Field notes from building real brands.
What we've learned making our own products in China and selling them online: minimum orders, costs, materials, factories, and the mistakes worth avoiding.
- 14 November 2026
Is the Canton Fair worth it for a new wellness brand? Usually not
I've attended the Canton Fair twice. For emerging brands that need low minimums and custom work, it's usually the wrong room. What works better.
- 14 November 2026
Sourcing agent or product development studio: which does your brand need?
One finds factories; the other takes a product from idea to launch. How they differ, how each gets paid, and which fits your stage.
- 12 November 2026
What it really costs to develop a custom wellness product in China
The factory price is only the start. Every one-off and per-unit cost, a worked landed-cost example, and where founders get surprised.
- 12 November 2026
How to protect your product design when manufacturing in China
China is first-to-file. Five protections to put in place before you share a single drawing with a factory.
- 10 November 2026
MOQ for premium wellness products made in China: why it's higher than you expect, and how to lower it
Your real minimum is set by your most demanding part, not the finished product. How to spot it, and six ways to bring it down.
- 10 November 2026
Sample vs production: why your order doesn't match the approved sample, and how to stop it
The sample was perfect; the order isn't. Why production drifts, and five safeguards that keep every order matching what you approved.