The secret to a successful furniture company? At least part of it is making sure every sofa, chair and table is built to last — not to collapse at first sitting. That’s why quality control is essential in China furniture sourcing, and there’s no better way to achieve it than by having a dedicated team on the ground.
This case study explains how a fast-growing U.K. furniture company worked with The China Desk, Kinyu’s supply chain Employer of Record service, to hire and manage a local team in China. The partnership led to better product quality, major cost savings and more efficient vendor management.
Snapshot
| Industry | Furniture |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Team Size | 60 employees |
| Annual Imports from China | 500 containers ($10–20 million) |
| Hiring Location in China | Tianjin |
Challenges Faced
Before engaging The China Desk, the client struggled with:
- Lack of in-house quality control:
The company relied on a third-party inspection firm for quality management. These agencies only reported issues, without offering solutions, and lacked deep knowledge of the company’s products and specific quality standards. - Difficulty managing supplier relationships remotely:
Challenges — including delayed lead times and product defects — were difficult to resolve from a distance due to time zone differences, language barriers and cultural misunderstandings.
Positions Hired & Responsibilities
Kinyu’s China Desk helped the client build a dedicated local team:
- Supplier Account Manager
Ensures factories meet contract requirements and maintains direct communication. - Quality Control Supervisor
Leads defect analysis, coordinates quality inspections and creates improvement plans. - Quality Control Inspectors (2)
Handle pre-shipment checks, flag issues early and keep suppliers accountable.
Bespoke Advisory and Support
In addition to recruitment, the client benefited from the full support of the Kinyu GM Function — a dedicated local management resource providing strategic guidance and hands-on problem-solving across the supply chain.
- Recruitment of all positions: Achieved savings of up to 70% compared to industry-standard recruitment firms.
- Hiring plan: Advised the client on the cost and quality improvement benefits of building an internal QC team.
- Comprehensive HR management: Managed travel expense reimbursements, bonus calculations, employee reviews and visa applications.
- Team building and employee engagement: Organised quarterly events for the team to share challenges and enjoy meals together.
- Introduction to local resources: Connected the client with a sustainable packaging supplier to eliminate single-use plastics from their packaging.
- Alternative supplier sourcing: Encouraged the team to identify backup suppliers, reducing risk if issues arise with key vendors.
Results & Impact
By hiring through The China Desk, the client achieved:
- Cost savings: 50% reduction in QC management costs
- Resilience: Safety stock levels increased with core suppliers
- Improved quality: Defect rate dropped from 5% to 2%
- Operational benefits: Increased supplier compliance and greater visibility across the supply chain
What Our Client Says
Kinyu helps manage our China supply chain effectively, providing reliable boots on the ground. They have enhanced our operation & we look forward to growing our team
Want to Improve Your China Furniture Sourcing 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.
