By Johnny Zhang, HongDa Ceramics, a ceramic mug factory in Zibo, China since 2000.
“Made in China” ceramics are sold all over the world, and there is no shortage of suppliers. Choosing the right one is a bit like choosing a piece of clothing: it has to fit your business, and it has to last. Here is what we see from the factory side, and what we would advise any buyer sourcing mugs from China for the first time.
The most common mistakes
- Buying from a trading company that presents itself as a factory. Many factories are good at production but weak at sales, so trading companies sell their products and add a margin. You pay more, and you are one step further from the people who control your quality.
- A good sample, then a poor bulk order. A single sample can be hand-picked. What matters is whether the factory can repeat that quality across thousands of pieces.
- Colour that changes from batch to batch. If a supplier buys in its clay and glazes, colour and quality are harder to keep consistent between orders.
- Lead and cadmium failures at customs. Mugs that fail food-contact testing can be held or rejected at the destination, which costs far more than the mugs themselves.
How to tell a real factory
A business licence and its listed scope are easy to fill in, so they prove little on their own. Things that are much harder to fake:
- A video call or a visit to the production site. A real factory’s production lines and address do not move.
- Recognised third-party audits. Audits such as SMETA or BSCI are only issued after a strict on-site audit process, so they are one of the most reliable ways to confirm you are dealing with the actual producer.
A sourcing process that protects your quality
With larger customers, we follow the same steps every time:
- Agree the requirements first: quantity, shape, colour, packaging, price and trade terms.
- Sample approval: colour, logo and packaging confirmed on a physical sample.
- Pre-production sample: approved before mass production starts.
- Inspection before shipment: by the customer or a third party. On our side, every piece is checked before packing by a team of more than 20 quality inspectors, not counting managers.
Our advice for first-time buyers
Start with a small trial order to test the supplier’s quality and delivery, then decide whether to move larger or problem orders over. Remember that quality and price go together: if a price is far below the market, the difference usually comes out of the quality.
The way to lower your purchasing cost is to control your supply chain, not to squeeze every last cent out of the factory or the trading company. The profit a factory is forced to save is usually hidden where you cannot see it, or where you least want it to be.
Our own aim is simple: keep quality high and offer customers source-factory prices directly, without a middleman. New customers can start with a trial order from 2,000 pcs per shape. See our Custom & OEM process, our FAQ, or send us your project.