Why buyer type changes the sourcing job
A cable is defined by its construction and its standard, and those do not change with the buyer. What changes is everything around the cable: how many sizes are ordered and how deep, how it is packed, what is printed on the sheath and the box, which documents travel with it, and which checks matter most before loading. A brand owner cares about print and packaging consistency across reorders. A contractor cares about drum lengths matching the cable schedule and about witnessing routine tests. A marketplace seller lives or dies on whether a Cat6 box contains solid copper conductors and passes a customer's test. The programs on this site set out, for each buyer type, what the desk prepares and where the usual risks sit.
Strandquay is a sourcing desk, not a factory. We coordinate vetted partner factories in China's cable clusters, write the spec sheet, collect test records, check reports and certificates, inspect drums and boxes before loading and arrange shipment. Everything that becomes a commitment, from MOQ to drum plan to lead time, is confirmed in writing for each order.
The eight programs at a glance
| Buyer type | Lines usually bought | What the desk focuses on |
|---|---|---|
| Brand owners | Building wire, cords, LV power, LAN cable | Private label print, boxes and coils, document pack |
| DTC brands | Patch cords, LAN cable, solar extension leads | Small first runs, retail-ready packing, test data for listings |
| Marketplace sellers | 305 m Cat6 boxes, patch cords, PV cable coils | Solid copper conductors, box labels, carton marks |
| Distributors | LV power, armoured, control, building wire | Stock sizes, drum replenishment, multi-standard ranges |
| Wholesalers | Building wire, cords, LV power, solar cable | Mixed-size containers, standard coil and drum lengths |
| Retailers | Coiled building wire, flexible cords, LAN cable | Shelf packing, labels, consumer-facing marking |
| Sourcing agents | Any line their client needs | Factory checks, report verification, inspection |
| Engineering projects | MV and LV power, armoured, fire-resistant, fibre | BOQ matching, witness tests, drum schedule to site |
What every program shares
Whatever the buyer type, the core steps are the same, and they are described on the sourcing process page. You send a brief with the construction or designation, the standard, sizes, metres or boxes per size and the destination port. The desk shortlists partner plants in the cluster that actually makes that cable: Yixing, Ningjin and Wuwei for power and special cables, Wuhan and Qidu for fibre cable, Humen in Dongguan for LAN cable and cords. A written spec sheet then fixes every layer, the marking text and the packing plan. Samples or a trial drum come before volume where the construction is new to you.
During production, copper is booked against the agreed quote, because most plants price cable as copper or aluminium plus a processing fee and quotes are short-dated. Routine test records are collected per drum or per batch, and the desk checks length, print, diameter, end caps and packing before the container is closed. The details are on the quality control and testing and inspection pages.
MOQ and lead time across programs
MOQ in cable is set by the production run, not by the buyer type, so the typical ranges below apply to everyone. They come from plant listings and are a starting point, not an industry rule.
- LV and armoured power cable: commonly about 500 m per size; some plants accept 100 m for stock sizes; control cable often 1,000 m.
- Solar cable: from 100 m to 500-2,000 m depending on the plant.
- Cat6 LAN cable: 50-100 boxes of 305 m is common, occasionally 10 boxes.
- Fibre cable: usually ordered by the drum, with 2 km and 4 km drums common.
Small orders are possible but usually carry a higher unit price. Lead time depends on copper booking, the production slot, routine testing and, for wooden drums, two to four weeks of drum making. Each is confirmed in writing; see MOQ and lead time.
Choosing the right starting point
If you sell under your own name, start with brand owners or DTC brands; private label details are also on the OEM and private label page. If you resell standard products, start with distributors, wholesalers or retailers. If you buy for a client or a project, start with sourcing agents or engineering projects. Many buyers fit more than one program; a distributor that also supplies contractors will use parts of both pages. When you are ready, send the brief through the quote form and the desk replies with matched plants, the reference MOQ and the questions that need answers before a firm quote.