Porcelain dinnerware is a great product for you to sell in your business. It It has incredible benefits: easy to clean, hygienic, highly-resistant and more. Before choosing the right dinnerware product, you need to consider what kind of supplier you will choose, what kind of the style of dinnerware product your supplier can provide.
Here are 10 tips you should know before sourcing those porcelain dinnerware from China.
1. Choose a Style That Works for You
If there is one thing to know about porcelain dinnerware, it’s that there are plenty of options to choose from. Dinnerware can come in plain white, but there can also be many options in print. As of today, you can find pink and gold dinnerware, blue and red floral designs and more on sites like Made-in-China.com.
porcelain dinnerware
There are also different types of designs to consider. You can find traditional rounded sets or more geometric designs. The best way to know which one to pick is by analyzing your target audience. Do they like designs that are classic, minimal, abstract, or rigid? These are things to consider before siding on a style. Sourcing sites have plenty of options to choose from.
2. Check the Label and SGS Status
Do you know everything about your product? SGS certification is important to ensure safety, quality, testing and more. Without this certificate, you may have issues with your product or even through your country's import regulations. Making sure you cover your basics is important when dealing with products like porcelain.
Make sure the product is made by China, or where your supplier claims it comes from. It’s important that you are dealing with the source or supplier and not removed several degrees from the manufacturer.
Double-check for the factory name, its address and other details that give you an idea of where the product is coming from. This also gives you the chance to research all parts of the process and make sure your business is in line with how the product is made.
3. Connect with the Supplier Online
The most effective way to learn about your product is by contacting your supplier directly. This can be done through a China supplier website. When you message the supplier, ask about your product. Inquire if you can make any changes or branding that you need to be done. You can also begin to discuss pricing and see if you can get the best price for your business.
Use this opportunity to measure the quality of your future partner. Do they communicate well and quickly? Are they willing to work with you? As you sell your product and develop a brand following, its important to know that your suppliers align with your vision.
Here is a quick introduction message you can use today.
Hello ___,
My name is ___ and I am looking for great porcelain products for my business. We expect to buy ____ units a month from a supplier. I am hoping it can be with you.
How much would each unit cost with our planned order quantity? I would also like to inquire about testing one of your samples.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Have a great day,
Name
CEO, Dinnerware for You
After you receive a response, you can begin to ask more questions and negotiate any details.
China porcelain dinnerware
4. Order Samples
Always test your product before your customers do. This ensures quality and it also avoids negative reviews from your early adopters. By ordering samples, you can provide the best products on the market. You are the best judge of your dinnerware.
If you have any customizations, you will likely need to order more than one sample at different times. You will probably bounce ideas back and go forth with your source depending on limitations or opportunities. If you don't like something, you can ask for an improvement and order a new sample with the changes.
Ordering samples is a great way to experience what your customer will feel before it gets to market. It's essential to know your product more than anyone else. Your product represents you and your business, which directly affects your long-term sales.
This can also be a test for the supplier. Did the product arrive in good condition? If it was damaged, then odds are that your customers may get the same result if the sourcing contact ships directly to them. Or if the inventory is all shipped to you, then you may be dealing with damaged goods regularly. Test how your product arrives.
Work with samples to get the best porcelain dinnerware on the market.
porcelain dinnerware
5. Check the Quality
Is your porcelain high quality? Make sure your dinnerware is something you can be proud of selling. Check the durability. Porcelain will break if it gets a hard fall, but it shouldn't break easily with every bump. Nothing is more frustrating than dinnerware that breaks from the smallest movements (or even while washing it in the sink). Use samples to get a test for the quality.
Another great option is gifting the dinnerware set to some friends and family members. Ask them a couple of weeks later how it was. They will have already had the experience of eating and drinking from them and washing them afterward. You can get a great idea of the quality you are dealing with.
Use a sample set to test the durability. Try dropping them, tapping them against the sink wall and other tests to see how they break or react. Compare it with other porcelain from a thrift shop to see if it matches up with its competitors.
When selling good quality, you can ensure repeated sales and great reviews.
6. Consider the Overall Look
Does your porcelain dinnerware set look like something you would buy at your retail price? Does the color look vibrant and attractive? Is it something you would be proud of when dining and entertaining guests? Consider the look of your set and if it is something that would sell.
Find friends and family that can give you an honest opinion about your dinnerware. If it's mainly positive, then find a way to seek unbiased opinion to verify their claims. Visit a farmer's market, community event and try selling a few units. Or if you are not selling them yet, ask people what they think about it. Perhaps you can loan some sets to a small local family restaurant. They can give you great feedback.
Think of creative ways to get opinions about the look for your product. Also, consider your own opinion. Would you consider it remarkable? Average? Poor? Your answer would reflect the quality of service and margins that may come by choosing a particular set.
Does the dinnerware look good together? Are the sizes compatible? Make sure the dinnerware looks good as a complete set. This is very important, as it will be the thing that gives your customers the greatest impression of your product. The dinnerware should be harmonious as a set.
7. How Does It Sound?
You may have not considered the sound of dinnerware, but it can give you a good idea of its worth. Is the sound crisp when you flick a plate? This can be a sign of a well-made product. Get a sense of what your porcelain sounds like and make sure it gives off one of a solid and a mastered product.
If it sounds fragile, it may not be the quality you desire. It’s important to know how porcelain is made so you can know what to look out for. Many Youtube videos give you a great sense of what to expect. Click here to watch how porcelain dinnerware is made.
When you can measure the sound of your product, you get an idea of what you are dealing with. Customers should be able to hear its quality as they place your dinnerware on the table.
8. Check Its Thermostability
Great porcelain dinnerware can withstand low or high temperatures. If it cannot, then it can be considered poor quality. Avoid products that fail this standard. By finding dinnerware that can withstand industry-normal temperatures, you know you can provide a great product. If customers are happy with the quality, then your reviews and reputation will remain strong.
It’s important to make sure your dinnerware can stand a bit cold during hot climates. Also, consider everyday household habits like using a washing machine that conducts heat. Your porcelain should be able to do well in these environments.
Ask the supplier how their porcelain is with thermostability. Also, find ways to verify this. Test it in your climate. Try things like keeping the dinnerware in a freezer for thirty minutes at a time or leaving it out in the hot sun for the afternoon. These are some ways you can test everyday conditions.
If your product can withstand low and high temperatures, you are one step closer to verifying the quality of your dinnerware.
porcelain dinnerware
9. Visit the Factory Or the Virtual Office.
The best way to get a full feel of the entire production process of your porcelain dinnerware is by visiting the factory. You will personally meet your contacts and benefit from the advantages of an in-person meeting. Walk around the factory and get a sense of the employees, the process and the quality of the products produced. Build a relationship with supplier. In that one visit, you can establish a profitable relationship that will last for years.
If you need any kind of customizations, a factory visit is perfect for you. You can discuss them in person and eliminate hours of wasted time that is bound to happen when sending messages back and forth (and samples). It will be worth your investment.
If you cannot visit the factory, consider contacting references or people that have worked with them before. Try requesting a video meeting with someone from the factory and see if they are willing to speak with you. Think of creative ways you can get a sense of the manufacturer and supplier. You can also view the product by 360 virtual office on those manufacturer or supplier’s showroom site of Made-in-China.com.
Take this company as an example, enter into the showroom. Click the virtual tour in the about column of their site. You can use this way to visit all your favorite porcelain dinnerware supplier's virtual office.
virtual office
In all, visiting a factory would give you the best advantage to finding a great product in a good amount of time and a reasonable price. It also helps you build the contacts you need to succeed. For how to visit the factory depends on yourself, you can visit the real factory or virtual office online.
10. Do a Test-run
There is nothing better than testing your product to market. To minimize your risk, after you have your supplier and product ready, order a reasonable amount of inventory. Begin selling it as a rollout product and see how it does. Are you meeting your projected sales? Are customers leaving good feedback? Analyze all your results.
If you don't want to test your product online, sell your first dinnerware sets at community events, trade shows and anywhere that will allow you to host a pop-up store. See immediate responses from potential buyers.
If you get great results, then you know you have made the right choice. You will gain the confidence to order more units and begin growing sales for your business.
When selling porcelain dinnerware, always focus on the quality and price you can get it for. If you can find the right supplier to partner with you, you will beat the market by providing great quality at the perfect price point. Your sales have the opportunity to increase and you have advantages for rewarding margins.
There are 10 tips to get started on sourcing porcelain dinnerware. Follow this guide to find the right product, supplier and process to sell great dinnerware. This is a great industry to be a part of, full of opportunity and potential growth. When you use these steps, you can take advantage of everything to be offered.
