What’s the difference between Product Testing, Inspection and Factory Assessment?

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

In the world of quality assurance, it’s common for terms to get thrown around and overlap. After all, product requirements can be extremely complex. Here we’ll talk about the difference between Product Testing, Product Inspection, and Certification.

Quality assurance programs are developed to help ensure that products get to market on time and within a required specification. Checking a product to make sure it’s safe, it works, and it’s compliant with federal requirements, seems like a pretty simple concept. But the methods by which this is accomplished can often prove to be more complex. There are multiple decision points when establishing a QA program, such as:

  1. Determining at which point in the supply chain an action should occur

  2. Whether to rely on the factory, or hire a third party testing lab, to conduct testing activities

  3. Understanding the regulatory and import requirements for your distribution region

At the core of any QA program, there are only a handful of types of actions that occur to help ensure a quality product, including, on-site inspection of goods, product testing, factory assessments, and certification.

Here’s a brief overview of each:

Product inspections are generally done either in-line by a factory worker or by a third party inspector who is contracted to inspect a specific lot of goods either during or after production. Inspections employ a statistical concept called an Acceptable Quality Limit (AQL). This allows for a certain number of defective units to be found within a lot. Inspections usually entail a quick review of the product, checking for basic functionality as well as any immediately visible visual defects. Inspectors may also employ hand held tools to gather information on the product (think tools that an inspector can easily carry into a factory like a moisture meter, measurement tools, etc.). The idea is to approve a specific lot of goods at a very high level.

Product Testing can be conducted either on-site, usually in a separately designated area of a factory or at a third party testing facility. This type of testing is more involved than a product inspection because it requires additional test fixtures or equipment. Testing also tends to be more expensive to conduct versus a product inspection and therefore is conducted on a very small number of units in a production lot.

Examples of this type of test include:

  • Checking materials for heavy metals or other toxic chemicals

  • Flammability testing

  • Applying a test load to a product (like a chair or a media stand) to ensure it can hold a specific amount of weight.

Federal requirements usually include some type of product testing and most retailers require some level of third party lab testing to be completed prior to selling a product. This is especially true of private label products.

Factory Assessments usually come in two flavors – Factory Preparedness Audits and Social Audits. These activities are not audits on specific products, but rather checks to make sure the factory itself is adequately prepared to manufacture your product.

Factory Preparedness Audits usually occur prior to the beginning of production, when a buyer needs to verify whether a supplier can manufacture the goods they say they can. This type of audit usually includes an independent review of production capabilities to ensure that a factory has documentation and systems in place to ensure good manufacturing practices.

Social Audits have recently become more prominent as cultural awareness around global employment practices has become more critical to brands and the customers they serve. These types of audits include a safety audit of the facility to make sure that it’s a safe place for workers, and also employee interviews and documentation audits, to ensure that fair wage practices are implemented, and in general that workers are treated fairly and labor laws are obeyed (child labor, work shift limits, etc.)

Through smart application of these QA activities, you can help ensure that your product is safe, compliant, and meets the customer’s needs when it comes to market.

Snowmelt can help you communicate your QA needs to your suppliers prior to production. Download Snowmelt today.

What are the benefits of Product Certification?

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

For products on the market that need to meet rigorous safety standards, Product Certification is often recommended and in certain cases is required, depending on the distribution region of the product. Certification is recommended for products that fall into market categories in which product failure could be potentially dangerous, such as electrical products, food and beverage, and industrial equipment.

Product Certification processes are carried out by third party certification bodies. These organizations employ a mixture of quality assurance testing, factory assessments, and other forms of documentation review to compile an overall view into the supply chain, materials, assembly, and functionality of a product to determine whether it can be certified. Once the decision to certify a product is made, there’s a period of time where this product is validated. The certifying body will generally perform basic checks on the product at a certain interval to make sure that it still meets the requirements.

While the process can add time and expense to getting a product to market, it’s often worth it even when it’s not required by law. Once a product is certified, it allows the manufacturer to mark the product, it’s marketing materials, and it’s packaging with the certification mark. You’ll notice a UL marking on most electrical products, for instance. This marking denotes that the product has been certified to the appropriate UL standard. The same goes for the CE marking in products sold in the European Union.

Having this marking on your product gives potential customers an additional level of trust that an objective third party has signed off on the safety and quality of the product.

Snowmelt can help you communicate your product certification requirements up front, which in turn can help them to provide a better picture of cost of goods, before going into production. Download Snowmelt today.

How does Snowmelt solve Supply Chain challenges?

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

Are you a product company struggling to implement quality control into your supply chain?

Snowmelt provides a standardized quality control (QC) document for each of your products that captures:

  • The intended functionality of the item
  • What it should look like
  • Assembly instructions
  • Inspection directions
  • Packaging details
  • Any needed certifications or shipping needs

Once your quality control sheets are generated within Snowmelt, you can easily share these with your factory to ensure they understand the correct production of your product. Industry experts with over 30 years of supply chain consulting experience created this app with ease of use in mind.

Tip: Have your factory sign the documents created within Snowmelt to serve as an agreement before production in case of product defects creating leverage for compensation or a future credit.

Are you a product company trying to get accurate quotes on a new product?

Create a spec sheet for your product within Snowmelt and then use it to shop around for quotes from different factories. This guarantees that each factory is quoting against the exact same comprehensive list of product information ensuring accurate quotes and correct product information down to the packaging. Is there a language barrier? These forms will help prevent miscommunications during the quoting process.

Are you a product company attempting to get compensated by your factory for bad production or a late shipment?

Snowmelt generates a purchase order template with customizable protective clauses at the bottom of the agreement. Input the quantity you are ordering, the name of your item and the cost, and use this template as your next order form with your factory to better protect your business from production mistakes and shipping delays!

Implement quality control, accurate quotes and prevent production mistakes and delays by downloading Snowmelt today.

What are the benefits of Snowmelt’s Quality Control Spec Sheets?

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

Does your business have a full-time quality control employee? Do you ask your factory or manufacturer to sign an agreement to ensure correct production of your products? Chances are you answered no to both questions which creates the possibility of a poorly produced product or a sudden raise in price mid-production. This is where Snowmelt comes in.

Capture Key Information

By using the app, you can capture key information about your product down to the graphics and packaging. Snowmelt creates a mobile friendly shareable document to serve as an agreement between you and the factory you chose to produce the item.

Protect your Business

Ask your factory to sign the documents created within Snowmelt so that they are more inclined to pay attention to what you need. That way, in case your items are not produced correctly, you have some leverage against the manufacturer.

For example – do you want a specific type of leather in your leather wallets? With Snowmelt you can specify the leather quality and leather color. Make sure your factory is quoting you at the type of leather that you want and not whatever leather they have leftover from last year!

Get Accurate Quotes

With Snowmelt, you can use the spec sheets during the product development and quoting stage of a new product. Use the app to capture what you are seeking in your new item and use the sheets Snowmelt generates to get accurate quotes. That way, each manufacturer you get a quote from is quoting exactly what you asked for and against the same sheet of information. This makes the factory selection process easily comparable and stress free.

Don’t have the capital to hire a full time production specialist and quality control employee? Use Snowmelt instead. Snowmelt is a fraction of the cost of an employee and can function as an extension of your business. Download Snowmelt today.

Create a Purchase Order Template with Snowmelt

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

Take your Snowmelt spec sheets and quality control to the next level with our easy to use purchase order (PO) generator.

The purchase order (PO) template on Snowmelt is a protective agreement that helps protect your business. Simply generate the PO template on Snowmelt to capture the cost, quantity and item name of the product you are ordering. Include your factory’s address and their contact information.

Customize the payment terms and late shipment protective clauses with terms you are comfortable with and get your factory to sign the PO at the bottom to establish the agreement.

a screenshot of a purchase order with highlights

Tip: Have your factory sign the Snowmelt Spec Sheet and your Snowmelt PO, ensuring everyone is on the same page about your product specifications.

For instance, if you order a 5 inch tall cup, and you receive it and it is 6 inches, if you had your factory sign these then you could be better protected. That way, not only did they agree to produce it at 5 inches, but the PO template that they signed outlines the compensation you should expect for such a mistake.

Get your product quality control and order forms under control and implement industry best practices with Snowmelt. Download Snowmelt today.

How to Become a Walmart Marketplace Seller

Posted on by Kaylyn Perry

Walmart attracts millions of shoppers, so it’s no wonder their online marketplace is catching the attention of sellers and shoppers. Similar to Amazon, the Walmart marketplace allows third-party sellers that are approved. 

With over 100 million unique visitors monthly on Walmart.com, becoming a seller on their marketplace can give your business the boost it needs to reach new customers and increase sales. So, how do you sell off the Walmart marketplace?

In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to becoming a Walmart marketplace seller and give you tips on how to maximize your success on the platform.

Whether you’re a small business owner looking to expand or a seasoned eCommerce entrepreneur, read on to learn how to become a Walmart marketplace seller and take your business to the next level.

How do I become a seller on Walmart marketplace?

Becoming a seller on Walmart marketplace is a straightforward process that you can complete in a few simple steps. Walmart seeks established businesses that are legitimate. So, if you’re brand new to selling, you may not qualify. Furthermore, they vet sellers to ensure they can fulfill orders quickly and offer customer support. Be sure to research requirements before investing the time to apply. Here are six steps to take to become a Walmart marketplace seller. 

Step 1: You will need to apply to become a marketplace seller by visiting the Walmart website. This involves filling out a form and providing some basic information about your business.

Step 2: Once your application has been approved, complete your registration by providing additional details about your business and agreeing to the terms and conditions of the marketplace.

Step 3: Next, complete your partner profile, which includes information about your products, shipping, return policies, etc. This is important as it will help customers find your products and understand your business.

Step 4: Set up your items as soon as your profile is complete. This process involves creating product listings and providing detailed descriptions, images, and pricing information.

Step 5: You should test your items and orders to make sure everything is working correctly. This way, you can work out any issues before you launch your account. Furthermore, Walmart will do their own tests before letting the listings go live. 

Step 6: Finally, launch your account and start selling your products on the Walmart marketplace. It takes just a bit of effort and patience to succeed as a Walmart marketplace seller.

Walmart Marketplace Helpful Resources

New and existing sellers can take advantage of helpful resources including:

What are the requirements to sell on Walmart Marketplace?

To sell on Walmart marketplace, you will need to meet certain qualifications. At the minimum here are some of the requirements set forth by Walmart. 

–   Have a valid Business Tax ID or Business License Number.

–   Provide documents that verify your business name and address.

–   You should have a history of success in marketplace or e-commerce sales and your products must have GTIN/UPC GS1 Company Prefix Numbers.

–   Your catalog should also comply with Walmart’s Prohibited Products Policy.

–   You will also need to fulfill orders through Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) or another B2C U.S. warehouse with returns capability.

Gathering all this information before starting the application process to make it smoother and faster. It can also help avoid getting denied and potentially wasting any precious time. 

What are the Walmart marketplace fees for sellers?

The Walmart marketplace fees for sellers include a referral fee, and an optional storage or fulfillment fee. Here’s an overview of the fees to sell on the marketplace. 

  • Referral fee: A percentage of the sale price of each item sold on the marketplace is collected by Walmart. The exact percentage varies depending on the category of the product, but it typically ranges from 6% to 20%. View a list of referral fees by category here. 
  • Fulfillment fees: These fees are based on the weight and/or dimensions of the product you’re selling. Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) vary the prices based on the product’s size and weight. Similar to Amazon, Walmart offers fulfillment services for a fee. 
  • Storage fees: The amount you’ll pay WFS to store your inventory depends on the number of cubic feet needed, the time of year, and how long your goods stay in a Walmart fulfillment center – should you choose to use their fulfillment center. 

Walmart also offers pay-per-click advertising options, but to qualify for any Walmart Marketplace advertising, sellers must commit to a monthly spend of at least $1,000 with a daily cap of $100. You can calculate your exact fees with this WFS calculator.

Tips for winning the Walmart Buy Box

The Buy Box is essentially what consumers will click to buy a product. If more than one seller is selling the same product, they will share the buy box with other sellers. 

Winning the Walmart buy box is a highly sought-after goal for sellers on the platform. Here are some tips to help increase your chances of winning the buy box:

  1. Optimize your product listings by ensuring they are complete, accurate, and up-to-date with high-quality images and detailed product descriptions
  2. Monitor your pricing and make sure you are pricing your products competitively.
  3. Maintain a high feedback rating by providing excellent customer service and receiving positive feedback.
  4. Utilize Fulfillment by Walmart (FBA) since Walmart gives preference to sellers who use FBA for their products.
  5. Make sure you have enough inventory to meet customer demand. Walmart prefers sellers who can consistently fulfill orders in a timely manner.

These tips can increase your chances of winning the Walmart Buy Box and growing your sales on the platform.

Best practices and tips for selling on Walmart Marketplace

Here are a few key strategies that can help increase your sales and visibility when selling on Walmart Marketplace:

  1. Win the buy box: The buy box is the featured spot on a product page where customers can add items to their cart. Winning the buy box can greatly increase your sales, as it is the first option customers see when browsing products. To increase your chances of winning the buy box, make sure your prices are competitive, your inventory is well-stocked, and your shipping times are fast.
  2. Be competitive on price: Customers on Walmart Marketplace are looking for the best deals. To ensure your products stand out, make sure your prices are competitive with other sellers. Keep an eye on your competitors’ prices and adjust yours accordingly.
  3. Use Walmart integration across platforms: Walmart offers integration with a variety of platforms, including Shopify, BigCommerce, and Magento. By integrating your store with Walmart Marketplace, you can easily manage your inventory, pricing, and orders all in one place.
  4. Invest in sponsored products: Sponsored products are a great way to increase product visibility. Your products will appear at the top of search results and on product pages, increasing the chances of customers seeing and purchasing your products.
  5. Promote Walmart reviews: Encourage customers to leave reviews on your products. Positive reviews can greatly increase the visibility and credibility of your products, leading to more sales.
  6. Monitor your performance: Keep an eye on your sales, reviews, and customer feedback. This will give you a clear picture of how your products are performing and where you need to improve. You will also identify which products are selling well and which are not, so you can adjust your inventory and pricing according

How Kickfurther can help

Kickfurther can help you become a successful Walmart marketplace seller by providing you with the necessary funding to purchase inventory without the constraints of traditional lending sources. Our platform connects you with a community of buyers who are willing to invest in your inventory on consignment. This means that you can purchase the inventory you need to fulfill orders without having to pay back the funds until you have received cash from your sales.

The result? Financial flexibility to scale your business quickly without worrying about cash flow constraints. You can also customize your repayment schedule to align with your sales cycle. Paying back the funds as you receive cash from your sales, rather than having to adhere to a rigid repayment schedule that may not align with your business needs, allows you to maintain inventory levels and financial flexibility as you grow your business.

Closing thoughts 

Becoming a Walmart marketplace seller is a great way to expand your business and reach a wider audience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you will be well on your way to success as a Walmart marketplace seller. Remember to focus on creating high-quality product listings, providing excellent customer service, and staying compliant with Walmart’s policies.

Kickfurther can be the key to unlocking your success as a Walmart Marketplace Seller. With our funding options, you can rest easy knowing that you have the resources to fully stock your inventory and meet the demands of your customers.

Interested in getting funded at Kickfurther? Here are 3 easy steps to get started:

#1. Create a free business account

#2. Complete the online application 

#3. Review a potential deal with one of our account reps & get funded in minutes

Learn more about inventory financing options for Walmart Sellers with Kickfurther.