You’ve found products you want to sell. Maybe you’ve even seen them on 1688 or Alibaba. But you’re not sure how to get them to New Zealand, branded, quality-checked, and ready to list. That’s the gap we close.
Sourcing products for a Shopify store sounds straightforward — until you’re three months deep, your supplier has ghosted you, and your launch date is blown. Kiwi Shopify owners face a specific set of challenges that most sourcing guides don’t cover.
Alibaba has thousands of listings, but very few verified manufacturers. MOQs are often too high for a store just starting out. Cheap products mean returns, bad reviews, and chargebacks. Most sourcing agents charge a percentage of your order value — we charge a flat project fee. And packaging that arrives looking nothing like your brand? That’s the norm, not the exception.
We’ve seen these problems hundreds of times. That’s exactly why Epic Sourcing exists.
Tell us what you want to sell. We identify and vet the right manufacturers in China or Vietnam, negotiate pricing, and get you samples before you commit. Already found something on 1688 or Taobao? Send us the link — we source directly from China’s domestic wholesale platforms on your behalf.
Want your own branded products? We connect you with manufacturers who can produce to your spec — custom packaging, your logo, your design. Vietnam factories for soft goods often work from 200 units; Chinese factories for accessories and homewares typically from 300–500.
Your brand experience starts at unboxing. We source custom satchels, branded boxes, labels, and inserts. Need a China-based 3PL that integrates with Shopify for DTC shipping? We arrange pick-and-pack, custom satchels, and branded dispatch.
We inspect your goods in-factory before they leave Asia. If something’s wrong, you find out before it’s on a ship — not after it’s landed in Auckland and your customers are leaving one-star reviews.
We coordinate sea and air freight from China and Vietnam to New Zealand. We handle the paperwork, MPI biosecurity requirements, and NZ Customs clearance — so your products arrive without drama.
Stop guessing on Alibaba. We shortlist 3–5 verified manufacturers matched to your product — vetted against business licences, production capacity, and export certifications. No trading companies. No cowboys.
Tell us about your store, your target products, and your budget. We’ll tell you straight up if we can help and what it’ll cost.
Our team searches our verified network for the best-fit manufacturers. If you’ve submitted a 1688 or Alibaba link, we use it as our starting point and verify the factory behind it.
We verify legal registration, production capabilities, export licences, and past customer references. No cowboys.
We request samples on your behalf, review them against your spec, and ship them to you in New Zealand for final sign-off.
We negotiate pricing, payment terms, and lead times. Because we work on a flat project fee — not a commission — we have zero incentive to push you towards higher-cost options.
Pre-shipment inspection at the factory. We check quantity, quality, and packaging before your goods are loaded.
We arrange sea or air freight, manage MPI biosecurity documentation, and clear your goods through NZ Customs.
Your products arrive at your NZ address or 3PL warehouse, ready to list and sell. Need China-side 3PL for DTC fulfilment? We set that up too.
Products with natural materials like timber or certain fabrics can get held at the NZ border. We check materials against MPI requirements before your order is placed — not after it arrives in Auckland.
We ensure your goods are correctly classified under the right tariff codes. Misclassification means delays and unexpected duty bills — we get it right from day one.
New Zealand has trade agreements with China and Vietnam. We make sure your products are structured to take advantage of preferential duty rates where applicable.
Products sold to NZ consumers must meet certain standards. We source products that meet NZ quality expectations — not just the minimum spec required to clear customs.
Electrical and electronic products sold in NZ must meet safety and EMC standards under the RCM mark. We help you source from factories that already produce to these standards — so you’re not scrambling for compliance after the order lands.
Importing building materials into NZ means meeting specific product standards and council requirements. We check your products against NZ building compliance before ordering — timber treatments, steel grades, and material certifications included.
You’re launching your first Shopify store and you need a reliable supplier without the risk of getting burned on your first order.
Your store is growing and you need to move beyond dropshipping into your own inventory — with better margins and better quality.
You want your own branded product line. You’ve got the brand. You need the factory.
Your current supplier isn’t cutting it. Inconsistent quality, missed lead times, rising prices. Time for a change.
You run multiple Shopify stores and need a sourcing partner who can handle the volume — and the complexity.
You have a physical store and you’re expanding online. You need wholesale quantities at import prices.
We charge a flat project fee. Our incentive is always to find you the best deal, not the most expensive one. Our Customiser Package for private label starts at NZD $4,999, we also have White Label Package starting at NZD $2,499. Book a discovery call and we’ll give you a clear cost estimate upfront.
Vietnam factories work from 200 units for activewear and soft goods. China factories for homewares, accessories, and gifts typically start at 300–500 units. We negotiate both downward for first-time orders — and we’ve helped clients start with runs as small as 100 units.
Yep. Send us the link and we’ll source from that supplier directly — or find a better equivalent if the listed factory doesn’t check out. You don’t need a Chinese entity to access 1688’s domestic wholesale pricing when you work with us.
Absolutely. We work with China-based 3PL providers who can pack branded satchels, add branded inserts, and ship DTC to your NZ or Australian customers under your brand identity. Ask about this on your discovery call.
Nah. After your first production run, you own the factory relationship. You can reorder directly without using our services. If you’d prefer us to manage ongoing orders — QC, production monitoring, re-negotiation — we offer that on our standard rate. No lock-in either way.
From briefing to first sample, typically 3–6 weeks. From sample approval to goods arriving in NZ, add another 4–8 weeks for sea freight or 1–2 weeks air. We’ll give you a realistic timeline from the start — no fluff.
Yep. If your products involve materials that require MPI treatment or documentation — wood, certain natural fibres — we manage that as part of the freight and clearance service. No nasty surprises at the border.
Alibaba is a marketplace — a starting point, not a solution. You still need to verify suppliers, negotiate terms, manage quality, and handle compliance yourself. We do all of that for you. We’ve got boots on the ground in Asia. And unlike Alibaba’s Gold Supplier listings — which are a paid subscription, not an independent verification — our supplier assessments use government registries and direct factory contact in Mandarin.
Book a 30-minute discovery call. Tell us about your store and your products. We’ll figure out exactly what you need — and what it’ll cost. No obligation. No hard sell.