For buyers
Source from India
Find makers, develop samples, confirm specifications, inspect goods and coordinate shipping.
Explore sourcing →About Sutra Global
Nandan Varma
International business development, Sutra Global, New Delhi.
I have worked 36 years in international trade and business development in Russia, China, Turkey and India. In China and Turkey I worked mostly with direct factories in villages and small towns. Many of the owners do not speak English, so I learned Chinese to talk to them.
That work taught me to control quality, price and delivery time together: from grey fabric through dyeing, finishing and packing, to logistics, documents, customs and samples. I now apply the same method to handicrafts in India, for importers who want new products and a supplier they can see into.
Languages: English, Russian, Hindi, conversational Chinese. Мы работаем и на русском языке.
Two ways to work with us
Buying from India or selling in India?
For exporters
Develop sales in India
Discuss local representation, customers, distributors, meetings and project opportunities.
Explore representation →Contact
Tell us what you are looking for
Send us a short brief by email or WhatsApp. Select the template that fits your business, copy the text, fill it in, and send it directly.
New Delhi, India
Emailnandan@sutraglobal.in
nandan@sutraglobal.in
WhatsApp+91 74284 68540
Sutra Global · New Delhi, India
Buying from India?
What to include in a first sourcing message
Selling to India?
What to include in a representation enquiry
What this means for buyers
The same approach in India
Direct to the maker
We go to the clusters and the workshops, and check the people who will make your goods.
New products
We look for items and designs you will not find in catalogues or at trade fairs, and we tell you what each costs to make.
One point of contact
You deal with us, not with ten workshops. Several makers can ship together in one container.
We work with importers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Questions importers ask
Before you start
What is the minimum order?
It depends on the maker and the item. We ask the maker at the sample stage and give you the real minimum in writing, and we suggest a small trial order first.
Who pays the maker?
Payment is agreed per order, in stages and not 100% in advance. The stages are written into the order confirmation before production starts.
Do you take a commission from the makers?
No. We are paid only by you, on our own invoice. We add no mark-up to the maker's price.
Who pays for samples?
Sample cost, courier and who pays are shown to you before the sample leaves the workshop. Any expense we incur in the first two months is approved by you in writing first.
What about certificates and tests?
Tell us what your market requires. For wood, lighting and anything that touches food or skin we check the required treatment, tests and certificates with the maker before the order, not after.
Can you handle furniture and lighting?
Yes, with conditions. Furniture needs the right packing and wood treatment, and freight can be a large part of the cost. Lighting needs makers who hold the safety approvals your market requires.