How we work

Your furniture order, step by step

From sourcing to after-sales. All dates are estimates.

The process

Nine steps, one company

Sourcing and quotation

You send your FF&E schedule or product list. We collect quotations from the factories that run the production line for each product, compare them on price, capability and experience, and quote you per line — any substitution flagged.

Samples

For large orders, samples are charged at twice the bulk unit price, with one unit price refunded when the bulk order is placed. They are couriered to you for approval before production, courier at your cost.

Proforma invoice

Once your selection is final we issue a proforma invoice with full product details, prices, deposit, warranty period, Incoterm and estimated dates.

Deposit

You pay the deposit stated on the PI only to the company account named on it — never to an individual, never to a factory.

Drawings and finishes

For custom products the factory prepares shop drawings and a detailed material list, going back and forth with you until you sign off drawings, fabrics and finishes before production.

Production follow-up and QC

We follow production closely. Before shipment, our own QC team checks quantities, dimensions, finish, fabric and foam, hardware and packing against the signed-off specification. Any item below standard is recorded in the inspection report.

Balance payment

We issue an updated proforma invoice including shipping costs. The balance is paid before shipment is arranged.

Shipping

We arrange container loading and shipment to your destination port, and send a detailed container loading report. If you nominate a forwarder, we book with it.

After-sales

Products we source carry the warranty period stated on the PI: within warranty we replace (supplied ex-works China, freight at your cost) or compensate. You deal with FBM Sourcing, not the manufacturer.

Commercial terms

Commercial terms at a glance

Where this page and the PI for your order differ, the PI applies.

Price terms	EXW as standard, C&F on request, and DDP for certain markets such as the United States.
Minimum order	A full container; product groups of the same project can share containers. We do not ship loose cargo.
Deposit	As stated on your PI.
Balance	Including sea freight, paid before shipment.
How you pay	Only to the company account named on your PI — never to an individual, never to a factory. We do not change bank details by e-mail.
Lead time	Custom products: one to two months after the deposit for shop drawings, material lists and finish samples (several rounds until you sign off), then about two months of production — three to four months in total, plus sea freight. Non-custom products: about two months from deposit to shipment. All dates are estimates.
Transit damage	Send us photos or videos of any damage within 3 working days of arrival so a claim can be raised with the carrier, insurer or factory.
Customs and delivery	Customs clearance and inland transport at the destination are handled by you, unless we quote DDP.

If you cannot travel

A furniture package can run without a visit

For company clients with a defined specification we work from your list and drawings, send photos and video of shortlisted products, courier samples and fabric and finish swatches, and walk you through selections on video calls.

Visiting factories. Before you land we review your drawings, shortlist factories and plan the route. On site we assess suppliers, check product details and negotiate prices. Factory visits are On-site Sourcing Management, charged per day and fully credited toward your first order; we issue a business-visa invitation letter. The factories stay confidential, and communication goes through us.

Two ways to work with us

Every order runs one of two ways

	Pro Plan — Products we source	Basic Plan — Suppliers you nominate
Who finds the supplier	We do — the factory that runs the production line for your product.	You do.
What you pay us	A direct price. Sea freight is quoted before shipment.	A 5% commission. The supplier's charge for delivering the goods from its premises to the loading point is added at cost.
What's included	Sourcing, drawings, quality control, consolidation, loading and after-sales — all inside the price.	Specification and PI check, drawing coordination, production follow-up, quality control, consolidation into full containers, loading and export documents.
After-sales	Warranty period stated on the PI. Within warranty we replace free of charge (supplied ex-works China, you pay the freight) or compensate.	Not included: claims fall under the supplier's own warranty, and we can help you coordinate.
Contact with the supplier	All communication runs through us; factory names, contacts and quotations stay with us.	They are your relationships; during the order, communication runs through us.
Documents and payment	Both ways: all quotations, invoices and shipping documents are issued by FBM Sourcing, and you pay only the company account named on the PI.

Approvals

Samples, finishes and drawings before production

See how references, comments and sign-off are kept against the same item and revision.

Ready to price your furniture package?

Start with one product group: we share examples of previous quotations to show the price range.

Have an item schedule ready? Use our FF&E schedule-to-quotation checklist to prepare drawings, finishes and approval references.