China Product Sourcing | Rose Agencies

Experience behind the service

Stephen Cutts has made 49 sourcing trips to China. He first went with his father, Neil Cutts, buying for the family’s Rose Stereograph Company. The company attended the Canton Fair in Guangzhou throughout his time there, from 1979 to 2018, as well as trade fairs in Shanghai and Hong Kong, sometimes making three overseas trips in a year.

At the Rose Stereograph Company, Stephen handled China product sourcing himself, both for the company and for other clients through it. Over those years he sourced more than 100 different souvenirs from the China trade fairs. They were shipped back to Australia and distributed by the company to retailers all around the country.

He still holds the supply lines and contacts built through that work.

What China sourcing involved

Stephen has handled every stage of bringing a souvenir from a Chinese factory to an Australian shelf:

Selecting products that suit Australian tourism retail and the coming season
Negotiating quantities and pricing with suppliers
Samples: requesting, checking and refining them before an order is placed
Freight through customs: getting the goods shipped and cleared into Australia

Sourcing for your business

Stephen is available to help companies source and develop their own products in China. He has ample experience, and it has helped previous clients get the best outcomes.

Who this helps

Australian retailers, brands and businesses who want a product made, or a better supplier for something they already sell, particularly in souvenirs, giftware and tourism merchandise.

What to tell Stephen

What the product is and who will buy it
Reference products, sketches or photos (no confidential drawings in a first message)
Approximate quantity and timing, including the season you are aiming for
Your target retail price, and a budget range if you have one

What to expect

Every project is different, so Stephen will talk through what your product needs. That might be help choosing products, supplier introductions, samples and feedback, or thinking through quantities, pricing, freight and timing. Not every project needs every step.