Private label wholesale, branded before it ships

What Private Label Wholesale Means

Private label wholesale is a simple idea with a lot of moving parts behind it. You choose ready consumer goods that already exist, we arrange your branding on them, and you order them by the hundreds instead of by the retail unit. The product is already designed and tooled. What changes is the logo, the label, the packaging and the paperwork that carries your name into the market.

This is not a retail arbitrage model and it is not a factory-direct manufacturing project. The Private Label Supplier, operated by Mutual Trade (Yiwu Michu Guomao), is a sourcing and supply-chain service; the goods are made by vetted supplier factories around Yiwu International Trade City and the surrounding industrial belts. In a wholesale programme our role is specific: fix the quantity bands per style, arrange branding during production, inspect, consolidate in Yiwu and ship — so one order can carry many categories without a dozen separate supplier relationships.

For brand owners, importers and e-commerce sellers, that single window is the real value. You can build a private label wholesale range across household goods, hardware, bags, jewellery, textiles, toys and small appliances without opening a dozen supplier relationships. To see how the workflow is structured, read how our private label supplier service works.

The MOQ Ladder by Category

Minimum order quantities in private label wholesale are set per style, not per container. The ranges below are the starting point for bulk private label orders. Exact figures depend on the product, the material and the customisation you ask for.

Across categories, MOQs typically run 100-800 pieces per style. Accessories and consumable spare parts can be ordered separately at 50-200 pieces, which is useful when you want a small add-on line without committing to a full production run. Stationery follows the general range of 100-800 pieces per style, and hair accessories sit in the jewellery and accessories range at 300-800 sets per style.

The important part for buyers building a range is consolidation. Multiple SKUs and categories can be mixed in one consolidated container. A shipment can combine labelled kitchenware, branded tote bags and a toy line without each category needing its own container or its own freight booking. For a closer look at one of the most common starting categories, see private label household products.

Wholesale Pricing Mechanics

Pricing in private label wholesale is tiered by quantity. As your order quantity per style climbs, the unit price steps down, because factory set-up, material purchasing and packing labour are spread across more units. The quote you receive should always state the quantity band it applies to, so you can compare scenarios honestly rather than chasing a single headline number.

Our base trade term is FOB Ningbo or Shanghai, which gives you a clear, comparable price at the port. From there, we can quote EXW if you have your own forwarder in China, CIF if you want us to carry the freight to your destination port, or DDP door to door with tax included if you prefer a landed cost with no surprises. Sea freight lead times run 30-45 days to Europe, 45-55 days to South America and 35-50 days to the US West Coast. China-Europe rail takes 20-30 days, air freight door to door 7-15 days, and express 3-7 days worldwide.

For repeat buyers, framework agreements and price protection matter more than a one-off discount. If you are planning a seasonal programme, locking capacity 90-120 days ahead is the practical way to protect both your price and your delivery window, particularly for holiday and back-to-school lines.

Payment Structure

Standard bulk orders run on T/T with a 30% deposit and 70% balance, which is the most common structure in this trade. For larger orders, L/C is available. Small test orders under US$2,000 can be settled by PayPal or Alipay, which lets you validate a product, a label and a packaging format before committing to a full run. Established customers can apply for open-account terms after a credit review.

If you are testing a category for the first time, a small paid sample batch is usually the cheapest form of market research you can buy. Ready samples from the Yiwu sample room are free or low-cost, with courier charged to your account. Customised samples are prepaid, and the first sample typically takes 7-15 days.

Quality Control

Quality in private label wholesale is a process, not a final inspection. We run full-process checks: incoming material inspection, in-process checks, first-piece approval, final inspection and outgoing inspection before consolidation. Sampling follows AQL at level 2.5/4.0, with a stricter 0.65 level available on request.

Every inspection produces a report with high-definition photos, video, a defect list and re-inspection records. Batch samples and records are kept for at least 12 months. Buyers may appoint third-party inspectors such as SGS, BV, TUV or Intertek if they want an independent eye on the line.

On compliance, we do not issue certificates ourselves. Testing is coordinated with ISO 17025 third-party laboratories and arranged per product, destination market and batch; laboratory fees are charged directly by the lab and confirmed per product against its quote. The document set each market requires is listed in full on our private label suppliers page. Certificates available upon request.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mix categories in one private label wholesale order?

Yes. Multiple SKUs and categories can be mixed in one consolidated container, so you can combine household goods, bags and toys in a single shipment rather than booking freight per category.

What is the minimum order for private label wholesale?

MOQs typically run 100-800 pieces per style across categories, with accessories and spare parts available at 50-200 pieces. Exact figures depend on the product and the customisation requested.

How do I start a private label wholesale programme?

Send your category, target quantity and branding requirements to [email protected]. The team prepares 3-5 alternative options with a comparison of cost, lead time and quality risk, then moves to samples and a production plan.