Embroidering from China

dd2

I have a question for the embroidering professionals. I am looking to broker a 2,000 -10,000 ball caps with a breast cancer ribbon embroidered on the front. A firm out of China has quoted me 1.06 per piece without embroidering, and $1.11 with. Does a difference of $.05 cents for embroidering sound accurate?

Thanks in advance for any feedback offered.

Earl Smith

I might be wrong but I think when you order caps from China they will make the actual caps for you. The design is embroidered onto the cap front panel before the cap is put together. 5 cents for embroidery is incredibly low for us and we wouldnt and couldnt do it, but in China its the norm.
Earl

Eric

China is very subjective. I deal with Chinese brokers and mfgr's all the time for our raw materials and blanks.

First off, What kind of cap? 5-panel? 6-panel? Structured? velcro-adjustable or plastic tab?
Also, what kind of material? Twill or Bull denim? or something else?

Reason being, is lets say its a 5panel, plastic adjustable, Cotton Twill Cap. $1.06 is NO deal. Caps like that should be well under 50 cents, Now, if it were a 6 panel, velcro out of bull denim, then yeah $1.06 is about right.

ALWAYS ask for a sample before production if you are unfamiliar with the company.

Make sure they are familiar with exporting textiles to the united states. As US customs & border protection requires a customs declaration "formal entry" some even call it a "long form" for import. If the paperwork is not filled out correctly, your goods will not be allowed into the United States. So just make sure you have a shipping agent here in the US that is familiar with Chinese imports, and most importantly knows how to handle textiles. Most reputable brokers should be fine with this.

Also, watch the companies, they love to pull what I call the "As seen on TV" trick. Yeah, the goods are CHEAP but the shipping is outrageous. Typically with smaller volume chinese shipments, freight, tariffs , and entry bonds equal about 20 - 25% of your order's value. Just make sure they don't gouge you on shipping, but make no mistake, it CAN TRULY be VERY expensive to ship.

Try looking to the Indian markets as well, we are doing less in China and more in India all the time, as we find the quality out of India to be better, and the shipping and paperwork is cheaper and easier.

I'm not telling you NOT to do it, I'm just telling you where to make sure you don't get screwed, cause once its leaves the factory, its "not their problem"

Hope that helps,
-- Eric