A product sourcing agent paid by you, not by the factory
Who pays your sourcing agent
Many sourcing agents are paid a commission on the value of each order, and some are paid by the factory they recommend rather than by the buyer. That matters: an agent paid on order value has little reason to push the price down, and an agent paid by the factory has a reason to keep recommending it, even when quality slips. See our guide to China sourcing agent fees.
We work the other way. Everything is open book, we take no factory commissions, and you own every supplier relationship, from the first contact to the signed contract.
Countries we compare on landed cost
UK. Often competitive once freight, duty, lead time and stock holding are counted, and the simplest option for quality control.
China. The deepest supplier base for most manufactured goods. As your China sourcing agent, we separate real factories from trading companies before anything is ordered.
India. Strong in textiles, metals, engineering and chemicals. See our guide to manufacturing in India.
Vietnam. A common alternative to China for labour-intensive goods. See our guide to manufacturing in Vietnam.
Turkey. Near-shore, with shorter lead times to the UK. See our guide to manufacturing in Turkey.
Eastern Europe. Short transit by road and good capability in metalwork, plastics, furniture and assembly.
Near-shore markets. Other locations close to the UK, compared where lead time or responsiveness matters more than unit price.
We draw on a live supplier network and in-country audit partners to qualify suppliers in each market.
Try our landed cost calculator to compare options, or read our guide on how to find a manufacturer.
Services delivered under product sourcing
New product sourcing
For NPD, private-label launches or replacing an obsolete SKU, we build the specification, identify capable suppliers and take the product from concept to first production run.
- Specification and total-cost model definition
- Long-list of suppliers matched to volume, quality and lead-time needs
- Sample rounds, tooling design and first-article approval
- Contract, quality agreement and ramp-up plan
Re-sourcing existing products
Where an incumbent supplier is under-performing on price, quality or lead time, we benchmark the market, qualify alternatives and manage a controlled transition.
- Benchmark of current unit and landed cost against market
- Alternative supplier qualification without disrupting supply
- Parallel-run and switch-over plan to protect service
Dual and multi-sourcing for resilience
Single-source exposure is one of the largest hidden risks on the balance sheet. We identify critical SKUs and put a qualified second source in place: either country of origin diversification or backup within the current geography.
Low-cost country sourcing
- China, India, Vietnam, Turkey, Eastern Europe and Mexico coverage
- Factory audits, IP protection and compliance due diligence
- Duty, tariff and Incoterm optimisation
- In-country quality control and pre-shipment inspection
Packaging, print and consumables sourcing
- Structural and graphic packaging redesign for cost and sustainability
- Print consolidation across marketing, retail and operational categories
- MRO and consumables catalogue rebuild
Components and engineered items
- Should-cost modelling and value engineering
- Manufacturability review with candidate suppliers
- Tooling ownership, amortisation and transfer terms
Why it pays
Product sourcing that only compares unit price misses most of the value, and most of the risk. We model landed cost, working capital, quality cost and single-source exposure so the winning supplier is the one that is best for the business over the contract term, not just the cheapest quote.
In programmes the founder has led, re-sourcing switched items has reduced landed cost by 10 to 25 percent[1]. Other outcomes include dual sourcing on critical components and shorter, more reliable lead times. This complements our offshoring and supply chain work.
Before signing a new supplier, we use should-cost modelling to build a bottom-up target price for the part so negotiations start from evidence, not the incumbent’s quote.
Strategic sourcing and sourcing strategy
Strategic sourcing means treating each category as a long-term decision, not a series of one-off purchases. A sourcing strategy sets out, for each category, how many suppliers you need, which countries to buy from, how to structure contracts and when to re-tender. It is built on spend data, market analysis and a clear view of risk.
- Category spend and supplier analysis
- Supply market and country assessment
- Sourcing route: tender, negotiation, dual source or partnership
- Contract structure, KPIs and review cycle
For overseas supply, see our offshore sourcing service covering China, Vietnam, India and Turkey, plus supplier audits and contract manufacturing sourcing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a product sourcing agent cost?
It depends on the scope: the number of products, the countries compared and how much supplier qualification and quality work is needed. At Caventis, scope and commercial terms are agreed with each client before work starts. We work open book and take no factory commissions.
What is the difference between a sourcing agent and a sourcing consultant?
A sourcing agent finds suppliers and places orders, and is often paid a commission on order value, sometimes by the factory. A sourcing consultant advises the buyer on which suppliers and countries to use and negotiates on the buyer's behalf, with no stake in which factory wins. We work for the buyer: open book, with no factory commissions.
Can a UK sourcing agent help small businesses?
Yes, for businesses of any size with a repeat buy. One-off small orders are usually better handled through a wholesaler.
Do I own the supplier relationship?
Yes, always. Contracts are between you and the supplier, and you hold every supplier contact and document.
How does Caventis source products?
We start with a total-cost model, unit price, freight, duty, tooling, quality cost and working capital, then build a long list of vetted suppliers across UK, EU, near-shore and Asia. RFQ, sample assessment and factory due diligence narrow the list, and we handle commercial negotiation, contract and first-article approval through to ramp-up.
Do you source from China and other low-cost countries?
Yes. We have live supplier networks across China, India, Vietnam, Turkey and Eastern Europe, alongside UK and EU options for near-shoring. The right geography depends on landed cost, lead time tolerance, IP sensitivity and tariff exposure, not a default.
What kinds of products do you source?
Finished goods and private-label products, engineered components and sub-assemblies, packaging and print, and raw materials or consumables. If it has a specification and a repeat buy volume, we can source it.
How much can product sourcing save?
In programmes the founder has led, re-sourcing switched items has reduced landed cost by 10 to 25 percent; individual results vary. There is additional value from dual sourcing, shorter lead times and reduced working capital. Savings are highest on categories that have not been re-sourced in 3+ years or where the incumbent has been in place since founding.
Do you handle quality control and factory audits?
Yes. Factory due diligence, sample assessment, first-article inspection and ongoing quality agreements are part of every engagement. On critical products we can arrange in-country QC and pre-shipment inspection through our partner network.
Related procurement topics
Specialist areas that complement this work.
About Caventis
Caventis (Caventis Ltd, registered in England & Wales, company number 17158263) is a UK procurement, supply chain and cost reduction consultancy. It works with global businesses businesses to identify and deliver savings across procurement, operations and back-office spend, with every engagement shaped around what the client wants to achieve and results verified against the P&L.
The firm was founded by Matt Buckley, who leads every engagement personally, drawing on 16 years of procurement, supply chain and cost transformation experience at bp and General Motors. Matt holds an Executive MBA, two PG Diplomas in Senior Leadership and Finance, a Bachelor of Business in Supply Chain Management and MCIPS. Caventis is headquartered in the United Kingdom and serves clients internationally.
Discuss your supplier requirements
Open book: no factory commissions, no hidden margin, and you own the supplier relationship.