Know what you are asking for
Before you call anyone, write a one-page spec sheet. List the size, material, finish, packaging, the quantity you want and a few reference photos. Every factory then quotes the same product, so you can compare prices fairly. A vague request gets a vague price. A clear sheet also tells the factory you are serious.
Where to look for manufacturers
India makes many things in clusters - towns where lots of factories do the same kind of work. Knitted garments, for example, cluster in Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, Ludhiana in Punjab, Kanpur and Kolkata. A visit to a cluster lets you meet several makers in a day. Trade fairs in your category do the same. B2B directories such as IndiaMART help you build a longer list from home. Ask other sellers where they source, too. Many will share a name if you are not a direct rival.
Checking a supplier
A listing is not proof. Ask for the maker's GSTIN and look it up on the GST portal. Ask for photos of the floor or a video call, and the names of brands they already make for. Ask how they check quality, what lead time they give, and what happens to a bad batch. Slow or vague answers now usually mean slow answers later.
Samples and MOQs
Always pay for samples before you commit. Wash them, drop them and use them the way a buyer would. When one is right, sign and date it, and keep it as the standard for every later batch. Then talk about the MOQ, the minimum order quantity. It is often open to talks. A slightly higher unit price, fewer colours or the promise of a repeat order can bring it down.
From shortlist to first order
- Shortlist five to ten makers from a cluster, a trade fair or a B2B directory.
- Verify each one - GSTIN, photos or a video call of the floor, and current clients.
- Order paid samples from the best two or three, and test them hard.
- Negotiate the MOQ, the unit price, the lead time and what happens to defects.
- Place a small first order, with the terms and the approved sample in writing.
Your first order
Keep the first run small, even if the unit price is a little higher. Put the price, quantity, delivery date and quality standard in a written purchase order. If the factory agrees, pay part in advance and the rest after you inspect the goods. Check a random set of pieces against your signed sample before you accept the batch.
Protecting your design
A factory that makes your product could make it for someone else too. Ask for a simple written agreement that the design is yours and not for resale. File your brand name as a trademark early, so a copy cannot trade on it. Splitting work across two makers also stops any one of them from holding all your secrets.
Where your store fits
Once the stock arrives, you need somewhere to sell it that you control. On The Storemate your products, orders, customers and reports sit in one admin, with UPI, cards and COD at checkout and GST-correct invoices on every order. Get the product right first, then give it a proper home.