, our Shanghai wholesale market guide covers the main markets.
Your Shanghai team and office
Owl Sourcing's office is in Minhang District, Shanghai. Goods are checked and consolidated at our Shanghai warehouse or one of our partner warehouses before shipment. The team works in English with brands abroad and in Chinese with suppliers. Our founder, Andy Yu, stays personally involved in client projects.
You are welcome to visit our office by appointment when you are in Shanghai.
Owl Sourcing Connections LtdBuilding 2, Paramount Center
1328 Hengnan Road, Minhang District
Shanghai 201114, China
Email: info@owlsourcing.com
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00–18:00 (China Standard Time)
How a sourcing project with our Shanghai team works
A typical custom-product project with Owl Sourcing runs in seven steps, from your brief to delivery. Sampling usually takes 2–4 weeks and mass production 30–45 days. The exact schedule depends on the product, materials and order size, and we confirm it in your quote.
- Brief. You send the product, quantity, target cost, target market and timeline.
- Formal quote in 2–3 working days. One all-in unit price, or a 5–10% service fee if you want us to manage a supplier you already use.
- Samples (2–4 weeks). Samples are charged at cost. You approve a reference sample, and we agree a written inspection standard with you.
- Deposit and production (30–45 days). You pay a 30% deposit; we follow the production run with the factory.
- Inspection before shipment. The goods are checked against the approved sample and the written standard.
- Balance. You pay the 70% balance after the inspection and before shipment.
- Shipping. Door-to-door or to your port. You pay the import duties as the importer.
Quality control and inspection in Shanghai
Quality is agreed in writing before production starts. We fix a reference sample and a written inspection standard covering dimensions, materials, finish, function, labelling and packaging. We carry out inspections before shipment, including 100% checks at our Shanghai warehouse or a partner warehouse when the order needs it. You get photos and a clear pass/fail summary. Under the all-in unit price, rework is on us.
- What we share: the approved samples, the inspection standard and the inspection results.
- What we don't share: the identity of the factories we work with. Owl Sourcing is the party accountable to you for the result.
Read how we inspect, step by step, on our quality control in China page.
Fees, timelines and terms
Owl Sourcing quotes in one of two ways. Either we give one all-in unit price when we find and manage the supplier, or we charge a 5–10% service fee when we manage a supplier you choose. Everything else is stated in the quote, so you can compare like with like.
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Pricing | All-in unit price, or a 5–10% service fee for a supplier you designate |
| Formal quote | Within 2–3 working days of a complete brief |
| Sampling | Usually 2–4 weeks; samples at cost |
| Mass production | Usually 30–45 days |
| Payment | 30% deposit; 70% after inspection, before shipment |
| Currencies | USD, GBP, EUR or AUD |
| Quoted separately | Freight, tooling, audits, design and lab testing (including our coordination) |
| Warehousing | Short-term warehousing included; the period is stated in your quote |
| Shipping | Door-to-door or to your port |
| Import duties | Paid by you, as the importer |
See our pricing page for how the two models compare.
Who our Shanghai sourcing service is for, and who it is not for
Our service suits brands that care about how a product is made, not just what it costs. If your decision rests mainly on the lowest unit price, another kind of supplier will suit you better, and we will say so.
A good fit: - Quality-focused brands in the US, UK, Europe and Australia making custom or private-label products. - Brands moving from buying off a marketplace to a managed supply chain with a written quality standard. - Brands that already have a factory and want it managed and inspected from Shanghai (5–10% service fee).
Not the right fit: - Buying ready-made stock in small mixed lots from wholesale markets. - Choosing a supplier on the lowest unit price alone. - Buyers who need to contract with the factory directly and know its identity.
What to send in your first brief
A clear brief gets you an accurate quote faster. Include these six things, and we can usually come back with a formal quote within 2–3 working days.
- Product description: drawings, photos or a reference product, materials and the features that matter to you.
- Target cost: your target unit price or price range.
- Quantities: the first order and the expected yearly volume.
- Quality and compliance: the standard you expect and any tests or certifications your market requires.
- Packaging: retail packaging, inserts, labels and carton marks.
- Timeline: when you need the goods at your door or port.
Shanghai sourcing agent FAQ
What does a sourcing agent in Shanghai do?
A sourcing agent in Shanghai finds and vets manufacturers, manages samples and production, inspects goods before shipment and arranges shipping on behalf of overseas buyers. Owl Sourcing does this as your own team in Shanghai, working to your specification and staying accountable for the result until the goods ship.
Where is your Shanghai office?
Our office is at Building 2, Paramount Center, 1328 Hengnan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 201114, China. The company is Owl Sourcing Connections Ltd. Goods are checked and consolidated at our Shanghai warehouse or one of our partner warehouses before shipment.
Can I visit your office in Shanghai?
Yes. Clients are welcome to visit our office by appointment. Tell us your dates through the contact page, and we can also plan factory visits for the same trip where the project needs them.
Do you only work with factories in Shanghai?
No. Our team is based in Shanghai, but we work with manufacturers across China and choose each one for the product, not the location. Shanghai's position in the Yangtze River Delta puts many manufacturing regions within a day's travel of our office.
How much does a sourcing agent in Shanghai cost?
Agents charge a commission, a fixed fee or a margin built into the product price. Owl Sourcing quotes one all-in unit price when we find and manage the supplier, or a 5–10% service fee when you designate the supplier. Freight, tooling, audits, design and lab testing are quoted separately.
How long does sourcing through a Shanghai agent take?
Sampling usually takes 2–4 weeks and mass production 30–45 days, followed by inspection and shipping. The schedule depends on how custom the product is, the materials and the order size. We confirm a realistic timeline in your formal quote.
What are the payment terms and currencies?
We work on a 30% deposit, with the 70% balance paid after inspection and before shipment. Quotes and invoices can be in USD, GBP, EUR or AUD.
Will you tell me which factory makes my product?
No. We don't disclose the identity of the factories we work with. You see the approved samples, the written inspection standard and the inspection results, and Owl Sourcing is the party accountable to you for the result.
Do you handle shipping and import duties?
We arrange shipping door-to-door or to your port. You are the importer of record and pay the import duties and taxes in your country.
How do I choose between sourcing agencies in Shanghai?
Check that the agent is a registered company with an office you can visit, that quality is tied to an approved sample and a written standard, and that fees and terms are in writing. Our guide on how to choose a sourcing agent in Shanghai gives 12 checks you can use with any agent.
About Owl Sourcing
Owl Sourcing is a China sourcing agent for quality-focused brands, based in Shanghai. Founded by Andy Yu, who brings 20 years of industry experience, we have been sourcing since 2016. The legal entity is Owl Sourcing Connections Ltd.
Related: China sourcing agent · Quality control in China · Custom products · Custom product development · Choosing a Shanghai sourcing agent: 12 checks · Shanghai wholesale markets
Last updated: October 2026
Tell us what you want to make
Send us your product, quantity, target cost and timeline, and our Shanghai team will reply with next steps and a formal quote within 2–3 working days.
About the author: Andy Yu
Founder of Owl Sourcing
Andy Yu has 20 years of experience in the sourcing industry and has helped Amazon sellers and DTC brands in the US and Europe source from China since 2016. He works with clients directly in fluent English and runs every order with detailed SOPs, trusted partner factories and inspection before shipment, including 100% checks at Owl Sourcing’s Shanghai warehouse when an order needs it. His strongest categories are metal products, wood, plastic and paper packaging, and custom products with demanding quality requirements.
Connect with Andy on LinkedIn