Ensuring Quality: How We Select Suppliers and Choose Products For You

Julia: Lina, how do you choose suppliers?

Lina: Choosing the best suppliers requires a multi-layered approach. I use both online and offline platforms. I also gained invaluable insights by visiting renowned exhibitions. Most recently, I visited the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, which spans four football fields and includes a massive four-story exhibition complex. These visits allowed me to forge partnerships with industry-leading manufacturers.

Julia: How do you ensure a supplier is reliable and can fulfill commitments to our clients?

Lina: Reliability is extremely important to our supplier relationships. We carefully vet potential partners, checking their credentials, longevity, licences, and their adherence to industry standards. Certifications, product reviews, and personal audits of manufacturing facilities are crucial for the reliability of all products we select.

Julia: What qualities should a supplier have to work with us?

Lina: 

1. Quality and cost of the product: I compare several offers from different suppliers, and if the price differs from the average on the market, I find out why the price is lower. Typically, this is due to the remoteness of the production itself from major cities, which reduces main expenses.

2. Production and storage capacities: Production must undoubtedly be high-tech. Capacities should allow the uninterrupted and timely provision of products. Production culture and attitude to human labour are vital. I visit the factory and personally check all this. Quality control, the presence of a showroom, and how the product is packaged (the condition of how the product is delivered to the client is very important to us). It should arrive in a beautiful, fresh package that is not crumbled.

3. Customer orientation and flexibility: We should be able to make their own changes, such as pergola heights, labelling, and compliance with certain requirements. Delivery times are also very important for us. First and foremost, I negotiate directly with the factory. This allows me to move us up in the queue, ahead of other companies, by a week or two before the products reach our customers as quickly as possible.

4. Communication: How easy it is to establish communication, providing quick feedback and the necessary information.

Julia: Really interesting, Lina! How do you check the quality of pergolas?

Lina: The pergolas I select undergo a rigorous scrutiny process, including documentation reviews, technical specs, and weather-resistance tests. They also undergo on-site measurements and production inspections, during which I personally check for compliance with the relevant characteristics. Most importantly, our pergolas are tested and engineered to withstand the harsh England climate, which means improved safety and lower maintenance costs for our customers. Moreover, In addition, our pergolas stand out for their durability and stability among the many available options — the aluminium is 30% thicker, and the pillar is 20% wider, making them more reliable.

Julia: What about Kamado grills?

Lina: The selection process goes beyond reviewing specifications. It involves real-world, extreme testing for durability and heat resistance. I carefully choose the highest-quality product.

After selecting a supplier, I initiate an extreme test—a real trial by fire and water at their factory. This test includes a practical grilling session immediately followed by a water douse to evaluate the grill's resistance to thermal shock. A grill's ability to withstand this test without showing signs of damage, such as cracks or bursts, is crucial.

It's this rigorous evaluation that convinces me of a grill's durability and reliability, making me confident in offering these products to our customers, knowing they can withstand anything.

Julia: Anything else you check in Kamado grills?

Lina: Yes, absolutely! Our scrutiny extends beyond product quality, covering every aspect of the shipping process, including how our chosen suppliers manage transportation.

For instance, I witnessed their packing process for a batch. They don’t just pack and ship. Instead, every 10-15 grills, one is randomly selected for a thorough check. This involves unpacking, fully assembling the grill to ensure all parts meet quality standards, and then disassembling it once confirmed. It's all carefully repacked afterward. 

This method highlights our suppliers' attention to detail and our commitment to ensuring the product's quality from manufacture, to the customer's doorstep.

Julia: We also have furniture sets. What do you look for there?

Lina: Garden furniture must be resistant to liquids and dirt and not fade or fray. When selecting goods for our assortment, I personally test them by pouring liquid on them and trying to damage them. I also look at samples that have been deliberately left in the sun for a long time to check for fading. Only undamaged products from these assessments are selected for our supply chain. 

Julia: Great! I won't ask about our entire range. Last question: how do you generally select our product range?

Lina: Excellent question. First, we listen to our customers and respond to their requests for specific products. Based on customer feedback, we stockpile diverse products that balance quality with affordability. Our products reflect our promise to bring the best experience for our British customers. 

Secondly, we track trends to offer modern solutions that meet our customers’ needs. As stated on our website, our company's goal is to rethink the traditional way of buying expensive items and make them accessible to most people.

Julia – Lina, thank you for such a detailed story!

Lina: You're welcome!

If you want to see how we select our products and get a personal look at our factory tours, follow us on YouTube and Facebook.