Find the right factory
We shortlist suppliers against your specification, quantity, budget and deadline.
China sourcing, freight & customs
Your China order, handled through to the UK door.
One point of contact from supplier quote to delivery.
Send us the product details or supplier quote. We will check the terms, organise the right shipping route and keep you updated until the goods reach their UK destination.
- Direct contact throughout
- Sea, air and courier compared
- Customs and UK delivery arranged
Product sourcing
Supplier negotiation
Shipping & customs
Final UK delivery
Quality control inspection
UK warehouse handover
Door-to-door planning
Product sourcing
Supplier negotiation
Shipping & customs
Final UK delivery
Quality control inspection
UK warehouse handover
Door-to-door planning
About Bridgeway
We coordinate the people and paperwork behind your import.
Importing from China often means chasing a factory, freight agent, customs broker and delivery company separately. Bridgeway brings those handovers together, so you know who is doing what and what needs your approval.
We can join at the start to find and negotiate with suppliers, or step in when your goods are ready to ship. Either way, we check the details before they become expensive problems.
- Before payment - review the quote, MOQ, lead time and payment stages.
- Before shipping - confirm cartons, labels, documents and the shipping route.
- Before arrival - prepare customs clearance and the final UK delivery.
What we handle
Four stages. One coordinated route.
Use Bridgeway for one stage, or ask us to coordinate the full route from China to your UK address.
Negotiate the order
We clarify MOQ, samples, packaging, payment stages and responsibilities before you commit.
Move goods by sea or air
We compare sea, air and courier options, then prepare the shipment for collection.
Clear and deliver in the UK
We support clearance and arrange delivery to your address, warehouse or fulfilment partner.
Import readiness checklist
Send what you have. We will help fill the gaps.
A supplier link, quotation or packing list is enough to start. These six details help us give you a useful first reply.
Send what you already haveSupplier status and terms
Do you already have a supplier, quotation, proforma invoice, Alibaba link or agreed payment terms?
Incoterm and handover point
EXW, FOB, CIF or DDP changes who pays for pickup, export, freight and UK costs.
Carton, pallet or CBM estimate
Weight, dimensions and carton count decide whether sea, air or express makes sense.
UK destination
Warehouse, shop, fulfilment centre, 3PL or business address affects prep, labels and delivery.
QC risk
If defects, labels or packaging matter, inspection should happen before balance payment.
Selling deadline
Launch date, stock-out risk or seasonal timing decides how aggressive the route should be.
Our services
Choose the support you need, or let us manage the full route.
Some clients need help finding a factory. Others already have goods ready and only need freight, customs and delivery. Bridgeway can step in at one stage or coordinate the whole journey.
Full support
End-to-end import management
Factory sourcing, supplier negotiation, shipping, customs clearance and final UK delivery managed as one connected process.
Best forBusinesses that want one partner to coordinate the route from China to the UK address.
China product sourcing
Identify suitable Chinese manufacturers, compare supplier responses and shortlist options matched to the product, quantity and budget.
Best forFirst-time importers, retailers and growing e-commerce brands comparing factories before placing an order.
Read sourcing page
Supplier negotiation & verification
Price, payment terms, lead time, samples, packaging requirements and order responsibilities clarified before the client commits.
Best forBuyers who found a supplier online but want stronger terms and another layer of due diligence.
Read negotiation page
China to UK shipping
Sea freight, air freight and express courier options compared around the shipment size, urgency, product type and target budget.
Best forImporters comparing carton, pallet, CBM, LCL, FCL, air or courier routes.
Read shipping page
UK customs clearance
Commercial invoice, packing list, commodity code questions, duty/VAT assumptions and customs paperwork prepared for UK arrival.
Best forBusinesses with goods already produced and shipping details ready to confirm.
Read customs pageFinal UK delivery
Goods can be delivered to a business address, warehouse, retail site, 3PL or fulfilment partner after clearance.
Best forClients who want the shipment handed over properly once it reaches the UK.
Read delivery page Get a quoteHow it works
From your first message to final delivery.
- 01
Brief
Share the product, supplier details, target price, deadline and UK delivery point.
- 02
Source
We find or compare suitable factories and turn supplier replies into clear options.
- 03
Negotiate
Price, MOQ, samples, packaging, payment stages and readiness checks are clarified.
- 04
Ship
Sea, air or courier options are planned around cost, timing and shipment size.
- 05
Clear
UK customs paperwork, duty and VAT assumptions are prepared before arrival.
- 06
Deliver
Goods are delivered to your address, warehouse, shop, 3PL or fulfilment route.
Before / after
The difference is in the handovers.
Most import delays happen during handovers. We coordinate the factory release, freight booking, customs clearance and final delivery so nothing is left waiting between companies.
When nobody owns the full route
- Supplier says FOB, buyer assumes delivery to the UK is included.
- Inspection happens too late, after the balance has already been paid.
- Duty, VAT and delivery costs appear after the goods are already moving.
- Carton labels, pallet labels or warehouse prep have to be fixed in the UK.
With Bridgeway involved
- Terms, handover point and supplier responsibilities are negotiated and clarified early.
- QC photos and packaging checks happen before shipment release.
- Import cost assumptions are itemised before the client commits.
- UK delivery, storage or fulfilment handover is planned before the goods land.
FOB, EXW or DDP?
Know exactly what your supplier quote includes.
EXW, FOB and DDP change who pays for each part of the journey. We check the term before you approve the order.
Factory door pricing
The supplier makes goods available at the factory. The buyer usually needs to arrange pickup, export handling, freight, UK customs and delivery.
Watch out forLocal pickup fees, export docs, factory loading limits and unclear carton readiness.
Port handover pricing
The supplier gets goods to the Chinese port and export-cleared. The buyer still needs freight, insurance, UK customs, duty/VAT and final delivery planned.
Best fit forGrowing importers who want supplier responsibility in China but proper control from port to UK handover.
Delivered pricing
A single delivered quote can be convenient, but the buyer should still know who imports the goods, what is declared and whether VAT records are usable.
Watch out forLow quotes, unclear importer-of-record arrangements, missing duty/VAT visibility and limited shipment control.
Why Bridgeway
Practical negotiation and checks before goods move.
Factory updates you can act on
We turn supplier messages into the decisions you need to make: sample approval, price changes, packaging, payment timing and collection readiness.
Costs explained before commitment
Freight, duty, VAT, insurance, warehouse handling and delivery are separated, so you know what the quoted price covers.
Quote requests become import briefs
The enquiry flow asks for product type, supplier location, cartons, pallets, CBM, deadline and delivery needs, which makes the first reply more useful.
How we keep track
You get more than a freight price.
Each shipment has a working file for approvals, checks, documents and handover notes. You can see what is done and what needs a decision.
What is approved, what is pending and what still needs a decision.
Supplier readiness, QC issues, shipping docs and UK delivery status.
Shipment file
In review
BW-UK-0427 / Shenzhen to Manchester
Supplier and order notes
Factory contact, product spec, agreed packaging, deposit/balance timing and origin city.
QC checkpoint
Photos for product finish, carton marks, labels, visible defects and supplier fixes.
Landed-cost breakdown
Freight option, insurance, duty/VAT assumptions, warehouse handling and final delivery.
UK handover plan
Delivery address, warehouse prep, pallet notes, courier booking or Manchester storage route.
Example shipment
A typical China to UK shipment.
This is an example of the kind of route Bridgeway can coordinate for a UK business buying from a Chinese supplier.
Factory in Ningbo to a UK business address
A UK retailer has found a supplier but is unsure whether the quote includes the right shipping terms, which costs will appear in the UK, and whether the cartons are ready for final delivery.
Bridgeway checks
- Supplier quotation, incoterm and payment stages
- Carton count, gross weight, dimensions and packing list
- Sea freight versus air freight timing and cost
- Customs paperwork, duty/VAT assumptions and delivery route
Client receives
- A clearer landed-cost view before approving shipment
- A practical shipping route based on deadline and budget
- Customs support before the goods reach the UK
- Final delivery arranged to the chosen UK address
Common import problems
Import problems this service is built to prevent.
Clear examples help buyers recognise their own risk before they ask for a quote.
The supplier says the goods are ready, but nobody has checked them.
A pre-shipment QC checkpoint catches packaging mistakes, visible defects, label issues and carton mark problems before the shipment leaves China.
Relevant service: Quality control inspectionThe quote looks cheap until duty, VAT and UK delivery arrive later.
A landed-cost breakdown gives the buyer a more realistic view before committing to production, shipping method or delivery route.
Relevant service: Shipping and customs clearanceStock lands in the UK but is not ready for the next handover.
Warehouse handling, relabelling, pallet checks and onward delivery preparation can be arranged before arrival, instead of becoming an emergency later.
Relevant service: Warehousing and fulfilmentQuestions we are often asked
Clear answers before you send the first enquiry.
If the details are still rough, that is fine. Bridgeway can usually start by reviewing what you already have.
Can you help if I already have a supplier?
Yes. Send the quotation, proforma invoice, Alibaba link or supplier details. We can review the terms, ask practical questions and help plan the shipment.
Can you find a factory for a new product?
Yes. We can help search for suitable manufacturers, compare replies and narrow the options based on product specification, quantity, price and lead time.
Do you arrange both sea freight and air freight?
Yes. The route depends on shipment size, urgency, product type and budget. We can compare sea, air and courier options before the client decides.
Can you help with UK customs clearance?
Yes. We can support the customs clearance process, review documents and help make duty, VAT and declaration requirements visible before arrival.
Can goods be delivered to my own address?
Yes. Once the goods are cleared, delivery can be arranged to a UK business address, warehouse, retail site, 3PL or fulfilment partner.
What information should I send first?
Product details, supplier quote, carton quantity, weight, dimensions, incoterm, goods ready date and UK delivery address are the most useful starting points.
Get started
Send an import brief, not a vague enquiry.
Send the details you already have and we will reply with the next steps.