How to import custom plush from China, stage by stage.
One map for the whole journey — from a rough idea to a repeat order. Each stage explains the decision in front of you and links the guides that go deeper. Bookmark this page and work down it as your project moves.
You don't need to read every guide. Find the stage you're on, make the decision it describes, then jump to the next. The guides are planning references — project-specific prices, MOQ, compliance routes and timelines still need review against your actual artwork, quantity and market.
Start an RFQ when you're ready →Decide what to make
Before any factory conversation, get clear on who the plush is for and which format fits the audience, budget and sales channel. A sharp concept makes every later stage cheaper and faster.
Write the brief & vet the supplier
A complete brief and an honest read on who you are actually buying from prevent most downstream surprises. Settle artwork, pattern and mould ownership in writing now — not after sampling.
Choose materials & construction
Fabric, fill, size, eyes and decoration set the feel, the look and a large share of the unit cost. They are far easier to lock before sampling than to change afterwards.
Spec it and sample it
Your artwork becomes a buildable product through a tech pack, a colour standard and a sample loop that ends in one approved, sealed golden sample that bulk is measured against.
Price, MOQ, payment & timing
Now the commercial picture: what moves the unit price, what sets the minimum order, how payments are staged, and how the real calendar — including Chinese New Year — affects your in-store date.
Production
Once the golden sample and order are locked, bulk runs through cutting, embroidery, sewing, stuffing, closing and finishing. Knowing each stage helps you ask the right questions at the right moment.
QC & inspection
Quality is planned, not hoped for. Agree the checkpoints, the AQL level, the physical tests and who inspects the batch against your golden sample before it leaves the factory.
Packaging & labeling
Presentation and labels are part of the product. Decide polybag warnings, hangtags or boxes, barcodes and carton packing during sampling so the artwork is approved before bulk finishes.
Ship it
Choose a shipping mode, plan the container or consolidation, and pick the Incoterm that defines who books, pays and carries the risk on each leg of the journey.
Clear customs & comply
At the border you need the right codes, documents and market certificates. Plan these early — US and EU/UK rules differ, and the compliance paperwork is the importer's responsibility.
Reorder & avoid the common traps
A good first order becomes a repeatable one through version control. Close the loop by learning the mistakes other buyers make so you can sidestep them from the start.
Bring your concept, artwork and target market.
When you've worked through the stages that apply, send your brief with artwork, target size, quantity range, packaging expectation and market. We'll review it against a realistic production route.