In pictures
In this article
Short answer: these questions are not paperwork for its own sake. The port sets the freight. The packing sets the carton cost and how many pieces fit in a container. The labels set a material cost and a lead time. Without them, a supplier can only guess, and a guess gets revised later.
What each question is for
| Question | What it changes | If you don't know yet |
|---|---|---|
| Destination port | Freight, transit time, which duty rules apply | Give the country and nearest city |
| Incoterm (FOB, CIF, DDP) | What the price includes | Ask for FOB and CIF side by side |
| Packing (bale, polybag, box) | Carton cost and container fill | Say how the goods will be used: hotel store or retail shelf |
| Carton marks | Printing, and how your warehouse receives goods | Say "supplier standard" |
| Labels (woven, printed, care) | Label cost, and one to two weeks if custom | Say "plain care label" for now |
| Embroidery or logo | Cost per piece and a setup step | Send the logo, even as a photo |
Port
Freight to Jebel Ali is not freight to Felixstowe. The port also tells us which trade agreement might apply and which documents your customs will want. We ship from Cochin or Vizhinjam in Kerala.
Packing
For hotels, towels packed in bales or plain cartons are the cheapest and fill a container best. Retail buyers need individual bags or bands, barcodes and inner cartons. The difference can be several percent of the price. The packing and labelling guide shows each level.
Carton marks
Marks are what is printed on the outside of each carton: your name, order number, contents, carton number, weight. Warehouses and customs both rely on them. Amazon and large retailers have their own rules.
Labels
A sewn-in label must carry fibre content and care instructions in most markets, and the language depends on where you sell. See the textile label guide. Custom woven labels have to be made before stitching starts, so late artwork delays the whole order.
A quote request that gets a firm price
Send these in one email:
- Product, size, GSM or thread count, colour
- Quantity, and a second quantity if you might grow
- Destination country and port
- Use: hotel, laundry, retail or online
- Labels and logo, if any
- The date you need the goods
Our RFQ template lays this out. Or fill in the quote form and we'll ask only for what is missing.
Share this article
Want pricing on what you just read?
Leave your work email — our export desk replies with specs, MOQ and a quote within 1 business day.
Written by
Dr Abin Babu
Founder & Chairman, Anabyn Global Ventures
Anabyn exports hotel and home linen from Kerala, India. These guides come from the questions buyers ask our desk. About the team
Ready to Order?
Send us your specification. We reply within one business day and send a priced quote within 48 hours.
Request an Export QuoteWhere to go next