A few days ago, a customer asked me this question while we were exploring the furniture wholesale markets: “Why don’t you take us directly to the factories?”
To be honest, I felt offended.
I had been helping him wholeheartedly with my expertise and experience in the markets, knowing where it is, where is most possible to get a good deal, in return for such a question.
The story is:
He asked me to meet him at Louvre Furnishings Mall and never asked me to guide him to factories.
And he is only to buy a sofa, a bed, a small kitchen cabinet etc.
And I took him to the right markets immediately after knowing his request.
This alone has saved him a day’s time.
And to be honest with you, you wouldn’t find the right place to buy all these all by yourself in a day or two because they’re located at different places.
Know that we spend months each year exploring the markets and sourcing products for different furniture customers and it takes time to know about the ins and outs of the furniture industry.
And even that, I would still say that furniture markets are best for him, not factories.
I understand that everyone wants to save money buying from China, I truely understand.
And people think factories are cheaper and markets are more expensive, but it’s not always true.
The right answer depends on what kind of buyer you are and how much you plan to purchase.
For Retail Buyers or Homeowners (Buying a Few Pieces)
If you’re furnishing your home or buying a few sets of furniture, the furniture markets are your best choice.
Here’s why:
- All in one place: Foshan has the largest furniture markets in China, with hundreds of showrooms covering every style — modern, classic, minimalist, European, etc. You can compare many designs and prices within the same building.
- Ready stock and quick delivery: Many market showrooms have ready-to-ship furniture, so you don’t need to wait for production.
- Factory-backed showrooms: Most of these market showrooms are owned or directly authorized by factories, so the prices and quality are still from the factory source.
- Time-efficient: You can see 50–100 factories’ products in one day just by visiting the markets — instead of driving around to each factory separately, which is time consuming and most of the time, you’re just wasting time and money on travel.
👉 In short: for smaller orders, furniture markets save you time, energy, and cost while still getting factory-level quality.
Imagine you’re buying only 2-3 beds, a sofa, coffee table, dining tables and chairs, and you want to buy directly from factories, this is what it will be like:
We meet at your hotel or the furniture market.
We go to one factory that’s 40-minute away.
Factory welcomed you in their small showroom with limited selection of sofas and beds (they don’t usually do dining tables and chairs) and asked if you like any.
If you like a model and asked for price for 1 or 2 pcs, factory will quote you higher price than the same product offered to shops at wholesale markets, because you’re just a retail customer and the shops are their wholesale customers that buy from them daily, weekly or monthly.
Why will factory give you the same price?
There is no way they will offer you the same price because 1) they also want to make more money and they have a high potential to offer you a much higher price knowing that you’re a foreign retail buyer; 2) they will factor in the cost of communicating with you, which is normally done by shops.
But what if you don’t like any model? And chances of this are much greater than that you found something you like at one shot.
It becomes a wasted trip. A waste of your time and cost.
Then you move on to the next factory and the circle continues.
Then you move on to another factory that produces dining tables.
Then you move on to another factory that produces dining chairs.
…
Also, know that in Foshan, there are different levels of furniture factories.
Most small factoies don’t have a showroom in the factory so even if you’re there, there isn’t much you can see or do.
These factories make a living mostly by supplying shops at wholesale markets, or opening their own shop at the furniture markets. (And that’s why I mentioned earlier, some shops are factory direct stores)
Medium to big factories usually have their own showroom in the factory and/or in the furniture markets, but their product quality and pricing levels are also medium to high.
Their showrooms are either located in high cost areas like Louvre or Sunlink North, or in their own factory.
Given the facts above, do you still think I should guide you to factories?
So to sum up, if you’re only buying a few pcs, don’t bother going to factories. Markets are your best choice.
But if you’re doing furniture business and need to buy a larger quantity of furniture, then, of course, working with factories can possibly save you more money.
For Project Buyers or Importers (Buying in Bulk)
If you’re furnishing a hotel, apartment, or residential project, or you’re a furniture importer who orders in containers, then visiting factories does make sense.
- You can check production capacity, craftsmanship, and material options in detail.
- Factories can customize furniture based on your drawings, fabrics, or dimensions.
- Large quantity orders may get better pricing directly from the factory.
👉 For project buyers, we usually combine both — we either visit markets to choose designs, then go to specific factories for customization and production, or we can go directly to factories.
How We Arrange the Visit
At Sorse Furniture, we always start by understanding your needs — your budget, style, and quantity — and then plan the most efficient route:
| Buyer Type | Recommended Visit | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowners / Retail Buyers | Furniture Markets | Quick selection, wide range, ready stock |
| Importers / Project Buyers | Factories + Sample Rooms | Customization, production check |
| Designers / Agents | Mixed Route | Design inspiration + factory support |
Our Advice
If this is your first time in Foshan, don’t rush to visit factories.
Start in the furniture markets — you’ll get a better overview of what’s available and what fits your taste and budget. Once you’ve shortlisted a few designs, we can find good factories for production.
This way, your sourcing trip will be smoother, more productive, and much more enjoyable.
I hope you find this post helpful. If you do, consider leaving a comment below and share it with your friends.
