Sourcing Examples

How we look at a product before you commit

Three illustrative examples showing the structure we use to evaluate a product, compare options and arrive at a landed cost you can actually decide on.

Example A

Property & Renovation Supply

Cabinet hardware and bathroom accessories, mid-volume order for a renovation and property maintenance buyer.

Requirement

Mixed order across several hardware and accessory lines
Consistent finish and quality across repeat orders
Current supply: local distributor, per-item pricing

What the assessment covers

Whether the items share a realistic manufacturing base
Whether combined volume can support MOQ across lines
Consolidation potential (one shipment, multiple items)
Quality consistency risk across a fragmented order

Current local purchase

C$18.40

Sourced from China
landed cost

C$7.20

C$2.40

Supplier price, plus freight, duties, inspection and consolidation · landed cost C$10.30

Cost structure — per unit (illustrative)	Amount
Current local purchase price	C$18.40
China supplier price (FOB)	C$7.20
Freight and duties (estimated)	C$2.40
Inspection, handling and consolidation (estimated)	C$0.70
Estimated landed cost	C$10.30

Illustrative sourcing example — not a client case study, and not a quotation. Figures are used to show structure only.

Example B

Retail & Private Label

A private-label consumer product for a Québec retailer, including packaging and brand artwork.

Requirement

Product manufactured to a defined specification
Retail-ready packaging under the client's own brand
Seasonal launch window, fixed delivery date

What the assessment covers

Tooling, mould or artwork costs, and who bears them
MOQ versus realistic first-order quantity
Packaging and labelling requirements for the Canadian market
Lead time against the launch date

Cost structure — illustrative	Impact
Unit price (FOB)	Lowest of the cost lines
Tooling / artwork (one-time)	Amortised across the first order
Packaging (per unit)	Often overlooked at quoting stage
Freight, duties and handling	Volume and timing dependent
Landed cost per unit	The only number that matters

Illustrative sourcing example — not a client case study. One-time costs are the most common reason a first order underperforms a quotation.

Example C

Custom Finished Product

A client provides a drawing and photographs of a finished product; no existing supplier or specification package.

Requirement

Drawing plus photographs of the finished product
Material and finish specified by performance, not grade
Volume uncertain at first contact

What the assessment covers

Whether it is manufacturable at the target cost
Tooling requirement and amortisation
Which production process fits (and which does not)
Whether volume justifies the setup

Assessment stage	Outcome
Drawing and photograph review	Feasible / not feasible / needs redesign
Process and tooling review	Tooling cost and amortisation range
Volume check	MOQ viability against annual demand
Recommendation	Proceed to sourcing study, or stop here

Illustrative sourcing example — not a client case study. For custom products, a "no" at the assessment stage is a result, not a failure: it prevents spending on a project that cannot work at your volume.

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