I'm a former Head of Sourcing for a U.S. company with 20+ years on the ground in Asia. I help importers and brands find the right factories, control costs, and avoid the mistakes most buyers make — working only on your side of the table.
Most sourcing problems don't come from factories. They come from a lack of structure, visibility, and control. Here's the work I do to fix that.
Not just the product — your margins, risk tolerance, retail relationships, and growth plans. Sourcing decisions that ignore business context are how companies end up with the wrong factory.
Pre-qualified, audited, and aligned with your category. I've spent two decades learning which factories actually deliver and which ones only look good on paper — that judgment is the work.
Pricing based on real cost structure, not the inflated overseas-buyer rate. Payment terms, lead time commitments, quality standards, and penalty clauses — all defined before the first order ships.
Light oversight to keep production on track without taking over your business. You stay in control. I stay close enough to catch problems before they become shipments.
If you've ever said "our supplier is getting unreliable" — we should talk.
I led sourcing operations in Asia for a U.S. company. I've sat on your side of the table — so I understand how buyers actually think, what boards ask for, and where margins really come from.
U.S. CPA (Michigan) and CMA. I don't just find products — I model the true landed cost, analyze margin structures, and identify financial risk before it becomes a problem. The cheapest factory is rarely the best deal.
Two decades managing supplier networks across China, Vietnam, India, and Southeast Asia. I've started Asia offices, built teams, navigated regulatory shifts, and managed sourcing across multiple product categories at scale.
No factory commissions. No hidden fees. 100% buyer-side. When I recommend a supplier, it's because it's the right fit for you — not because someone's paying me to place you there.
"The best sourcing decisions happen where financial discipline meets deep market knowledge — at the point where the spreadsheet meets the factory floor."
— JuliaNotes from twenty years of sourcing work — the patterns, the mistakes I see new buyers make, and the questions I wish more people asked before they signed their first P.O. Some things are hard to write down — for those, we should talk.
Toys, party supplies, and novelty products all carry specific compliance demands — ASTM F963, CPSIA, CPC, SEDEX, BSCI. I've seen a single missed audit finding cost a brand their Target program. Here's what actually matters before you ship.
Read More →Most new overseas buyers pay 15–30% more than they should. It's not always malicious — suppliers quote what the market will bear. There are three things I always check on a first quote. I'll walk you through the first two.
Read More →Alibaba is a fine place to start a search. It's a terrible place to end one. The signals that separate a real factory from a dressed-up trading company are subtle, but consistent. Once you know what to look for, you can't unsee them.
Read More →Tell me what you're sourcing and what's not working. I'll give you a clear, practical next step — not a sales pitch.
I offer a free initial consultation to understand your sourcing situation. From there, we'll scope an engagement that fits your needs — whether that's a one-time factory inspection, ongoing advisory, or a full sourcing project. Fees are structured around the scope of work, with no hidden costs and no factory-side commissions.
Or email directly: info@juliaricks.com · Based in Shanghai, serving U.S. & European buyers