What overseas buyers check before they reply to a garment supplier
Before an overseas buyer answers your email, they usually look you up. Sourcing guides describe a consistent set of checks. This page lists them and shows what a factory website can put in front of the buyer to make each one easy. A website cannot replace an audit or a good sample, but it can stop a buyer giving up before they reach them.
What sourcing guides tell buyers to check
Two sourcing guides, from SourceReady and Dress Merchant, give buyers vetting steps for Bangladeshi suppliers. The Ready-Made Sustainability Council (RSC) publishes its own factory list. We combined them below. All of them are written for buyers, and Dress Merchant is itself a sourcing agent, so treat the advice as a starting point.
| What the buyer checks | What buyers are told to do | What your website can show |
|---|---|---|
| Business papers | Confirm a valid trade licence, tax ID (TIN) and export permits. | Your registered company name, licence and TIN details exactly as on the documents, and your full address. |
| Certificates | Cross-check each certificate (WRAP, BSCI, OEKO-TEX, GOTS and ISO are named) with the body that issued it. Altered certificates are a red flag. | For each certificate: the issuing body, the certificate number and the validity dates, so a buyer can check it themselves. |
| Building and fire safety | The RSC publishes a list of the factories it covers, with their remediation status. | Whether you are covered by the RSC, with your factory name as it appears on that list. |
| Independent audits | Ask for recent third-party audit reports, for example from SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas, and see whether the factory fixes what an audit finds. | Which audits you hold and their dates, and that the reports are available on request. |
| Factory or middleman | Ask for a live factory tour rather than a recorded one. | Real photos of the floor, your address and map location, and an offer of a live video tour. |
| Capacity and lead times | Ask about monthly output, lead times and flexibility in peak season. | Your real capacity range and product categories. Only numbers you can stand behind. |
| References and past work | Ask for current and past clients who can comment, and look at examples of past work. | Product categories and, where a client has agreed, who you make for. |
| Samples | Request pre-production, size-set and top-of-production samples. Good factories supply them readily. | How to request a sample and how long one takes. |
| Quote clarity | Expect an itemised quote covering fabric, trims, packaging and testing, plus the Incoterm. | An enquiry form that asks for the details you need to quote (see the list below). |
| Responsiveness | Notice how quickly and clearly a supplier replies. | A stated reply time, and a form or WhatsApp number that actually works. |
Where buyers look for suppliers
SourceReady points buyers to the BGMEA and BKMEA member directories as places to find suppliers. Keep your listing there consistent with your website: the same name, address and certificate details everywhere.
Red flags buyers are told to watch for
- Missing or unverifiable licences, or weak tax documentation.
- No audit reports, or an unwillingness to fix problems an audit finds.
- Samples that differ in stitching, sizing or finishing.
- Vague answers about quality standards or delivery terms.
- No client references and no examples of past work.
- Capacity that looks too small for the order.
In our view, a phrase like “best quality” on a website adds nothing for a buyer who is checking. A certificate number they can look up does.
What a good enquiry form asks for
An RFQ (request for quotation) is usually the buyer’s first message. A form that collects the details up front saves a round of emails. These are the fields we suggest:
- Product and style, with a photo or tech pack attached.
- Quantity per style and colour.
- Fabric and weight (GSM), if known.
- Size range.
- Target price and the Incoterm, for example FOB.
- Required delivery date.
- Destination country.
- Company name, contact person, email and phone.
Our exporter website package includes an RFQ form that accepts attachments and sends each enquiry to you by email. Terms such as RFQ, FOB and tech pack are explained in the glossary.
What a website cannot do
A website cannot replace an audit, a certificate or a good sample. What it can do is make your real evidence easy to find and check. We built one for Sleek Apparels, the garment company our founder runs. See our work and the exporter website package.
Written and reviewed by Kh Raj Rahman.
Common questions
Do overseas buyers really check a supplier’s website?
Sourcing guides advise buyers to verify licences, certificates and audits, and a website is a natural first place to look for them. We have no survey data on how often buyers do this, so we do not claim a figure.
Which certificates should I show?
Only the ones you hold. For each, show the issuing body, the certificate number and the validity dates, so a buyer can verify it with the issuer.
Should I show customer names?
Only with the customer’s agreement. If a client has not agreed, show product categories instead.
Does a website replace an audit?
No. Buyers still rely on independent audits, samples and references. A website makes that evidence easier to find.
How much does an exporter website cost?
Our exporter website package is listed at ৳80,000 (pilot price), excluding VAT, and takes about 14 days. The pricing page shows what it includes.
Sources
Facts and prices from other organisations were checked on 16 October 2026. Prices change, so check the source before you rely on a number.
Kh Raj RahmanFounder. You talk to me directly.Tell us about your business
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Last updated: 19 October 2026
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