Making Sourcing From China Simpler, Smoother And More Reliable.

From a Company That Sold Everything to a Brand Chosen for Its T-Shirts

We previously carried more than 5,000 SKUs across categories including men’s clothing, women’s clothing, and underwear.

We believed that increasing the number of products would also increase our sales. In reality, however, only our inventory grew, while our cash flow gradually became more difficult to manage. We had expanded into too many categories and were unable to devote enough attention to any one product. Eventually, we lost sight of what our real strengths were.

That was when we met Mr. Kaneko from HubBuyer at a trade show.

Instead of immediately encouraging us to place orders, he first took the time to listen carefully and understand our situation. He then advised us, “Rather than trying to sell every product, you should first focus on a single category and build a strong brand.”

We therefore made the bold decision to focus on T-shirts.

After that, we visited T-shirt factories more than ten times together with the HubBuyer team. From fabric selection and design to the production process, we held repeated discussions with the factory teams and made improvements one step at a time.

It was not an easy journey, but our relationship of trust with the factories gradually deepened. Ultimately, we were able to reduce our total costs by approximately 30%. More importantly, we learned to create products that reflected our identity in both quality and design, rather than simply lowering prices.

Today, we rank among the top ten brands in the T-shirt category on a major e-commerce platform, and our business continues to grow steadily.

Looking back, we are truly glad that we chose to focus on T-shirts instead of continuing to expand our product range.

Even when things did not go well, Mr. Kaneko and the team working with us always helped us think through what to do next. That support is what allowed us to keep going without giving up thus paving the way for where we are today. We look forward to continuing to work together while creating even better T-shirts.

HubBuyer Support Team
Head of Japan Operations: Mr. Kaneko
Manager: Mr. Hirata

From ¥1,680 to ¥730—Our Journey to Confident Mass Production

We previously sourced outdoor products from a supplier in Japan at ¥1,680 per unit. Lead times were also more than two months, and even when the products sold, we struggled to make a sufficient profit.

We knew that the supplier was also sourcing the products from a factory in China. However, we were understandably concerned about finding a factory, negotiating prices, and managing quality entirely on our own.

That was when a friend introduced us to the HubBuyer.

After we provided product images, our desired specifications, and the planned order quantity, we received a quotation of approximately ¥730 per unit just two days later. Since it was less than half the previous price, my first reaction was to check twice and ask, “Can it really be produced at this price?”

The HubBuyer team carefully guided us through every stage, from finding a factory and negotiating prices to producing samples, conducting inspections, and completing the first mass-production run. The quality of the samples we received was also excellent, giving us the confidence to proceed with mass production.

Without compromising quality, the sourcing price was reduced from ¥1,680 to approximately ¥730 per unit, cutting our procurement costs by around 57%. This eased our financial burden and allowed us to achieve a healthy profit.

I still remember the day our first mass-produced order arrived and we opened the boxes together with our staff. When one team member picked up the product and said, “We can sell this with confidence,” I finally felt the tension leave my shoulders.

Mr. Park, Mr. Choi, and the entire team supporting us have helped us time and again whenever we had questions. Today, they feel like trusted partners—the first people we want to consult whenever we encounter an issue.

We look forward to continuing to work hard together and create even better projects in the future.

HubBuyer Support Team
Operations Director: Mr. Park
Manager: Mr. Choi

We Finally Escaped the Daily Struggle with Endless Excel Files

Before partnering with HubBuyer in 2022, our day-to-day operations were honestly in a very difficult state.

We handled as many as approximately 20,000 SKUs and worked with five sourcing companies in China. However, everything—from creating orders and checking progress to inspections, inventory movements, and verifying shipping quantities—was managed manually using Excel.

As the number of files increased, so did the amount of verification work. Data-entry errors and oversights occurred frequently. We had 12 purchasing staff members and more than 20 employees responsible for inspections and warehouse operations, yet we still could not keep up with the workload. We felt that if things continued this way, our operations would eventually become unmanageable.

That was when a friend introduced us to HubBuyer.

When I first saw its procurement management system, I was surprised by how much could be managed in one place. At the same time, because we had relied on Excel for many years, I was slightly worried about whether we could make a smooth transition.

Once we started using the system, however, we found it much easier to operate than expected and quickly became comfortable with it. The reorder feature was especially useful. Products we had previously purchased could be imported with a single click, so we no longer had to re-enter the product information every time.

After implementation, our purchasing team was reduced from 12 people to three, while our inspection and warehouse team was reduced from 20 people to five. Overall, we were able to reduce the workforce required for these operations by approximately 75%. Despite having fewer staff members, efficiency did not decline. In fact, processing became faster, and the number of errors decreased significantly.

What pleased us most was that we no longer had to spend so much time every day dealing with countless Excel files. We could finally focus on developing new products and expanding our sales.

Today, HubBuyer handles our sourcing, inspections, warehousing, and logistics, while we concentrate on market development and sales. Whenever we encounter a problem, Mr. Park, Mr. Kim, and the rest of the support team are always ready to help. As a result, people in our company now naturally say, “Let’s ask HubBuyer first.”

We see HubBuyer as more than just a system provider or sourcing agent. They are trusted partners who work alongside us toward the same goals.

Mr. Park and Mr. Kim, we look forward to continuing to tackle challenges together, sharing ideas, and exploring new products and markets.

HubBuyer Support Team
Operations Director: Mr. Park
Manager: Mr. Kim (Team)

The Other Team Supporting Our Gen Z Remote Team

We are a startup whose members were all born in the 2000s. We have neither an office nor our own warehouse, and every member of the team works online from a different location.

Keeping our fixed costs low is a major advantage, but product inspections and shipping were our greatest challenges.

When we first launched the business, we sourced samples ourselves. However, the products we received sometimes had loose threads, incorrect sizing, and inconsistent finishing. At times, boxes waiting to be inspected filled the entire living room of an apartment.

“We could manage sales remotely, but handling quality control entirely on our own was difficult.”

This was how we felt when a friend introduced us to the HubBuyer Platform. We began with a trial order of 200 T-shirts.

When we saw the inspection report for the first time, every member of our team was amazed. It included photos showing even the smallest product details, along with clearly organized size measurements, colorfastness test results, and other information.

Since then, we have entrusted the HubBuyer Platform with the inspection and shipping of 13 production lots totaling more than 8,000 garments. Inspection results are shared with us immediately, allowing us to check the condition of our products wherever we are.

One event we will never forget was last year’s Black Friday. One of our vintage-style sweatshirts attracted a great deal of attention on social media, generating more than 400 orders in a single day.

We were delighted, of course, but honestly, we also panicked. We knew there was no way we could handle all those orders by ourselves.

When we contacted HubBuyer, they immediately increased the number of staff assigned to the work and shipped every product within 48 hours. That month, we achieved sales of 10,000 items for the first time.

Today, we maintain an average inventory of approximately 1,500 items and can process more than 300 orders per day, even during peak periods. Because HubBuyer handles product inspections and shipping for us, we can concentrate on trend research, product planning, and sales through social media.

We are truly grateful to Mr. Kaneko, Mr. Xu, and the entire team for their continued support. We hope that we can continue overcoming busy periods together, celebrating our successes together, and working hard side by side.

HubBuyer Support Team
Head of Japan Operations: Mr. Kaneko
Manager: Mr. Xu

Shipping That Once Took 15–20 Days Now Takes Just 5–7 Days

We previously used another sourcing service provider.

Most of our communication took place through email and chat. Even slightly complicated matters, such as product specifications and inspection requirements, had to be explained entirely in writing. Organizing the information alone took a considerable amount of time, and we sometimes had to resend messages several times to clarify the details.

Furthermore, it usually took 15–20 days from placing an order to shipment, with inspections alone requiring approximately 5–10 days. By the time the products finally arrived, we had often missed the best sales opportunity and our inventory turnover had slowed.

After partnering with HubBuyer, we became able to discuss complicated matters directly with the responsible team by phone or Zoom. We can review everything together while looking at the same screen, eliminating the need to write lengthy explanations and allowing us to agree on a solution immediately.

As a result, the period from ordering to shipment was reduced from 15–20 days to just 5–7 days. Our inventory turnover and capital efficiency have also increased to approximately three times their previous levels, significantly reducing the burden of having to set aside large amounts of money for sourcing.

We have now worked with HubBuyer for more than three years. Even when we have an urgent order or a problem that is difficult to explain in writing, we can promptly speak face-to-face with the team. This allows us to move forward with our work with complete peace of mind.

The steady growth of our business over the past three years has also been made possible by the support of the entire HubBuyer team. We look forward to continuing our close communication and working hard together.

HubBuyer Support Team
Operations Director: Park
Manager: Lee (Team)

Two Months Before Opening, We Still Had No Product Lineup—Then We Prepared 1,000 SKUs in 25 Days

I still remember opening our first store as if it were yesterday.

With only two months remaining before opening day, hardly any of the products we planned to sell had been finalized. Our product direction was unclear, and we had neither a purchasing specialist nor any suppliers. Every day, I worried and wondered, “Will we really be ready in time?”

That was when we discovered HubBuyer.

The responsible team began by listening carefully to my ideas and then helped me organize the product categories and quantities. Working backward from the opening date, they also created a detailed schedule specifying what needed to be completed and by when.

At the time, we did not even have a product selection team, so HubBuyer provided comprehensive support throughout the entire product selection process.

Our goal was to prepare a total of 1,000 apparel and jewelry SKUs for women in their twenties, with 20 units of each product for trial sales. It was a highly ambitious plan.

We scheduled five days for product selection, followed by 20 days for sourcing, inspections, replacing OPP packaging bags, attaching product tags, care labels, and stickers, and preparing everything for shipment. The entire process was to be completed within 25 days.

The first five days were especially memorable. The HubBuyer team stayed in contact with me while selecting products every night until around 10 p.m.—and on some days, even later.

They genuinely completed the selection of all 1,000 SKUs within five days. That was the moment I began to think, “We might actually make it in time.”

In the end, every product was shipped six days ahead of schedule. The products arrived safely before opening day, and the store opened as planned. When I finally saw all the products displayed in the store, I was able to smile with relief.

What began as a single store has now grown to four locations.

We look forward to continuing to work with HubBuyer as we take on the challenge of opening new stores and introducing new products.

HubBuyer Support Team
Operations Director: Park
Manager: Tou (Team)