How does material sourcing work?
From your plans to materials on site in around 12 to 14 weeks, with one local contact the whole way.
Step by step
From plans to site
- 01
Tell us what you need
Send your drawings, finishes schedule or spec sheet, and the date you need it on site. A photo reference is fine if you are not that far along. We tell you what we can source and whether it stacks up for your job.
- 02
Factories and samples
We shortlist factories we have visited and vetted, and get samples to Sydney so you can see and approve the product before any order is placed.
- 03
Quote and shop drawings
You get a quote that shows what the factory charges and what we charge. For custom items like windows and joinery, the factory draws them up and we check every detail with you before sign-off.
- 04
Production
Production starts once the drawings are signed and the deposit is paid. We get the lead time in writing and keep you posted.
- 05
Inspection before it ships
We check quality, quantities, labelling and packaging at the factory. If it fails, it does not ship, and the factory remakes it at their cost.
- 06
Freight and customs
Sea freight from Shenzhen to Sydney takes around 15 to 18 days. A customs broker clears it, and every shipment is insured in transit.
- 07
Delivered to site
Delivered to your site, or stored until you are ready, with the compliance paperwork your certifier needs.
Two ways to work with us
Pick how much you want to handle yourself
Sourcing Service
You buy it, we do the legwork.
You are the buyer and the importer. We charge a fixed fee for each stage, paid up front, and you can stop after any stage: sourcing and quotes, then design and shop drawings, then order, production and delivery coordination.
You pay the factory, freight, duty and GST directly, and you need an ABN. Suits builders who already import or have the volume to.
Supply
We import it, you buy it from us.
LEDS Sourcing is the importer. You buy on an Australian tax invoice, delivered to site, with one landed price including freight, duty and GST. We charge a percentage on the landed cost, shown as its own line on the quote.
No import licence, customs broker or ABF account needed. Suits owner-builders and smaller builders who want it to just turn up.
Timing
Plan it into the build program
On a build, a late delivery can cost more than any saving on the materials, so we plan imports like any other trade. We start from the day the material has to be on site and work back through clearance, freight, inspection and production to the date drawings must be signed.
Two things to allow for: Chinese New Year, when factories slow down for several weeks, and the biosecurity season from September to April, when some cargo from China gets extra inspections.
Paperwork
Compliance comes with the shipment
- Windows and doors
- AS 2047 test reports and safety glazing certificates
- Tapware and plumbing
- WaterMark certification and WELS ratings
- Lighting and electrical
- RCM marking for products sold in Australia
- Cladding and decking
- NCC compliance and BAL ratings for bushfire areas
- Everything
- Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and customs entry
We check each certificate covers the exact model and finish you ordered, not just the range.
Questions
Sourcing questions
How long does sourcing take from start to finish?
Allow 12 to 14 weeks from deposit to delivery on site. Sea freight is the short part; sampling, drawings and production take the time. Fully custom joinery can run longer, so bring us in at the planning stage, not when you are framed and waiting.
When should I get LEDS Sourcing involved?
As early as you can: ideally when you have drawings or a finishes schedule, before the build program is locked in. We work back from the date the material is needed on site to tell you when drawings need to be signed.
What happens around Chinese New Year?
Factories get busy in December and January and slow down before and after the holiday, which falls on 6 February in 2027. If you need goods in February or March, we plan production to finish before the break or start after it.
Do I see what the factory charged?
Yes. Under both ways of working, the quote shows the factory price and our fee separately. Nothing is hidden in the product price.
What if something arrives damaged?
Every shipment is insured in transit and we handle the claim. You don't pay for product that doesn't match what you ordered.
