The honest comparison
| Dimension | Overseas direct | Domestic supply |
|---|---|---|
| Unit cost at volume | Lower | Higher |
| Lead time | 3 to 6 weeks, plus customs | Days |
| Minimum order | High | Can be per unit |
| Working capital tied up | Substantial | Minimal |
| Customs risk | Yours | None |
| Documentation | Varies widely | Verifiable, per lot |
| Recourse if a lot is wrong | Limited and slow | Direct |
| “Made in USA” claim | No | Only where genuinely true |
When overseas is genuinely the better call
You are moving real volume, you can finance inventory sitting on the water, you have a relationship with a specific manufacturer you have vetted in person, and your customers do not care where product originates. That is a legitimate model and plenty of profitable brands run it.
When domestic wins
- You are launching and cannot commit capital to a container of inventory
- You need to restock inside a week when something sells faster than forecast
- Your positioning depends on documentation a buyer can actually verify
- You want recourse when a lot is wrong, rather than an email thread across time zones
On origin claims
Made in USA is a regulated claim with a specific meaning, and it has caught out operators who used
it loosely about product that was finished domestically but not made there. If you cannot document
the claim under the standard, do not make it. Describe what is actually true: domestically held,
domestically fulfilled, or domestically manufactured.
Where we sit
US‑based, with stock held and shipped from Los Angeles. Same day dispatch before 2pm Pacific, per‑lot documentation, and a per‑vial white‑label lane so launching does not require financing inventory.