[•] Hangzhou | Shanghai | Guangzhou
[•] Hangzhou | Shanghai | Guangzhou
Silk & Stone is a partner on the ground in China. Factories run to a brand designer's standard, project advisory for companies entering or operating in the market, and intelligence you can act on.
I've built and shipped two consumer products end to end: leading a nine-person team on the first, and built the second as the sole designer, sole developer, sole infrastructure engineer, sole marketer. I know what it takes to get an idea into a customer's hands on schedule and to spec, because I've done it myself.
Together with my partner, we run and manage three Takealot stores; product sourcing, factory negotiation, marketplace operations, the whole chain, and we teach others how to get started on the platform, from sourcing, Takealot dashboard, inventory management, to shipping.
Silk & Stone is that same work, opened up to other brands.
Most sourcing agents can get you a lower unit price. Few can tell you when a material, a finish, or a packaging proof doesn't actually match your brand. We don't just check that your order shipped, we check that it looks like it's supposed to.
Kickbacks from factories are common in this industry and rarely disclosed. Every Silk & Stone contract states explicitly that we take none. You never have to wonder whose price we're negotiating for.
Standard NDAs are largely unenforceable in China. We use Non-Disclosure, Non-Use, Non-Circumvention agreements drafted for Chinese jurisdiction, so the factory can't cut you out and sell your product direct.
Your money never sits with us. You pay the factory, we're cc'd on invoices, and our fee is billed separately. Clean books, no conflicts.
2–3 verified factory options, credentials checked, samples coordinated.
Quotes, minimums, and terms negotiated on your side of the table.
On-site management through the full production run.
Inspection before anything leaves the factory. Nothing ships until it matches.
Checked against your brand, not just the spec sheet.
From 30/70 upfront to 30-days-post-production. Sold as its own service. See packages.
Regular photo and video updates. You always know where your order stands.
Custom packaging and private label development, quoted per job.
Due diligence, partner identification, and on-the-ground representation for engagements in China.
Landscape research, counterparty background checks, and briefings on what's actually happening on the ground.
A short intake form and a call. Product spec, target price, timeline, quality tolerances. This tells us both whether there's a fit.
Vetted factory options, negotiated quotes, coordinated samples, and a written comparison report.
On-site oversight through the run, with photo and video reporting from the floor.
Pre-shipment QC and freight coordination. Nothing ships until it matches the approved sample.
$1500 flat
or 10% on orders under $10K
For first-time founders, single-product validation, and crowdfunding campaigns that need their first manufacturer.
$2,000–5,000 / month
+ 5% commission
For repeat clients with moderate ongoing volume.
$5,000–30,000 / month
or 10% on orders $250K+
For brands running continuous production across multiple SKUs.
No upfront fee
30% of documented savings
For established brands with existing suppliers who want costs and terms renegotiated, without a new fixed cost.
You only pay a share of what we save you. No retainer, no fixed cost, no downside. The easiest first conversation you'll have about your supply chain.
$5000–50,000 flat — or folded into Gainshare
We renegotiate your factory payment structure, from 30% deposit / 70% on delivery to 30-days-post-production, or better. For a scaling brand, freed-up cash flow is often worth more than a lower unit price. It's a distinct skill, so we sell it as one.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Rush / expedited sourcing | +25–50% on the relevant fee |
| Additional QC inspection | $1000–3000 / day |
| Factory audit (new supplier vetting) | $6500 per audit |
| Private label / custom packaging | Quoted per job |
| Customs documentation assistance | Flat fee per shipment |
| You are | Start with |
|---|---|
| Crowdfunding founder, first manufacturer | [01] Trial |
| DTC brand, repeat ongoing sourcing | [02] Growth |
| Multi-SKU brand, continuous production | [03] Full-Service |
| Established brand, existing suppliers | [04] Gainshare |
| Want better cash flow, not lower unit cost | Payment Terms Renegotiation |
Every engagement, regardless of tier: a signed service agreement before any factory relationship is touched · NNN agreements with factories, drafted for Chinese jurisdiction · no factory-side commissions, in writing · you pay the factory directly · 50% deposit on our fee, balance on delivery.
Not included: import duties and taxes, currency fluctuation risk, freight cost itself, destination-country legal compliance beyond agreed scope.
Most DTC brands don't fail at marketing. They fail on cash timing, supplier verification, and payment terms; the three things every launch guide quietly leaves out.
The five questions to ask before you hand over a deposit, and the answers that should end the conversation immediately.
Deposits sent to factories that go quiet, samples that don't match production, and suppliers who go direct with your design. What actually protects you.
Tell us what you're making. We respond within 48 hours, if there's a fit, the next step is a short discovery call.