Sourcing trip brief

Step 1 of 5Sourcing trip brief

When are you coming?

Dates first — hotels, badges and factory slots are all booked against them.

Arrival date *Approximate is fine. We confirm the exact programme with you.

How many days on the ground? *Most trips run three to five working days.

Are you coming for a trade fair? *The Canton Fair runs in three phases, each carrying different product categories.

How many people are travelling?The fair allows a maximum of two accompanying staff per buyer, per phase.

Add “Arrival date” to continue.

Your preparation

The work that decides the outcome happens before you land. It is quoted per project, from $1,200, and it is credited back against our commission if you place a production order through NovaLink within 12 months.

Bilingual RFQ written from your specification
Business licences checked on the Chinese national registry — factory or trading company
Certificates verified with the body that issued them
A scored shortlist you approve before anything is booked
A locked agenda, confirmed with each supplier

If you already have a shortlist, we skip prospection and quote against the work that is left.

Days on the ground

From $450 per working day: fair halls, factory visits, negotiation in Mandarin, product tests, and the written debrief that closes each day. Travel inside Guangdong is included.

A formal Factory Audit — the structured audit day with a written report and a verdict — stays a separate service at its published price.

Your travel costs

Hotel, driver, rail, badges and business meals are rebilled at cost with receipts. The 12% coordination fee applies only to what we book and pre-fund for you, and it appears as its own line.

Companion badge fees are set by the fair: RMB 300 per person per day plus a one-time RMB 50 badge fee. Only you, the overseas buyer, can file that application — we prepare it and check who is eligible.

No commission from suppliers

We take no referral fee, no rebate and no kickback from any supplier, at any point. You see the factory's quote as we received it. This is written into the engagement letter you sign.

Preparation is invoiced upfront. Days on the ground and your travel costs are reconciled after the trip. How you pay NovaLink