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Here’s Exactly How We Source Products for Kiwi Businesses
No mystery. No jargon. No hidden fees. This page walks you through exactly what happens when you work with Epic Sourcing — from the first conversation to goods arriving at your door in New Zealand. We think transparency builds better business relationships. So here it all is.
A Bit About Epic Sourcing
Epic Sourcing was founded in 2019 by TK — Chinese-born, New Zealand-based, and holding an International Trade degree from Hangzhou, China. The business was built to solve a specific problem: Kiwi businesses were getting burned by opaque, commission-based sourcing agents whose incentives didn’t align with their clients’.
Our model is different. We charge an project-based rate. That means we have no financial incentive to push you towards more expensive products or larger orders. We make money when we do good work. Full stop.
Our team is bilingual — Mandarin and Vietnamese-speaking — with on-the-ground relationships in China and Vietnam built over years of active sourcing work.
Step by Step — How We Work
Discovery Call
Every engagement starts with a 30-minute call. You tell us about your product, your business, your budget, and your timeline. We ask the right questions and give you an honest assessment of what's involved. If we can help, we'll tell you how. If we can't, we'll tell you that too.
Scope & Proposal
Based on the discovery call, we put together a clear scope of work and a fixed cost estimate. You know exactly what you're paying for before anything starts. No surprises.
Supplier Search
Our team searches our verified supplier database, trade show records, and industry contacts to identify the best-fit manufacturers for your product in China or Vietnam. We look for actual factories — not trading companies — wherever possible.
Supplier Vetting
Every shortlisted supplier goes through our verification process: legal registration, business licence, export certification, production capacity, and reference checks. We weed out the cowboys early.
Shortlist & Recommendation
We present you with a shortlisted set of verified suppliers, a clear recommendation, and our reasoning. You make the final decision — we give you everything you need to make it confidently.
Sampling
We request samples from your chosen supplier on your behalf, review them against your spec, and arrange delivery to you in New Zealand. We give you our honest assessment of the sample quality before you commit to a production run.
Negotiation
Once you're happy with the sample, we negotiate pricing, MOQs, payment terms, packaging specifications, and lead times. Our bilingual team negotiates in the supplier's language — which changes the dynamic significantly compared to email negotiations in English.
Order Placement
We place the order on your behalf (or guide you through placing it directly, depending on your preference). We ensure all specifications, quality standards, and delivery requirements are clearly documented.
Production Monitoring
For larger orders, we monitor production progress and flag any issues before they become problems. You get regular updates so you're never left wondering what's happening.
Quality Control Inspection
Before your goods are packed for shipment, our team (or a trusted third-party inspection partner) conducts a pre-shipment inspection at the factory. We check quantity, quality, packaging, and labelling against your approved spec. If something's wrong, you find out now — not when the container arrives in Auckland.
Freight & Logistics
We coordinate sea or air freight from China or Vietnam to New Zealand. We work with trusted freight partners and manage the full logistics chain — including export documentation and packing lists.
MPI Biosecurity & NZ Customs Clearance
We manage MPI biosecurity documentation and NZ Customs clearance. This includes ensuring correct tariff classification, duty calculation, and any required import permits. Your goods clear the border without drama.
Delivery
Your goods arrive at your nominated NZ address or 3PL warehouse. We provide all relevant documentation — commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and customs entry. Everything you need for your records.
Review & Next Order
We debrief on how the order went — what worked, what could be better — and start planning for the next one. Good sourcing is a long game, and each order should get smoother than the last.
How We Charge — And Why It Matters
We charge an hourly rate. Not a commission on your order value.
This distinction matters more than it might seem. Commission-based sourcing agents make more money when you spend more money. That creates a conflict of interest — they have a financial incentive to push you towards higher-cost options, larger orders, and more expensive suppliers.
We don't have that problem. Our fee is the same whether your order is NZD $5,000 or NZD $500,000. We make money by doing good work, efficiently. That's it.
Our Customiser Package for private label product development starts at NZD $4,999. For other services — sourcing, QC, freight, verification — we provide a fixed quote after the discovery call. You always know what you're paying before we start.
Compliance Is Part of the Service — Not an Afterthought
Our streamlined process is designed to deliver outstanding results at every stage of your marketing journey. Here's how we do it:
MPI Biosecurity
We check your product's materials against MPI requirements before the order is placed. If treatment or documentation is required, we arrange it as part of the freight process.
NZ Customs Classification
We ensure your goods are correctly classified under the right HS tariff codes from day one. Misclassification is a common and avoidable cost.
CPTPP Duty Benefits
We structure your orders to take advantage of preferential duty rates under New Zealand's trade agreements with China and Vietnam where applicable.
Product Safety
If your product has NZ safety or certification requirements (electronics, children's products, food contact materials), we flag these early and help you source compliant products.
Our Clients
eCommerce & Shopify Stores
Finding and importing products for online stores — from sampling to delivery.
Private Label Brands
Building branded product lines from scratch — design, sampling, manufacturing, and launch.
Retail Businesses
Sourcing wholesale products for physical retail stores across New Zealand.
First-Time Importers
Guiding new importers through their first order from start to finish — safely.
Scaling Businesses
Supporting growing businesses as their sourcing needs become more complex and high-stakes.
NZ Exporters
Helping New Zealand businesses source components or finished goods to support their own export operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions to help you get the information you need.
From discovery call to goods arriving in New Zealand, a typical first order takes 10–16 weeks. This breaks down as: 1–2 weeks for supplier finding and vetting, 2–4 weeks for sampling, 1–2 weeks for negotiation and order placement, 3–5 weeks production, and 3–5 weeks freight. We give you a realistic timeline from day one.
No. We handle everything on the ground. Some clients choose to visit factories as part of their due diligence — we can arrange that — but it's not required. Our team is your eyes and ears in Asia.
Yes. Some clients engage us for supplier finding only. Others bring us in just for quality control inspections. We're flexible — use us for as much or as little as makes sense.
Most Chinese factories require a 30% deposit with order, and 70% balance before shipment. We advise you on payment terms and can help structure payment to reduce your risk. We never handle your payment to suppliers directly — that money goes from you to the factory.
We can still help. We can vet your existing supplier, manage quality control, handle freight and compliance, or negotiate better terms. You don't have to start from scratch to benefit from our support.
There's no hard minimum, but we're best suited to businesses placing orders of meaningful commercial value. Very small one-off orders may not justify the cost of professional sourcing support. We'll be honest about this on the discovery call.
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Send your questions to our friendly team.
Ready to Get Started? Let's Talk.
Book a 30-minute discovery call and we'll walk you through exactly how we'd approach your product and your situation. No obligation. No hard sell. Just clarity.
