Aussie Home Goods was buying product from Australian distributors and paying full wholesale markup. Switching to direct China sourcing through Spotyard saved them $15,200 in the first year — with better product quality and DDP delivery that eliminated customs surprises.
James Mitchell, owner of Aussie Home Goods, had been buying bamboo serveware, rattan storage, and ceramic cookware from Australian distributors for three years. Margins were tight — local wholesale pricing left very little room for competitive retail prices.
James had tried Alibaba once before, had a terrible experience with a supplier who sent substandard products, and didn't have the time or Chinese language skills to vet factories properly. He needed a partner who could manage the entire sourcing process on his behalf.
Spotyard briefed on product specs (bamboo serveware, rattan storage, ceramic cookware). 4 verified Guangzhou manufacturers shortlisted within 5 business days. Factory video walkthroughs sent for review.
Air-freighted samples arrived in Melbourne in 8 days. Minor packaging adjustments requested. Supplier confirmed updated samples within the same week. Client gave green light to proceed.
Purchase order placed on behalf of client. Pre-shipment inspection conducted at the factory — 2 SKUs failed initial QC on a labelling issue; factory rectified within 3 days. No containers loaded until passed.
1× 20ft container consolidated at Guangzhou, loaded and shipped. DDP arranged: sea freight, marine insurance, Australian customs clearance (licensed broker), duty and GST all included in one invoice.
Container arrived Port of Melbourne, cleared customs, and delivered to client's Dandenong warehouse. Total door-to-door: 29 days. Client compared landed cost to previous Australian wholesale: 42% cheaper per unit.
"We've been importing homewares from Guangzhou for three years now. Spotyard's sea freight rates saved us over $15,000 last financial year alone. Their team sorted out a tricky customs issue with our bamboo products in under 24 hours. Absolutely top-notch service."
James Mitchell
Owner, Aussie Home Goods · Melbourne, VIC
Tell us what you're currently buying and we'll show you what it would cost sourced directly from China.