Concrete, day-by-day plan for the first 30 days. Each step has a specific deliverable. By day 30 you should have either a US trademark filing in progress, a first shipment booked, or a clear answer that the US market isn't right for you yet.
Don't skip these. They determine whether the US discount channel is the right entry point for your factory.
If your product is none of these, the discount channel may not be the right entry. Consider Amazon or DTC instead.
The discount channel buys: - B-grade production runs (your own quality rejects) - End-of-line inventory - Overstock - Discontinued products - Customer returns from other markets - Factory seconds
If your only product is current main-line, branded, full-price goods, this channel is not for you. Selling main brand into the discount channel destroys your main brand. See Common mistakes.
This is the realistic budget for first-time US exporters (see What it costs). If you have less, you're not ready for US export yet. If you have more, you can move faster.
Deliverable: A 2-page factory profile document.
Write down: - Product(s) your factory makes (categories, materials, MOQ) - Annual production capacity - Existing export markets (which countries do you ship to now?) - US-market goals (volume, channel, timeline) - Budget for Year 1
This document is for you. We'll ask for it when we talk.
Deliverable: A service plan matched to your factory.
Email us with the 2-page profile. We'll set up a 30-minute discovery call. On the call we'll:
If we don't think the US market is right for you, we'll say so. That's a legitimate outcome.
Deliverable: US trademark application filed with USPTO.
If your product is branded, file a US trademark before your first shipment. Without it, US customs can seize your goods at port.
We handle this. Cost: $450-700 per mark. Time: 1-2 weeks for us to prepare and file; 8-12 months for USPTO to register.
In the meantime, you can use the mark with "TM" notation. The "®" symbol is reserved for fully-registered marks.
Deliverable: Inspection report with photo evidence.
Once a US buyer places a first order, we coordinate pre-shipment inspection at your factory. Inspector arrives, walks the production line, samples finished goods, photographs defects.
Cost: $200-500 per man-day. Time: 1-2 days at your factory.
Deliverable: Compliance certificates for your product category.
Required for many product categories. Examples: - CPSC compliance for children's products - FCC docs for electronics - CPSIA testing for products intended for children under 12 - Prop 65 warnings for products sold in California - California fabric flammability for upholstered furniture
We coordinate with US-based testing labs. Cost: $300-1,500 per SKU per year. Time: 4-12 weeks for the certificates.
Deliverable: Shipping quote + customs broker + payment terms.
Before the first shipment goes: - Customs broker selected (we can recommend) - HTS code verified (your customs broker does this) - Insurance certificate obtained - Payment terms agreed (typical: 30% deposit, 70% before shipment or Net 30 after delivery) - Booking with ocean carrier - Expected arrival date set
By day 30, you should be in one of these states:
| State | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Trademark filed, first shipment planned | On track | Proceed with shipment |
| Buyer found, awaiting production | Almost there | Finish production, schedule inspection |
| No buyer yet, ready to wait | Common | Use the catalog or show attendance to find first buyer |
| Determined US isn't right for now | Honest answer | Revisit in 6-12 months |
We don't: - Promise specific buyers before we know your product - Guarantee minimum sales or revenue - Take title to your goods - Replace your existing factory relationships - Make decisions for you about which US channel to enter
We do: - Listen to your situation - Tell you honestly whether the US market is right for you - Walk through specific cost ranges and timeframes - Coordinate specific services (trademark, inspection, etc.) at quoted prices - Connect you with US buyers when we have a match - Provide post-shipment support if something goes wrong
Useful: - The 2-page factory profile (Day 1-3 deliverable) - Photos of your product (good ones, retail-quality) - Existing US-market experience (if any) - Budget range for Year 1
Not needed (yet): - Detailed financial statements - Existing contracts - Buyer lists - Trademark registrations
The discovery call is for scope-setting, not commitment.
After the discovery call, you usually fall into one of these:
We agree on a service package. Cost and timeline are stated. You decide whether to proceed.
Most common scenario for factories with appropriate products and budget.
We identify a blocker - wrong product, wrong inventory, wrong budget, wrong timing. We tell you. You revisit later.
This is fine. We don't take it personally.
Your factory might be better suited to: - Amazon FBA / DTC / Shopify (if you have branded product) - B2B wholesale to mid-market retailers (not discount) - Export to other markets first (EU, MENA, LATAM)
We'll point you to the right direction even if it's not us.
Some factories need to discuss internally before deciding. We don't follow up repeatedly. If you want to revisit, you email us.
If you skip the discovery call and just start shipping:
The 30-day plan prevents these. The cost of the plan is the cost of the services you actually need. The cost of skipping it is whatever mistakes you make.
If you're ready:
If you're not ready:
Either is fine. The page will be here.