Trade Buyer Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick, direct answers to the questions we hear most from trade buyers.
Group 1 of 5
MOQ & Partnership
What is a good MOQ for wholesale window coverings?
Standard products ship at a 1-piece minimum; OEM customization starts at 10 pieces. Larger orders follow a normal production schedule rather than rush fulfillment. Contact our export team with your target SKU count and annual volume to receive tier-specific pricing.
What's the difference between a manufacturer, supplier, and trading company?
A manufacturer produces the product itself; a trading company sources from manufacturers and adds a margin. Shadesmart is a vertically integrated manufacturer -- we own the factory floor, equipment, and QC process. Buying direct from the source eliminates the intermediary margin and gives you direct access to R&D and customization.
How long does it take to get a sample?
Sample lead times vary by product and customization level -- confirmed at the time of inquiry. Contact our export team with your specification to receive a precise timeline. Standard stock-fabric samples are typically faster than custom-dye or motor-integrated configurations.
How much does private-label manufacturing cost?
Cost depends on customization level and order volume -- confirmed at the time of inquiry. Custom fabric, branded packaging, and motorization each carry different tooling and minimum considerations. We recommend sharing your target retail price and volume forecast so our export team can work backwards to a viable unit cost.
Group 2 of 5
OEM & Manufacturing
What does OEM mean in the window covering industry?
OEM means manufacturing a product to an existing design provided by the brand. Shadesmart produces to your approved specifications, materials, and packaging without altering the underlying design. This model suits established brands seeking a cost-efficient, scalable production partner.
What does ODM mean and how is it different from OEM?
ODM means Shadesmart's team jointly develops the product design with you, rather than manufacturing to a design you already have. Our 17-person R&D team can co-develop new product lines, fabric combinations, and motor integration from brief to production-ready sample. This is the right route if you need a differentiated product that competitors cannot easily replicate.
What does "vertically integrated manufacturer" actually mean?
It means raw material processing, core component production, and final assembly all happen in-house -- not outsourced to subcontractors. At Shadesmart, this covers fabric cutting, rail extrusion, motor integration, and pre-shipment QC under one 58,883 ㎡ roof. Vertical integration gives you a single point of accountability and eliminates the quality gaps that appear at subcontractor handoffs.
Groups 3 - 5 of 5
Product Selection, Compliance & Vetting
Product & Selection
Is a zebra shade the same as a roller shade?
No -- zebra shades use a dual-layer fabric structure for adjustable light control, distinct from a single-layer roller shade. The alternating sheer and opaque bands allow progressive dimming that a standard roller shade cannot achieve. Both share the same basic operating hardware, but the fabric construction and light-management performance are fundamentally different.
Do cellular shades replace the need for Low-E glass?
No -- cellular shades add insulation value but work best as a complement to, not a replacement for, energy-efficient glazing. Their honeycomb air pockets reduce convective heat transfer at the window plane, but do not address radiant gain through the glass itself. Positioning them as an upgrade to existing windows, rather than an alternative to Low-E glass, is the most accurate way to market their benefit.
What's the difference between blinds and shades?
"Blinds" typically refers to hard slat products such as aluminium horizontals or vertical louvres; "shades" refers to soft, roll or fold-based products like our roller, cellular, zebra, and sheer lines. The distinction matters for compliance documentation, product classification codes, and accurate customer communication. Shadesmart's product range sits entirely within the shades category.
Compliance & Lead Times
What should I check for US export compliance?
Confirm cordless safety design, applicable electrical and wireless certifications for motorized products, and material compliance -- details confirmed at the time of inquiry. Requirements vary by state and product category, so early-stage specification review prevents shipment delays. Our export team can walk you through documentation requirements for your specific market.
What's a reasonable lead time for a custom order?
Custom lead times typically run weeks, not days -- exact timelines confirmed at the time of inquiry. Complexity factors include custom fabric sourcing, tooling for new rail profiles, and motorization programming. We recommend building sample approval time into your project schedule before committing to a bulk production deadline.
Are electric blinds really maintenance-free?
No -- motorized systems require occasional battery or firmware maintenance, though less than manual wear-and-tear maintenance. Rechargeable motors typically need charging every 3-6 months depending on usage cycle and tube diameter. Being upfront about this with end customers leads to better long-term satisfaction than overpromising.
Vetting a Supplier
How do I vet a window covering manufacturer before placing a large order?
Ask whether they're vertically integrated, request real production data such as line count and annual output, and check whether their QC process is specific and verifiable. A manufacturer that cannot describe their QC steps in detail is likely relying on a third-party factory. At Shadesmart, we operate 12 production lines, 16 QC inspectors, and 93 units of in-house equipment -- all visible on a factory audit.
Ready to Start?
Still Have a Question?
Our export team responds to trade inquiries within 1 business day. Send us your specifications, target market, and estimated volume and we'll give you a direct, data-backed answer.
Industry Reference
Window Coverings Glossary
A bilingual reference of 40+ industry terms used in manufacturing, trade documentation, and product specification. Chinese terms appear in the left column; English equivalents in the right.
| 中文术语 Chinese Term | English Term |
|---|---|
| 卷帘 | Roller Shade / Roller Blind |
| 蜂巢帘 / 风琴帘 | Cellular Shade / Honeycomb Shade |
| 斑马帘 / 双层帘 | Zebra Shade / Dual-Layer Shade / Vision Shade |
| 柔纱帘 | Sheer Shade / S-Shade |
| 电动帘 / 智能帘 | Motorized Shade / Smart Shade / Automated Blind |
| 遮光帘 | Blackout Shade / Room Darkening Shade |
| 透光帘 | Light Filtering Shade / Sheer Fabric Shade |
| 半遮光帘 | Room Darkening Shade |
| 防火面料 | Fire-Retardant Fabric / FR Fabric |
| 防水面料 | Water-Resistant Fabric / Waterproof Fabric |
| 导轨 / 滑轨 | Guide Rail / Track System |
| 卷管 / 铝管 | Roller Tube / Aluminium Tube |
| 底杆 / 底条 | Bottom Rail / Bottom Bar |
| 顶座 / 支架 | Mounting Bracket / Top Fix Bracket |
| 弹簧机构 | Spring Mechanism / Tension Spring |
| 拉珠 / 珠链 | Bead Chain / Ball Chain / Chain Control |
| 无绳操作 | Cordless Operation |
| 儿童安全设计 | Child Safety Design / Cordless Safety Compliance |
| 电机 / 驱动器 | Motor / Actuator / Drive Unit |
| 充电式电机 | Rechargeable Motor / USB Rechargeable Motor |
| 硬线接入电机 | Hardwired Motor / AC Motor |
| 射频遥控 | RF Remote Control / Radio Frequency Control |
| 蓝牙控制 | Bluetooth Control |
| Wi-Fi智能控制 | Wi-Fi Smart Control / Smart Home Integration |
| 定制生产 / 来样定制 | OEM -- Original Equipment Manufacturing |
| 联合设计开发 | ODM -- Original Design Manufacturing |
| 自有品牌贴牌 | Private Label / White Label |
| 最小起订量 | MOQ -- Minimum Order Quantity |
| 生产周期 / 交货期 | Lead Time / Production Lead Time |
| 离岸价 | FOB -- Free on Board |
| 成本加运费 | CIF -- Cost, Insurance and Freight |
| 完税交货 | DDP -- Delivered Duty Paid |
| 质量检验 / 品控 | QC -- Quality Control / Quality Inspection |
| 装运前检验 | PSI -- Pre-Shipment Inspection |
| 来料检验 | IQC -- Incoming Quality Control |
| 过程检验 | IPQC -- In-Process Quality Control |
| 垂直整合制造商 | Vertically Integrated Manufacturer |
| 开窗率 / 透光率 | Openness Factor (OF) / Light Transmittance |
| 遮阳系数 | Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) |
| 面料克重 | Fabric Weight (gsm -- grams per square metre) |
| 聚酯纤维 | Polyester Fabric / PET Fabric |
| 涂层面料 | Coated Fabric / Blackout Coated Fabric |
| 双单元蜂巢 | Double Cell / Dual-Cell Honeycomb |
| 单单元蜂巢 | Single Cell Honeycomb |
| 三单元蜂巢 | Triple Cell Honeycomb |
| 窗帘盒安装 | Inside Mount (IM) / Recess Mount |
| 墙面外挂安装 | Outside Mount (OM) / Face Fix |
| 询价单 / 报价请求 | RFQ -- Request for Quotation |
| 样品确认 | Sample Approval / Golden Sample Sign-off |
Terms reflect common usage in B2B trade documentation, product specification, and cross-border wholesale communications. Shadesmart's export team can provide terminology guidance specific to your target market on request.