Product development · Prototyping
Product development is where buyer intent, factory capability and material reality meet. Asia Sourcing runs a seven-stage product-development workflow — brief, concept, CAD, first sample, material development, finish approval, pre-production sample — for buyers running OEM, ODM and private-label programmes out of India.
The seven-stage product-development workflow
Stage 1 — Brief: category, target FOB, target retail, destination market, compliance regime, dimensional envelope, aesthetic reference, packaging direction. Stage 2 — Concept: design direction documents, cluster/factory recommendation, feasibility against the target FOB. Stage 3 — CAD: 2D drawings and 3D rendering where applicable. Stage 4 — First sample: physical sample made against the signed CAD, dispatched to the buyer under courier. Stage 5 — Material development: fabric, metal, wood species, finish and hardware approval against the physical sample. Stage 6 — Finish approval: lacquer, polish, paint colour, antiquing, patination — approved against physical finish panels, not just photographs. Stage 7 — Pre-production sample (PPS): the sample from which the production run will be benchmarked, signed off in writing by both buyer and factory before purchase order release.
OEM vs ODM vs private label
OEM (original equipment manufacturer) — the buyer provides the full specification pack (CAD, BOM, finishes, packaging) and the factory manufactures to that specification exactly. Appropriate when the buyer has an in-house design team. ODM (original design manufacturer) — the factory offers a design or catalogue, the buyer selects and refines; the factory retains design IP. Appropriate when the buyer wants speed-to-market and does not require design exclusivity. Private label — the buyer selects an existing factory product, applies their own brand, packaging and labelling, and sells under their own retail identity. Appropriate for buyers testing a category before investing in bespoke development.
Asia Sourcing operates in all three modes. The commercial terms, lead times and compliance workflow differ for each.
Capability by category
Lighting — CAD and 3D rendering, hardware development (sockets, drivers, suspension), finish development (brass antiquing, nickel, matte black, painted finishes), shade development (fabric, metal, hand-blown glass), BIS and CE compliance for electrical. Furniture — CAD and 3D rendering, species substitution (sheesham ↔ mango ↔ acacia ↔ teak), finish development (lacquer, oil, wax, antiquing, distressing), hardware (brass, iron, antique bronze), FSC-certified wood sourcing. Home décor and giftware — material development, mould and tooling, hand-painted finishes, mixed-media assembly. Brass and metalware — spinning, casting, chasing, repoussé, antique and modern finishes. Textile — block printing, screen printing, embroidery, dyeing, weaving.
Tooling and IP
For buyers investing in bespoke tooling — a custom metal spin die, a bespoke injection mould, a custom lampshade former — we document the tooling cost separately and specify in the purchase order whether tooling IP sits with the factory or the buyer. Buyers running private-label programmes with tooling investment usually retain IP; buyers running one-time programmes typically pay a lower tooling-recovery fee and leave IP with the factory. Clarity on this point before the PO is signed is essential — Asia Sourcing drafts the tooling-IP clause as part of the PO pack.
Related India sourcing capabilities
India Product Development · Frequently asked questions
Can Asia Sourcing develop a new product from a sketch or reference image?
Yes. We run a seven-stage product-development workflow from brief through CAD, first sample, material development, finish approval and pre-production sample. We work from buyer sketches, reference images or finished competitor products.
Do you offer OEM and ODM in India?
Yes. OEM — manufacture to the buyer's specification pack; ODM — factory offers design, buyer refines; private label — existing factory product with buyer branding. We operate all three modes and will recommend the mode that fits the buyer's commercial strategy.
How long does product development take?
A standard product-development cycle from brief to approved pre-production sample is 6–10 weeks. Furniture typically runs toward the longer end because of wood seasoning and finish approval; lighting runs shorter when electrical components are standard.
Who owns the tooling IP?
Specified per purchase order. Buyers investing in bespoke tooling for a continuing programme usually retain IP; buyers running one-time programmes typically leave IP with the factory in exchange for a lower tooling-recovery fee. Asia Sourcing drafts the tooling-IP clause before the PO is signed.
Share a written brief and we return a three-to-five factory shortlist within 5-7 working days.