Sourcing Process · Four Steps to a Quotation
Send what you already have — a product reference, a sketch, or just a target market and quantity. We review the requirement, check feasibility with our production partners, and come back with a quotation you can act on. No completed design file is required to start.
Two different processes — keep them separate
This page explains how a brief becomes a quotation. The production sequence — concept, sample, trial run, mass production — is described on the Manufacturing page. They are different jobs: quoting does not require tooling, and a quotation is not an order.
Quotation process — this page
Project brief → requirement review → feasibility & sourcing → quotation.
Production process — Manufacturing
Concept → sample → trial production → mass production.
Step 1 — Share your project brief
Tell us what you are trying to source. Useful, but not mandatory, details:
- Product type (bottle, tumbler, mug, kids bottle, food jar).
- A reference image, a competitor product, or your own sketch.
- Target quantity and whether it is a first run or a repeat order.
- Destination market, because labelling and material rules differ.
- Customization you already know you want (lid style, print, finish, packaging).
- Target delivery window.
If any of these are still open, say so. We work from partial information every day; the review step exists to fill the gaps.
Step 2 — Requirement review
We go through the brief and turn it into a specification we can price: material, capacity and dimensions, lid and thread structure, logo application, surface finish, packaging, any special function, plus market-specific requirements. Where something is missing or ambiguous we come back with specific questions instead of guessing on your behalf.
You do not need to know the technical answer. “It must survive a dishwasher and not leak in a school bag” is a usable requirement.
Step 3 — Feasibility and sourcing
With the requirement clear, we check it against real production options and confirm:
- Whether an existing model can be adjusted or a new mould is required.
- Which production partner is a fit for the material and finish.
- MOQ for that specific combination.
- Which samples and tests the project needs.
- How the production and delivery timeline realistically looks.
We only confirm what the production partner has verified. If a capability has not been confirmed for your case, we say it is pending rather than promise it in the quote.
Step 4 — Receive your quotation
The quotation is built from the confirmed specification and states:
- Product specification, material and finish.
- Unit price at the quoted quantity tiers.
- Mould cost, where a new mould is needed.
- Sample cost and sample lead time, where applicable.
- Estimated production lead time.
- Packaging requirement and its cost impact.
- What is and is not included (freight, duties, third-party testing).
You review it, we adjust what needs adjusting, and only then do you decide whether to move to samples and order execution.
Questions clients ask before starting
Do I need CAD drawings? No. A reference photo, a sketch, or a clear description is enough to start the review.
How long does a quotation take? Typically two to three business days once the essentials are clear. A custom structure that needs a partner check takes longer, and we tell you when that is the case.
Does asking for a quotation cost anything? No. Sample and mould costs only apply once you decide to proceed, and they are itemised separately.
Is MOQ fixed? It depends on the product, material and finish. It is confirmed per project in step 3 rather than published as one sitewide number.
Where to go next
If you already know the product: look at Manufacturing for the production sequence, Lid Options, Logo Printing, Surface Finishing and the Packaging Guide for the customization options.
If you are still deciding: start from the Knowledge Centre or read how Mofe works with production partners.