Full-cycle business support in China – from procurement to delivery
Supplier search, procurement and OEM/ODM manufacturing in China
Turnkey air, road, rail, and sea freight delivery
Customs, certification and legal support of transactions
Forward Union is a team in China that supports businesses from procurement to delivery.
Who we are, how we work, and why entrepreneurs from around the world trust us
Our team in Yiwu and Shanghai, offices, warehouses and daily work on site
Operating principles, experience, transparency and control at every stage
Real examples of calculations, launches, and results from our clients
Cost, MOQ, budgets and project economics before launch
How clients launched brands and products with Forward Union
Experience of entrepreneurs who already work with us
Expert materials and answers to key questions about working with China
Analysis of processes, logistics, procurement and practical recommendations
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about deadlines, risks, payments, and delivery
Supplier Search and Verification for 1688 — Wholesale Purchases and Turnkey OEM Manufacturing
What is 1688.com
1688.com is Alibaba Group’s largest wholesale platform with millions of factories and manufacturers from all over China.
It was created for the Chinese domestic market, so it requires a deep understanding of the terms, conditions, and effective communication with suppliers.
What you get from working through 1688:
- Real wholesale prices from factories
- Wide product range in dozens of categories
- Flexible MOQs and product customization
- OEM/ODM options
Forward Union helps you work with 1688 safely and accurately: we navigate factories, terms, and nuances that are not immediately obvious to newcomers.
When 1688 is the best choice
- When the lowest factory price is important
- When you need to quickly find a supplier with a wide range of products
- For test batches and small OEM jobs
- When you need to quickly compare terms and conditions from different suppliers
- When flexibility in MOQs, colors, packaging, and minor adjustments is important
Advantages of 1688 when working correctly
- Access to a real wholesale price range
- Wide selection of factories and trading companies
- The ability to communicate directly with suppliers
- Return system for defective products
- Low MOQ and flexible terms for small orders
Why it’s difficult for beginners to work with 1688
- 95% of sellers don’t speak English
- Real terms and conditions are only available after negotiations
- Photos don’t always match actual quality
- Common errors in colors, sizes, and materials
- Difficult to verify the actual status of a factory
- Hidden fees and paid services
- Without on-site inspection, there’s a risk of receiving a defective or different product
How Forward Union verifies suppliers
- We verify the license, registration date, and factory status
- We verify Product range, production lines, photos of workshops
- We analyze certificates and order history
- We request and test samples
- We check packaging, labeling, and specification compliance
- We inspect the warehouse, finished products, and storage conditions
- We record all agreements in correspondence
What does the buyout service include?
Forward Union works only with bulk orders - from 50 units or production MOQ (OEM / ODM)
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1Search for factories and wholesale suppliers
We select reliable manufacturers and wholesalers according to your requirements
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2Checking licenses and reputation
We analyze business licenses, certificates, and company reviews
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3Analysis of cooperation terms
We compare prices, minimum order quantities (MOQs), and commercial terms
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4Quality control and samples
We check products and test samples before launching an order
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5Negotiations and documentation
We communicate and prepare documents in Chinese
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6Organization of purchase and delivery
We assist with purchasing, consolidation of goods, and logistics to your warehouse
Why 1688.com
We help you determine whether you are dealing with a manufacturer, intermediary, or wholesaler, and select a supplier with the best price and quality
This is a domestic Chinese B2B platform: prices are lower than even in Chinese wholesale markets
Factories and distributors from all over China - from Guangdong to Zhejiang
We order and check samples before signing a contract
Possibility to customize the product to your brand (OEM/ODM)
From 50 to 10,000 units - depending on the category
Invoices, certificates and a Business License are provided
How does the process work?
Each stage is documented with reports and documents, from the search for a factory to the arrival of the goods in your country
You send a product description, photo, niche, or example — we record the parameters: price, MOQ, branding, deadlines
We find 3-5 factories or wholesalers on 1688, compare terms, prices, and deadlines.
We prepare a table with recommendations and links to real factories
We check the seller's Business License, certificates, reputation, and history.
If necessary, we order and test samples, and create photo and video reports
You choose a supplier, after which we agree on the terms, draw up a contract, and monitor payment
The shipment arrives at our warehouse in Yiwu, where the Forward Union team checks the quantity, condition, and quality. If necessary, we repackage, label, and sort into batches
All shipments are consolidated in our warehouse. We prepare export documents, organize logistics, and provide photo reports of the shipment.
Delivery options include air, road, sea, or multimodal
Why Choose Forward Union
Forward Union is your external purchasing and quality department in China
Launch History
Real-life cases from Forward Union clients:
Frequently Asked Questions
1688 is a domestic B2B platform in China for working with suppliers and factories.
It's used to find products and manufacturers at wholesale prices for subsequent purchase or production.
Yes. We select suppliers and factories based on the client's specific needs, taking into account the product, volume, target MOQ, budget, and quality requirements.
We begin with a task analysis, then select suppliers on the platform, conduct an initial selection, and clarify the terms.
The client receives several suitable options with agreed-upon basic parameters.
Yes. After selection, you will receive the supplier's contact information and all agreed-upon terms of cooperation.
Yes. We check the supplier's profile, company type, product range, and production capabilities.
Additional offline verification is possible if necessary.
Further work can be carried out through our company—with purchase, production, and support—or through an agreed-upon collaboration with the supplier.
The format is determined individually before work begins.
The cost depends on the complexity of the task, the number of options being considered, and the need for additional verification.
The price is agreed upon before work begins.
Looking for a reliable supplier for 1688?
We will select 3-5 options, check the documents and quality, and prepare a comparative report within 48 hours.
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Forward Union is not a cargo agency or a middleman.
Forward Union is your own on-site team that works daily for your project: visiting factories, negotiating, checking quality, supervising packaging, and arranging official delivery.
We’ve been living and working in China since 2009.
Officially registered in China and Hong Kong, we have an export license, our own warehouses, and staff in Yiwu and Guangzhou.
This allows us to provide transparent, secure, and predictable turnkey deliveries to Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, the CIS, and Europe.
We’re your own on-site team that works daily for your project: visiting factories, negotiating, checking quality, supervising packaging, and arranging official delivery.
We’ve been living and working in China since 2009.
Officially registered in China and Hong Kong, we have an export license, our own warehouses, and staff in Yiwu and Guangzhou.
This allows us to provide transparent, secure, and predictable turnkey deliveries to Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, the CIS, and Europe.
Forward Union is not a cargo handler or an intermediary.
We are your own on-site team that works daily on your project: visiting factories, negotiating, checking quality, overseeing packaging, and organizing official delivery.
We have been living and working in China since 2009.
Officially registered in China and Hong Kong, we have an export license, our own warehouses, and staff in Yiwu and Guangzhou.
This allows us to provide transparent, secure, and predictable turnkey deliveries to Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, the CIS, and Europe.
This is your own on-site team that works daily on your project: visiting factories, negotiating, checking quality, supervising packaging, and organizing official delivery.
We’ve been living and working in China since 2009.
Officially registered in China and Hong Kong, we have an export license, our own warehouses, and staff in Yiwu and Guangzhou.
This allows us to provide transparent, secure, and predictable turnkey deliveries to Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, the CIS, and Europe.