CHINA SOURCING · GUANGZHOU AND VANCOUVER
China sourcing from someone who understands both sides of the table.
I grew up in China and built my career in North American business. I understand what a Western buyer expects and how to communicate those expectations to Chinese suppliers.
Western business standards · Native Mandarin and English · Buyer-focused · Guangzhou + Vancouver
SOURCING, WITH FOLLOW-THROUGH
Support at the stage you need it.
Hire me for one step or the whole process. Scope, fees and third-party costs are agreed in writing before work starts, and you approve every supplier and purchase.
Find your starting point01Supplier search & evaluation
A shortlist you can actually compare: capabilities, minimum orders, pricing and export experience, checked through direct supplier discussions in Mandarin, not taken from a brochure.
YOUR TAKEAWAY · A comparable supplier shortlistExplore this service ↗02Samples & commercial terms
I coordinate samples, pin down specifications and negotiate price, payment terms and production dates, so both sides sign up to the same understanding.
YOUR TAKEAWAY · Documented specifications and termsExplore this service ↗03Production & quality coordination
I stay in regular contact with the factory, raise problems early, and arrange visits and independent inspections within the scope you approve.
YOUR TAKEAWAY · Progress visibility and inspection follow-upExplore this service ↗04Shipping & supplier visits
I hand over cleanly to your shipping and customs partners. If you’d like to visit China, I’ll plan the trip, set up the meetings and provide interpretation within our agreed scope.
YOUR TAKEAWAY · An organized handoff or visit planExplore this service ↗WHAT I SOURCE
A broad network.
A focused brief.
Experience across building products, interiors and medical-related sourcing, with other categories considered around your brief.
Medical & veterinary equipment
Experience supporting equipment exploration and manufacturer discussions.
Discuss your requirementsOther sourcing categories
Have another product in mind? We assess fit before accepting a project.
Explore category fit ↗Not sure your product fits? Send me the brief. I’ll tell you honestly before you pay anything.
WHY WORK WITH ME
Most sourcing problems aren’t about the product.
They’re about being understood.
Western buyers and Chinese suppliers often agree on paper and mean different things. I’ve worked across both business cultures, so I can help identify the gap before it costs you money.
I hear what “no problem” really means.
A supplier who says “no problem” may be telling you what you want to hear. I know when to ask again, in Mandarin, and get a clearer answer.
I turn your specifications into clear factory requirements.
Sizes, finishes, packaging and deadlines that seem obvious to you can be read as suggestions. I make them clear, in writing and in Chinese.
I negotiate firmly without anyone losing face.
Pushing too hard can lose a good supplier. I work toward fair terms while keeping the relationship strong for the next order.
I explain China back to you, in plain English.
When a supplier hesitates, delays or changes a price, I investigate why and explain your options.
You make the decisions. I make sure both sides understand them.
HOW IT WORKS
From first conversation
to a confident order.
A practical process, with a decision point at every stage. Start small, then expand the scope when it makes sense.
- 01
Share the brief
Product, quantity, destination and priorities. A reference photo or specification helps.
A clear starting point - 02
Agree the approach
Review fit, deliverables, fees and timing before any sourcing work begins.
A written scope - 03
Compare & decide
Clear options and my honest view of each. The decision is yours.
An informed supplier choice - 04
Coordinate execution
Keep production, quality checks and the logistics handoff aligned to your agreed plan.
Visibility through the order
IN THE FIELD
Real projects.
Real conversations.
A closer look at buyer representation and supplier discussions in China.
A wider view of the conversation
FIELD EXAMPLE · MEDICAL PRODUCTS
Beyond the
product brochure.
Supporting Saudi and Canadian buyers exploring medical equipment and veterinary imaging, and asking suppliers the questions a brochure won’t answer.
- THE WORK
- Buyer representation and supplier conversations in China.
- THE APPROACH
- Bring the discussion back to the buyer’s requirements and look closely at the equipment being demonstrated.
- THE QUESTIONS TO TAKE FORWARD
- Product fit, documentation, installation, training and after-sales support.
PROJECT EXPERIENCE · BUILDING PRODUCTS
Bringing your brief to China.
Turning your specifications and finishes into clear terms to agree with a factory.
Discuss a building-products project ↗
CLIENT & SUPPLIER VISITS
Working together,
in person.
Meetings at supplier offices and trade fairs, with me interpreting the words and reading the room.
Discuss your supplier visit ↗
MEET YOUR SOURCING PARTNER
Raised in China. Built my career in the West. Now working for buyers in both.
I grew up in China and spent more than ten years living, studying and working in North America. I studied at the University of British Columbia and built my career in international business. I’m a native speaker of Mandarin and English, with experience navigating the business cultures behind both languages.
I bring 10+ years of commercial and client management experience across North America and China/APAC. Most recently, as a key account manager at a Vancouver agency that helps Western brands sell in China, I managed an $18M+ commercial client portfolio spanning global food, beauty and supplement brands. I presented regularly to executives in North America and Asia, adapting the message for each audience.
That work taught me where deals between the two sides can go wrong: in what each side assumes and never says out loud. Kate Sources puts that experience on the buyer’s side. Working across Guangzhou and Vancouver, I help you evaluate suppliers, communicate your requirements and coordinate the next steps in China.
Native Mandarin and English · BA, University of British Columbia · $18M+ client portfolio managed · Executive presentations across North America and Asia
LET’S MAKE IT CONCRETE
What are you
looking to source?
Prefer to organize your requirements first? Build a brief below, then email it to Kate. You can also get in touch directly—no form needed.
Your answers stay in this page until you choose to share them by email. No sign-up needed.
- 1 Product
- 2 Priorities
- 3 Your brief
BEFORE WE BEGIN
A few good
questions.
Why not just find suppliers on Alibaba myself?
You can, and for simple products it may be enough. The risk is in what a listing doesn’t tell you: whether the factory really makes the product, how it handles changes, and what “yes” means when the schedule slips. I investigate those questions in Mandarin before you commit to a supplier.
How are you different from a local sourcing agent?
I represent your interests within a scope and commercial arrangements agreed in writing. My experience in Western business helps me communicate the standards you expect and explain the China side in terms that make sense.
Who is Kate Sources a good fit for?
International importers, brands, retailers and project buyers who want a direct working relationship and practical help with China suppliers. Project fit depends on the product, scope, order size and any specialist requirements.
How are projects priced?
After reviewing your brief, Kate proposes a scope and fee suited to the work. Product costs, samples, travel, inspections and freight are identified separately where applicable. Commercial arrangements are agreed before you commit.
Is there a minimum order?
Minimum quantities depend on the supplier, product and customization. Share your expected volume or project size so Kate can assess whether a sourcing engagement is practical. There is no one-size-fits-all order promise.
What about compliance and importing?
Product documentation and destination requirements belong in the brief from the start. Kate can coordinate supplier information and specialist checks within an agreed scope. Testing, regulatory approvals, customs clearance and importer responsibilities must be confirmed with the appropriate qualified partners.
GOOD SOURCING STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION
Tell me what you’re
looking to source.
Send me a short brief or a message. I aim to reply within two working days, in English or Chinese, with an honest view of whether and how I can help.