The rug manufacturer checklist: how to vet any supplier in India

This checklist is published by Raheem & Son, which is included. It is an ordering aid, not a ranking: it does not score or name any other company. Use it on every supplier you speak to, us first if you like, and judge the answers yourself.

• Ask whether they own or directly manage the looms, or buy from others. Both models exist; you should know which one you are dealing with.
• Ask for the name and address of the business, and verify it independently.
• Ask how long they have traded. Raheem & Son was founded in 1927 in Bhadohi and is now in its fourth generation.
• See carpet manufacturer in Bhadohi for how to tell a manufacturer from an agent.

• Ask for the minimum order per design, colour and size, in writing.
• Ask what a sample costs, how long it takes, and whether the cost is credited against an order.
• Ours: minimum order 1 piece, sampling cost credited against your order, sampling in 5 to 20 days. See the rug sampling process.

• Ask at which stages pieces are inspected and what they are checked against.
• Ask for the size tolerance and have it written into the order.
• Ask whether you can inspect or visit during production.
• Typical ranges we use are on rug specifications.

Ask whether an NDA is signed before you share designs, and who bears any cost. We sign a non-disclosure agreement as standard, before designs are shared, at no cost. Also ask whether your design will ever be offered to other buyers.

• Registration. Ask for registration and membership documents and check them with the issuing body. Raheem & Son is registered with the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), which is our only standing affiliation.
• Certifications. If a supplier claims a certificate, ask for the certificate number and the issuer, and check it. A certificate covers a defined scope and period; ask what it covers. We make no certification claim beyond CEPC registration.
• Samples and past work. Ask for a physical sample of the construction you want. A photograph alone does not show handle or finish.

• Ask for lead times by stage. Ours: bulk production 8 to 16 weeks from sample approval. See how to order.
• Ask which Incoterms they work to and who handles export documents.
• Ask for payment terms in writing before you sample. Ours are 50% advance and 50% before dispatch.
• Be cautious of any quote that is far below others without an explanation of what is different.

If you are launching a label, read how to start a rug brand. Online sellers should see private label rugs for online sellers. For a wider view, see the criteria for comparing rug exporters, wholesale rugs and OEM and private label. To go further, see how to choose a rug manufacturer and how to tell a manufacturer from a trader.

Core references: OEM and private label, rug specifications, how to order, wholesale rugs and the sample program.

See also: How to start a rug brand · Rug sampling process · Private label rugs for online sellers · OEM and private label · Rug specifications · How to order · Wholesale rugs · Sample program