What factory-direct actually looks like in practice.
Real results from real sourcing projects. Client names are withheld by agreement, but the numbers and outcomes are real. This is what changes when you remove the middlemen.
Apparel brand scaled from €2M to 8-figure revenue
A performance apparel brand needed to cut unit costs to fund growth. We moved sourcing from UK-based importing agents to factory-direct from Guangzhou and Foshan, restructured the supplier base, and built in pre-shipment QC as standard.
Client identity withheld at their request.
Results
- Cut landed cost per unit by 43% vs previous supply chain
- Supplier base consolidated from 7 to 3 primary factories
- QC rejection rate dropped from 8% to under 1%
- Brand grew to 8-figure annual revenue over 4 years
Hotel chain full fit-out at 45% under Irish wholesale cost
A hotel group fitting out three new properties in Ireland needed furniture, lighting, ceramics, and FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment). All categories were priced against Irish and UK supply. Factory-direct from Foshan (furniture + ceramics) and Zhongshan (lighting) came in 45% under the best Irish wholesale quote.
Total project value: €800,000+. Client identity withheld.
Results
- 45% below Irish wholesale across all FF&E categories
- CE compliance verified across all products before shipment
- Full container delivery coordinated to site, no Irish importer middleman
- Project delivered on schedule across all three properties
Electronics retailer cut landed cost by 52%
A specialist electronics retailer was buying through an Irish importer who sourced via Alibaba trading companies. We identified the actual manufacturer in Shenzhen, negotiated directly, and reduced the supply chain from 4 layers to 1.
Category: consumer electronics accessories. Client identity withheld.
Results
- 52% reduction in landed cost vs previous supply chain
- Lead times reduced by 8 days on average
- Fake CE documentation identified and replaced with legitimate certification
- Order volume increased 3x as margins improved
Construction contractor sourced structural materials, CE compliant, at 38% below quoted UK price
A fit-out contractor needed aluminium profiles, sanitaryware, and commercial lighting for a large commercial fit-out. All products required CE marking and product compliance documentation. We sourced direct from Henan (aluminium), Foshan (sanitaryware), and Zhongshan (commercial lighting), with full compliance documentation provided before delivery.
Project size: €220,000. Client identity withheld.
Results
- 38% below best UK supply quote, landed in Ireland
- All products supplied with valid CE and EU Declaration of Conformity
- NSAI-format compliance documentation provided for each product category
- Delivered on a phased schedule matching site programme
What clients say, not what we say about ourselves.
Noel helped us source a large shredder to recycle mattresses. He visited and verified the factory, gave us a walkaround of the production area over WhatsApp, checked the shredder before shipping and also helped us with the shipment to Ireland. It was great to have an Irish person on the ground to explain things to.
M. Byrne Mattress recycling · Co. Longford, Ireland
We've been working with Ériu and Noel for a number of years now to source building materials for large commercial and residential projects here in Australia. I visit China twice a year to see the factories, and besides that Noel and his team look after everything else all year round. Highly recommended.
George S. Building materials importer · Sydney, Australia
The Ériu team helped us find three manufacturers to trial for our specific product packaging, then shipped us samples by DHL. They also had the packaging tested at a lab to make sure it was really up to the job. We've since enlisted their help finding sustainable shipping packaging to add to our products' eco credentials.
Ben Personal care brand · Co. Wicklow, Ireland
I've been working with Noel and his team for 13 years on a variety of projects, including large promotional goods orders and custom metal moulds. They are exceptionally professional, and when I visited them in China they helped arrange everything, the visas, hotel bookings and a car to drive us around and show us different suppliers' factories.
Gerry D. Promotional goods & custom manufacturing · Co. Galway, Ireland
Before Brexit we were buying our high-end bathrooms from wholesalers in the UK, but then needed to shift our supply base. Ériu helped us find some amazing products at 30–40% less than we had previously been paying, and helped with every step including the shipping by sea to Ireland. Great company to work with.
Andy D. Bathroom retailer · Limerick City, Ireland
When we were looking to import sofas directly from China to Ireland, a friend recommended Ériu Sourcing. It's great to work with another Irish person on the ground in China who understands what we need, can convey that exactly to the factory, and then QC-checks everything before shipping. They even helped us get our branding on the large sofa boxes at no extra cost.
Fiona B. Furniture retailer · Midlands, Ireland
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