The operations knowledge nobody teaches you — from MOQ negotiation to freight terms — explained in plain English, before it costs you money.
Understand MOQ and negotiate it
Minimum Order Quantity is where most first-time founders overspend. Ask about sample runs, shared-container options with other brands, or a slightly higher unit cost in exchange for a lower first-order MOQ. Almost every factory will flex on run one.
Learn Incoterms before you sign
EXW, FOB, DDP — these three letters decide who pays for freight, insurance, and customs. Get this wrong and a $2 unit turns into a $9 landed cost overnight. Ask for DDP quotes first as a beginner; upgrade to FOB once you have a freight forwarder you trust.
Build a two-supplier safety net
Single-supplier stores are one factory shutdown away from stockout hell. Always qualify a second source, even at slightly higher cost. The premium is cheap insurance against a viral moment your primary can't fulfil.
Track landed cost, not unit cost
Unit cost is a lie. Landed cost — unit + freight + duties + inspection + handling — is what actually hits your margin. Build a simple spreadsheet on day one and update it after every shipment. Your pricing decisions depend on it.
Forecast inventory 90 days out
Sea freight from Asia averages 45-60 days. Order too late and you stock out through peak season; order too early and cash is locked in a warehouse. A rolling 90-day forecast, updated weekly, is the single most valuable spreadsheet in the business.
