You have read the MOQ and sample-order guide, you know the terms — flat 40% of retail, capped deposit, T+7 restock — and now comes the question every buyer asks next: how long does the whole thing actually take? From your first message to boxes on your doorstep in the US, UK, EU or Australia, here is the full timeline, stage by stage, with the numbers we publish and the honest variables we cannot.
The Timeline in Stages: Where the Days Go
Order-to-door time is never one number. It is a chain of stages, and each has a published or carrier-defined clock:
| Stage | Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brand callback | Within 3 business days of your first message | WhatsApp or email, your market and format |
| Sample shipment | Couriered on request | DHL or FedEx, so you inspect fabric within days, not weeks |
| First-order payment | Within 7 days of contract | Prepaid; production or picking starts after |
| Evergreen & best-seller restock | T+7 — ships within 7 business days of order | Backed by the 100+ style always-in-stock classic library |
| Made-to-order production | 3–5 weeks | Ceremonial and hand-embroidered pieces |
| Bulk custom production | 6–10 weeks | Custom fabrics, embroidery programs, large runs |
| International express | DHL or FedEx, door-to-door with tracking | Payment in CNY or USD |
Read the table top to bottom and you can build any scenario. A restock of evergreen classics is the fast lane: order today, shipped within 7 business days, then express transit on top. A first order of made-to-order ceremonial stock is the slow lane: payment within 7 days of contract, 3–5 weeks of production, then the courier leg.
Express Transit: US, UK, EU and AU Compared
The international leg runs via DHL or FedEx — door-to-door, fully tracked, with delivery confirmation. Neither we nor any serious supplier should promise you a fixed door-to-door date for another country, because customs clearance is outside everyone’s control. That said, international express from China on these two carriers typically lands in 3–8 business days door-to-door. What differs by region is mostly what happens at the border:
| Region | Express transit (carrier-typical) | What can add days at the border |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 3–8 business days | Customs review; remote delivery addresses add a day or two |
| United Kingdom | 3–8 business days | Import declarations and VAT handling on entry |
| European Union | 3–8 business days | Import clearance; importer documentation such as an EORI number |
| Australia | 3–8 business days | Biosecurity and quarantine screening on textiles is possible |
Your order confirmation states the specific production and shipping estimates for your order, and the DHL/FedEx tracking number follows the moment the boxes leave us — so from the courier pickup onward, you are watching the same clock we are.
Who Handles Duties and Paperwork?
Confirm import duties, taxes and incoterms in your quote before signing — who pays what at the border should be written down, not assumed. Two practical preparations on your side keep the border leg fast:
- Have your importer details ready. Depending on your region that may be an EORI number (EU), a GB entity import reference (UK), or your ABN (Australia). Missing importer paperwork is the most common cause of a parcel sitting in customs.
- Keep product descriptions accurate. Children’s garments, fabric content and country of origin all appear on commercial invoices; accurate paperwork clears, sloppy paperwork queues.
What Actually Delays Orders (and How to Avoid It)
In practice, the timeline rarely slips at the courier stage. It slips earlier, for boring reasons:
- Unpaid or late first-order payment. Production and picking start after the payment window closes — pay inside the 7 days and the clock starts immediately.
- Seasonal production queues. Made-to-order and bulk custom slots tighten before peak retail seasons; if your market’s selling season starts in October, contract in summer.
- Sample rounds. Fabric and embroidery samples are couriered on request and are worth the days they cost — but build them into your calendar deliberately rather than discovering fabric preferences after production.
- Long custom specs. Bulk custom runs at 6–10 weeks exist for a reason: custom fabrics and embroidery programs take time. If your launch date is fixed, choose from the evergreen classic library instead and restock into custom later.
After the First Delivery: The Restock Rhythm
The first delivery is the slowest you will ever experience with us. Once your account is active, best-sellers and evergreen classic-line SKUs ship within 7 business days of each order (T+7), the credit line — starting at CNY 50k and adjusted to your sales — gives orders inside it a 45-day payment window, and the evergreen library of 100+ always-in-stock styles means your fast movers never wait on a seasonal production cycle. That is the whole point of the model: your first order is a bridge, your restock speed is the actual advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast do samples arrive?
Fabric and embroidery samples are couriered on request via DHL or FedEx, so you are inspecting materials within days of them shipping — not waiting a production cycle. No obligation attaches to a sample request.
Is the express transit time a delivery promise?
No — 3–8 business days is the typical international express window from China via DHL/FedEx, and border clearance varies. Your order confirmation carries the binding estimates for your specific order and region.
Can I get tracking?
Yes. Every international shipment goes door-to-door via DHL or FedEx with full tracking, and the tracking number is shared as soon as the boxes leave us.
What payment currencies do you accept?
CNY or USD, per the published wholesale terms.
Get a Shipping Quote for Your Market
The fastest way to turn this page into a date on your calendar: message WhatsApp +86 199 3056 6558 or email wholesale@littlehanfu.com with your market, your store format and your target season. You will get a callback within 3 business days with production and shipping estimates for your region — or browse the current collection and the ceremonial series first and tell us which lines your market would move. Flat 40% pricing, T+7 restock and a tracked DHL/FedEx door-to-door leg are already waiting on the other side of that message.