What it looks like when the supply side works
Our work is quiet by design. You notice it in fewer surprises, more stable margins, and fewer nights wondering where your shipment is. These case-style examples show the kind of changes SOURCING ASAP aims for.
SOURCING ASAP impact at a glance
Case study · Amazon brand fixing quality and delays
Private label Amazon brand in home & kitchen
- Previously sourced directly from a factory in China using chat apps.
- Repeated late shipments and inconsistent quality.
- Reviews starting to mention defects and bad packaging.
- Defect rate: ~4.5% based on returns and complaints
- Average lead time: 75 days door-to-door
- Packaging: plain, prone to damage
- Communication: irregular updates from factory
- Defect rate: ~0.8% on last three runs
- Average lead time: 52 days with realistic buffer built in
- Packaging: reinforced outer, better inner protection, clearer branding
- Communication: scheduled updates tied to production milestones
What we actually did
We sourced alternative factories and conducted thorough factory audits to find reliable partners. We revised the packaging design with reinforced outer boxes and better inner protection. We put in-line inspections in place during production to catch defects early. Finally, we built a reorder rhythm with clear timelines and communication checkpoints.
Case study · DTC brand needing margin and better unboxing
Shopify brand in personal care
- Strong marketing and repeat customers, weak margins.
- High packaging costs and inconsistent print quality.
- Hard to forecast stock because lead times kept drifting.
- Gross margin: ~18% average
- Packaging unit cost: relatively high and unstable
- Lead time: unpredictable, big variance
- Gross margin: ~26% average on optimised SKUs
- Packaging cost: reduced while keeping brand feel
- Lead time: narrower range with agreed buffers and clear checkpoints
What we actually did
We re-sourced packaging suppliers to find better quality at lower cost while maintaining the brand aesthetic. We consolidated multiple suppliers to reduce complexity and improve coordination. We mapped the real production lead time from factory to 3PL warehouse, adding realistic buffers to eliminate surprises and improve stock forecasting.
Case study · Distributor reducing stockouts
Regional distributor with multiple SKUs from China
- Constant stockouts on two key SKUs.
- Over-ordering on slow movers.
- No visibility on factory capacity or true lead times.
- Stockouts: frequent on 2 products
- Inventory turns: slow on other SKUs
- Emergency shipments: last-minute air shipments to catch up
- Stockouts on key SKUs: significantly reduced
- Ordering: more balanced across SKUs
- Emergency shipments: fewer expensive air freight runs
What we actually did
We mapped factory capacities to understand realistic production schedules and constraints. We staged orders more intelligently based on actual demand patterns and lead times. We consolidated shipments to reduce logistics costs and improve timing predictability. We improved forecasts by basing them on real lead times rather than guesswork.
What clients notice first
"We finally know what is happening at the factory instead of guessing."
"Our weekly check-in is calm and specific even when there is a delay."
"We stopped hopping between agents every year because the process actually works."
How to think about these numbers for your own brand
Every product and supplier base is different. What works for one brand may not work for another, and the numbers you see in these case studies are specific to those clients' situations.
SOURCING ASAP focuses on a few key levers: defect rate, margin, lead time, and predictability. We do not promise miracles, but we do build systems that consistently move these numbers in the right direction.
Think about which of these levers hurts you the most right now. Is it quality issues that damage your reputation? Thin margins that make growth impossible? Unpredictable lead times that cause stockouts? Or just the mental overhead of never knowing what is really happening at the factory?
Position SOURCING ASAP as a partner that builds a system, not one-off miracles. We aim for steady improvement over time, not dramatic fixes that fall apart after one order.
Want these kinds of numbers on your next run
Tell us what you are selling now, how you are sourcing, and which area hurts the most. We will tell you honestly if we can move the needle or if you are already in a good place.
Start a sourcing project