What brands check before they give your unit an order
Brands rarely say no because a factory is small. They say no when they can't see what the unit does well. Here is what buyers look for, and how to show it.
1. What you make best
Buyers want a specialist for their product, not a unit that "makes everything". Name your strongest two or three product types, the fabrics you run most and the price range you usually work in. A unit that says "cotton women's kurtas and co-ord sets, hand block and screen print" gets better briefs than one that lists every garment.
2. Real capacity numbers
Every buyer asks how many pieces you can finish in a month, and how many of those are already booked. Give real numbers rather than estimates:
| What they ask | How to answer |
|---|---|
| Monthly output | Pieces per month for your main product, at your usual complexity |
| Machines | Number of single-needle, overlock and flatlock machines, plus any special machines |
| Free capacity | How much of next month is still open |
| Lead time | Days from fabric in-house to packed goods |
3. Sampling speed and quality
The sample is the buyer's first real look at your work. Brands remember who sent an accurate sample on time and who needed four rounds. Keep a sample tailor or pattern master who can turn a tech pack into a proto quickly, and send clear photos and measurements with every sample.
4. Documents in order
Before the first purchase order, a buyer or buying house will ask for your GST registration, PAN, Udyam number and bank details. Keep scans ready in one folder, with the legal name and address matching on each one.
5. Certificates and audits, where the market asks
Export buyers often need certificates such as ISO 9001, Sedex (SMETA), GOTS or OEKO-TEX, depending on the market and the product. You don't need them all to start, and many domestic brands don't ask for any. If you have one, say so with the certificate number and expiry date.
6. How you check quality
Brands want to know who checks the goods and when: inline checks during stitching, a final check against the approved sample, and measurement checks against the size chart. A short written routine, even one page, shows that quality isn't left to chance.
7. Honesty about job work
Many units send embroidery, printing or washing to job workers. That is normal. What buyers don't accept is finding out later. Tell them which processes happen in your unit and which go outside, and to whom.
8. Fast, clear communication
A unit that answers on the same day, flags a delay early and sends progress photos wins repeat orders. Name one person who handles each brand's orders and keeps them updated.
How Sourcingo helps
When you join our network, we record your products, capacity, machines and documents once, visit your unit, and send you briefs that fit what you make best. Our team on the floor helps with sampling and quality checks, so the brand sees your unit at its best. There is no fee to join.
Questions
Can a small unit get orders from big brands?
Yes, when the product fits. Large programmes are often split across more than one approved unit, so a smaller specialist can take the styles it makes best.
Do I need certificates before I apply?
No. Apply with what you have. We match orders that need certificates to units that hold them, and other orders to units that don't.
What should I send with my application?
Your main products, monthly capacity, machine count, a few photos of your floor and of samples you have made, and your GST and Udyam numbers.
Updated:
Get a costing in 48 hours.
Send us your brief. Once it is complete, you get a cost per style, the minimum it depends on and a production timeline within 48 hours.