How Do You Move From China-Direct Shipping to US Fulfillment?
Key Takeaways
Moving from China-direct shipping to US fulfillment means importing inventory before customers order, then shipping those orders from a US warehouse. Manifest supports growing ecommerce brands making that move. Start with the products you can fund and sell, assign freight and customs responsibilities, and prepare inventory for warehouse receiving.
Which US 3PLs work with brands sourcing products from China?
Manifest works with growing ecommerce brands choosing their first US fulfillment partner, including brands sourcing products from China.
We handle DTC and retail fulfillment from San Marcos, Texas. Your account manager works in the warehouse with the team receiving, picking and packing your products. When an inbound shipment needs attention, they can get to the people handling it.
Choosing a US warehouse also means deciding how your manufacturer will prepare inventory and who will get it there. We can walk through our receiving requirements and introduce a freight partner if you need help. Freight and customs arrangements are agreed separately.
Our ecommerce and retail fulfillment services give you a starting point for discussing your products, sales channels and packing requirements.
When is your brand ready to hold inventory in the US?
You’re ready to hold inventory in the US when delivery times are hurting the customer experience and you can fund stock before it sells.
With China-direct shipping, the international journey happens after the customer places an order. Holding stock in the US moves that journey earlier. Once products are received and available, customer orders can leave from the US warehouse.
The cash commitment changes too. You need money for the inventory and its journey into the warehouse before those units generate sales. You still need enough cash to buy and hold that inventory.
Start with these questions:
- Demand: Which products sell consistently, and which depend on launches or promotions?
- Funding: Can you cover the stock purchase, inbound shipment and warehouse charges while products wait to sell?
- Replenishment: How long does another production run and shipment take, including receiving?
We want that conversation to include where your brand is headed. Order volume helps us understand the work, but it does not explain your catalog, cash position or growth by itself.
What changes in your fulfillment budget when you stock in the US?
A US inventory budget includes the cost of bringing stock into the country, holding it and fulfilling individual customer orders.
Compare the same products and customer destinations under both setups. Include freight, import charges, receiving and storage alongside the cost of shipping each order. Ask who bills each charge and when payment is due.
A lower domestic parcel rate alone cannot tell you whether the move improves your margins. The inventory purchase and replenishment schedule also affect how much cash the business needs.
At Manifest, we explain outbound costs through shipping, order fees, additional picks and packaging, with other services identified separately. Our guide to comparing 3PL fulfillment quotes walks through that comparison without mixing different order profiles.
Who handles freight and customs before stock reaches the warehouse?
Your agreements with the supplier, transport providers and customs broker determine who handles freight and customs. You also have responsibilities as the importer.
A manufacturer may already have a freight relationship. Before relying on it, get the scope in writing: where transport starts and ends, who supplies documents and who arranges delivery to the warehouse.
According to the USITC customs broker guidance, importers remain responsible for compliance even when they use a broker. Ask those parties to confirm the requirements for your products and shipment.
Our warehouse receiving requirements are a separate part of that preparation. A freight booking does not mean the warehouse has an appointment, the required product records or the information needed to receive your stock.
What should your manufacturer prepare for a US fulfillment warehouse?
Your manufacturer needs the warehouse’s current instructions for unit barcodes, carton identification and shipment preparation before packing the inventory.
Get those instructions while the products are still at the factory. Fixing a missing label there can avoid sending the same problem into warehouse receiving.
- Match products to records. Check SKU names, variants and barcodes against the units being shipped.
- Prepare scannable units. Confirm the barcode format with the warehouse and share approved labeling instructions with the manufacturer.
- Describe the inbound shipment. Record the products, quantities and boxes so the receiving team knows what to expect.
- Coordinate arrival. Share the current receiving instructions with whoever arranges warehouse delivery.
According to GS1 US barcoding guidance, a GTIN identifies a product and can be encoded in a barcode. Confirm which identifiers your fulfillment provider accepts before printing labels.
At Manifest, inbound preparation includes a digital purchase order in ShipHero and product-level barcodes. The shipping plan generates carton labels for the manufacturer. Ask our team for current instructions before sending inventory, particularly if your factory has been shipping individual customer orders until now.
When can your store start sending orders to the US warehouse?
Your store can start sending orders once the warehouse confirms the stock is available and the agreed product, packing and system checks are complete.
An arrival date tells you when a shipment reaches the building. Receiving still has to confirm what can be fulfilled. Agree on the launch conditions before promising customers a new shipping timeframe.
For Shopify brands, Shopify’s inventory location guidance explains that quantities are tracked separately by location. Order routing and shipping profiles affect which location fulfills an order.
Check a standard order, any special packing instructions and the tracking information returned to your store. If you are also replacing an existing warehouse, our guide to switching 3PL providers covers open orders and the responsibilities of both providers.
Frequently asked questions
Can a manufacturer send inventory directly to Manifest?
A manufacturer can prepare an inbound shipment for Manifest using our current receiving instructions. The products need the required records and barcodes, and the shipment needs compliant preparation. Confirm freight, customs arrangements and warehouse delivery requirements before the shipment leaves.
Can a brand keep some products shipping from China?
A brand can keep some products in its existing fulfillment setup while stocking others in the US. For Shopify stores, products can be assigned to multiple locations or fulfillment apps, with separate inventory quantities. Check routing and shipping profiles so each order goes to the location that can fulfill it.
Can China-sourced products use custom packaging at a US 3PL?
Manifest accepts approved custom or customer-supplied packaging. Share the materials and packing instructions before sending them, and ask how storage, inserts or assembly will be priced. Include those requirements when comparing your current setup with US fulfillment.
Does holding inventory in the US guarantee cheaper shipping?
Holding inventory in the US does not guarantee a lower total fulfillment cost. Domestic parcel rates are one part of the comparison; inbound freight, import charges, storage and warehouse work also affect the budget. Price the same order mix under both setups before deciding.
Talk through your first US inventory shipment
Bring your product list, recent order mix and the shipping experience you want US customers to have. We’ll discuss fulfillment from our warehouse in San Marcos, Texas, the preparation your manufacturer needs and the information required for a quote.
