From "we're funded" to cartons packed: your soft goods made, followed and inspected near Shanghai
For Kickstarter and BackerKit creators, and small brands, making knitwear, leather goods, bags, apparel or textiles. I find 2–3 checked factories in 7 working days, manage your samples, follow production on the floor and inspect before you pay the factory's balance. I'm Talley, one local person based in Haining. I work for you only.
What's included
Four stages in one program. You pay each stage before it starts, and you can stop after any stage.
Factory shortlist
Within 7 working days of your complete brief: 2–3 factories that confirm they can make your product at your quantity. Each with a check report (registry records, risks, address, MOQ, sample cost and lead time, quoted price range) and photos of similar products, where they share them. You choose.
Sampling management
Your design, tech pack and comments explained to the factory in Chinese. Schedule chased. Each sample measured and photographed before it ships to you. Your feedback goes back item by item. 2 revision rounds.
Production follow-up
Weekly written update in English with photos or video. At least one visit to the floor during production. Problems reported the day I see them. Photos I take are marked as mine; anything the factory sends is labeled "factory-supplied".
Pre-shipment inspection
On site, before you pay the balance: up to 20 units checked against your approved sample and spec, defects counted with photos, carton count and packing photos, carton marks confirmed with your forwarder. Plus a check that the bank account name on the factory's invoice matches its registered company name.
Included at no extra cost
Backer update kit
Every two weeks, workshop photos and short videos of your product being made, ready for your Kickstarter or BackerKit updates. Shared only where the factory agrees to them being shown.
Lead-time milestone sheet
A sample-to-shipping timeline built from the factory's own dates, to help you give backers a schedule based on real milestones.
Bulk vs. approved sample comparison
A point-by-point table of measurements and details: bulk production against the sample you approved.
Guarantees
I only guarantee what I control: my own work.
2 factories in 7 working days, or your shortlist fee back
If I can't give you at least 2 factories that confirm they can make your product at your quantity within 7 working days of your complete brief, I refund the full shortlist fee and tell you why (MOQ, material, process or price), with what I found.
Inspection report within 48 hours, or the inspection is free
If you don't have my written pre-shipment inspection report within 48 hours of the on-site inspection, I refund that inspection fee in full.
I don't guarantee the factory
I don't guarantee a factory's quality, prices or delivery dates, because I don't work for the factory, and nobody can honestly promise that. I only get paid by you. I never take commission from factories. No rebates, no gifts. So when a factory falls short, I have no reason to cover for it. You hear about it the day I see it, while you still have leverage.
Pricing (USD)
Fixed fees, agreed in writing before I start. You pay me by PayPal before each stage begins. You pay the factory directly for samples and production; I never handle that money.
| Backer-Ready Production Program | Price |
|---|---|
| Factory shortlist: 2–3 checked factories in 7 working days | $149 / product |
| Sampling management: up to 2 revision rounds (extra rounds +$40 each) | $120 / product |
| Production follow-up: weekly updates, one visit included (Zone A; Zone B +$50, Zone C +$90). Or a flat $400 / month for longer runs; we agree which before production starts | 5% of order value, min. $250 |
| Pre-shipment inspection: by zone (see zones), incl. bank-account name check | $95 / $145 / $185 |
| Backer update kit, lead-time milestone sheet, bulk vs. sample comparison | Included |
| Example: a $20,000 order made in Zone A ($149 + $120 + $1,000 + $95) | $1,364 total |
Paid options
+Rush pre-shipment inspection: on site within 2 working days of your request, +$30, subject to availability
+On-site visit to any shortlisted factory before you choose: normal zone price ($95 / $145 / $185)
Already have a factory?
Sampling management, production follow-up and pre-shipment inspection can each be ordered on their own, at the prices above. Start with the free 48-hour Factory Red-Flag Check on your factory.
3 free Founding case-study spots
I have no client case studies yet, so this season I'm taking 3 crowdfunding projects through the whole program free of my service fees: shortlist, sampling management, production follow-up and pre-shipment inspection, with my travel included. Samples, materials, production and shipping you pay directly to the factory or courier, as usual. In return: feedback at each stage, an anonymized case study, a short video testimonial (about a minute) only if you're happy with the result, and an introduction to one creator friend. If more projects apply than I have spots, I give priority to those with a near delivery date and an order size I can follow properly on my own. Details and how to apply
What I don't do
✕Take commissions, rebates or gifts from factories
✕Hold, receive or forward your payments to factories
✕Guarantee a factory's quality, prices or delivery dates
✕Legal opinions or contract drafting
✕Lab testing, certified AQL inspections, BSCI / SMETA / ISO audits
✕Product certification (CE, FDA, etc.)
✕Product design, tech packs or pattern making
✕Copies of other brands' designs
✕Freight booking, customs clearance or import duties
About the reports: check reports and inspection reports record what I checked and observed on the stated dates, with evidence. They are not a guarantee of how a factory will perform, and they are not legal or financial advice.
Need certified inspection? If your retailer or your product requires certified AQL sampling, lab tests or an accredited audit, book a firm like QIMA, V-Trust or SGS for that step. I can still handle the rest.
Who it's for
Crowdfunding creators who have funded or are about to launch, and small brands, making soft goods: typically a first production run of a few hundred to a few thousand pieces per style. Each factory's real MOQ is in the shortlist.
| Product | Local cluster | Travel from Haining |
|---|---|---|
| Leather goods, leather & shearling jackets | Haining (China Leather City) | < 30 min |
| Knitwear, sweaters, cardigans | Puyuan, Tongxiang | < 1 h |
| Bags, backpacks, luggage | Pinghu | < 1 h |
| Home textiles: curtains, upholstery & sofa fabric, bedding | Xucun, Haining | < 30 min |
| Warp-knit fabrics (mesh, velour, technical knits) | Maqiao, Haining | < 30 min |
| Apparel and other soft goods: pet apparel, plush, outdoor and textile accessories | Jiaxing, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Huzhou and beyond (see coverage zones) | < 1 h – 2.5 h |
Electronics, food, cosmetics, medical or other regulated products: outside what I do well, so I'll say no.
Why work with me
- I live here. I'm based in Haining, between Hangzhou and Shanghai. Most of the factories above are under an hour away, so a visit is a normal working day, not a flight.
- Local factory network. I know a number of factory owners around Haining in leather, textiles and knitwear, and I know how to find and approach the ones I don't know.
- I've run a factory floor. I was the production safety manager at a factory in Jiangsu and worked hands-on on the line. I know what a well-run floor looks like, and what it looks like when corners are being cut.
- Facts and evidence. Every factory on a shortlist comes with the same itemized, evidence-based check I sell on its own. See the demo report (fictional factory, for illustration only).
No client case studies yet: the first ones will come from the 3 founding spots and will be published with permission.
How we communicate: text first
Everything in written English by WhatsApp or email: updates, photos and decisions, so there's a clear record and nothing gets lost.
Video when it's worth it: live from the factory floor, so you can see your product and the line yourself.
I reply within 12 hours (China time, UTC+8).
FAQ
What does a free founding spot cover?
All my service fees for every stage of the program, plus my own travel to the factories in any zone. Normal costs between you and the factory (samples, materials, production, shipping and courier, any factory charges) you pay directly to them. In return: feedback at each stage, an anonymized case study, a short video testimonial (about a minute) only if you're happy with the result, and an introduction to one crowdfunding creator friend. How to apply
How do I pay the factory?
Directly, to the factory's own company bank account, under a written order or PI between you and the factory. I never hold or forward money for your supplier. Before you pay the balance, I check that the bank beneficiary matches the factory's registered name.
Can you guarantee the factory will deliver on time and to spec?
No. Nobody honestly can. What I guarantee is my own work (see Guarantees). What I can do is choose factories based on checked facts, catch problems early through weekly updates and visits, and inspect before you pay the balance, so you find out while you still have leverage.
What if you can't find 2 suitable factories?
If I can't give you at least 2 factories that confirm they can make your product at your quantity within 7 working days of your complete brief, you get the full shortlist fee back, plus an explanation (MOQ, material, process or price) and what I found.
What counts as a "complete brief"?
Photos, a sketch or tech pack, the main materials, your quantity per style, and your target delivery date. If something is missing, I'll ask for it in my first reply; the 7 working days start once I have it.
What quantities can you handle?
Typically a few hundred to a few thousand pieces per style. Some factories will go lower for a higher unit price; some materials (custom-dyed leather, custom yarn colors) have higher minimums. Each factory's real MOQ is in the shortlist.
Is my design kept confidential?
I share your design only with the factories on your shortlist, and only what they need to quote and sample. Your name and project are not shared with anyone else. Workshop photos for your backers are only taken and shared where the factory agrees.
I already have a factory. Can I use just one stage?
Yes. Sampling management, production follow-up and pre-shipment inspection can each be ordered on their own. Start with the free 48-hour Factory Red-Flag Check so we both know who we're dealing with.
Do you speak English on calls?
I work in written English (WhatsApp text, email), so you have a clear record of everything. Video is for seeing the factory floor live.
Tell me about your product
Three things are enough to start. I'll ask the rest when I reply, within 12 hours (China time, UTC+8).
- Email: [email protected]
- WhatsApp: +86 152 2101 2100
Only need to check a supplier? Registry checks from $30, on-site visits from $95. Factory & supplier checks