Quality control matters when your customers trust you with their homes. From kitchen appliances that need to work reliably for years to garden equipment that must withstand the elements, every product must meet strict standards. That’s why having boots on the ground in China makes all the difference.
This case study explains how a U.K. home goods company used The China Desk, Kinyu’s supply chain-focused Employer of Record service, to build a dedicated quality team in China. The result: better products, lower costs and happier customers.
Snapshot
| Industry & Product Category | Furniture, DIY, garden equipment and kitchen appliances |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Team Size | 90 employees |
| Annual China Purchase Volume | $20-30 million (400 containers per year) |
| Hiring Location in China | Guangzhou |
Challenges Faced
Before working with The China Desk, the client faced several critical issues:
- Unreliable outsourced quality assessments: The third-party sample assessment service failed to meet the client’s quality team requirements, lacking deep product knowledge and failing to provide actionable solutions.
- Inconsistent product documentation: Instruction manuals varied in quality and clarity, creating confusion for customers and weakening the brand experience.
- Poor purchase order management: Limited follow-up on orders led to delayed production schedules and missed shipping deadlines, disrupting the entire supply chain.
- Expensive and opaque inspections: The company used costly third-party inspection firms without transparency into on-ground operations or meaningful supplier relationships.
Positions Hired & Responsibilities
Kinyu’s China Desk helped the client build a comprehensive local team:
- Oversees complete sample assessment programme
- Manages product testing, reporting and action planning
- Communicates directly with suppliers on quality issues
- Tracks purchase orders from issuance to shipment
- Ensures suppliers meet inspection and loading deadlines
- Supports sample shipments between offices
- Assists U.K. buying team during China visits
- Coordinates product documentation delivery
- Creates ratings labels and instruction manuals
- Works with suppliers on clear product drawings
- Ensures user-friendly instructions
- Conducts sample assessments across product ranges
- Writes detailed reports and corrective action plans
- Performs factory audits for supplier compliance
Bespoke Advisory and Support
Beyond recruitment, the client also gained direct access to the Kinyu GM Function — a local management team offering strategic advice and practical solutions for supply chain challenges.
- Partner Introductions: Achieved savings of up to 85% compared with standard recruiting firms.
- Comprehensive HR management: Handled travel expense reimbursements, bonus calculations and employee reviews seamlessly.
- Team building and engagement: Organised quarterly events where the team discusses challenges and enjoys dinner together, fostering collaboration and morale.
- Customised office setup: Provided over 100 square metres of office space with outdoor areas for sample assessments. The office was refurbished according to team needs, including furniture, testing equipment, water station and Wi-Fi.
- Supply chain resource introductions: Connected the client with a graphic design consultant to improve instruction manuals and quality management software enabling factories and QC teams to self-report on inspections.
Results & Impact
By hiring through The China Desk, the client achieved:
- Enhanced efficiency: The in-house sample assessment function provided the quality department with increased capacity to handle growing workloads.
- Strategic control: Having a dedicated in-house team allowed the client to plan long-term China operations effectively.
- Better customer experience: Coherent and consistent instruction manuals improved the customer journey and strengthened brand reputation.
What Our Client Says
The Kinyu team demonstrated a deep cultural understanding of both the UK and China, which contributed to the project’s success
Transform Your Home Goods Supply Chain in China
Whether you want to boost product quality, streamline supplier management, or reduce operational costs, building the right team on the ground can make all the difference. Want to see how we can help your business? Get in touch.
