First time sourcing furniture in Foshan – How do sourcing agents actually work? (€25k project)
Hi everyone!
I'm traveling to China in 10 days and planning to spend a week in Foshan sourcing furniture for 4 high-end guest rooms, each with a different layout, custom furniture, wardrobes, and bathrooms.
My budget is around €25,000. I've already created 3D models of each room showing exactly what I'm looking for.
I'm completely new to sourcing in China and have a few questions:
Finding an agent: Should I hire one before arriving? How do I find someone reliable?
Services: Can an agent handle everything from finding manufacturers and adapting my 3D designs to production, quality control, and shipping? Where does their responsibility end?
Small orders: Is it realistic to find manufacturers willing to produce custom furniture in single units, since all four rooms are different?
Fees & transparency: How do agents get paid? How can I avoid hidden commissions, inflated prices, or minimum purchase requirements?
Logistics: Can one company consolidate purchases from multiple suppliers, centralize payments, and handle shipping, customs, taxes, and delivery to Réunion Island (France)?
Budget: Is €25k realistic for this project, including furniture, bathroom fixtures, decorative panels, and logistics?
Would love to hear from anyone who's done something similar. Any recommendations, experiences, or red flags to watch out for?
Thanks!