Sourcing glossary: the words in a quotation, defined

A–Z Reference

Terms Used in Household Product Sourcing

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturing — producing an existing, proven product under the buyer's brand, typically with logo, colour and packaging customization.

ODM

Original Design Manufacturing — developing a product around the buyer's idea, reference or drawing, including feasibility, structure, tooling and production.

Private label

Products manufactured for a specific brand or retailer and sold only under that brand, usually with the buyer's packaging and artwork.

MOQ

Minimum Order Quantity — the smallest order a production run can be made in economically, set mainly by tooling, setup and packaging plates.

RFQ

Request For Quotation — the buyer's enquiry listing product, customization, quantity and market, answered with feasibility, price basis and schedule.

Blister card

A retail pack where the product sits in a formed plastic blister sealed to a printed card; the standard pack for many small household accessories.

Header card

A printed card attached at the top of a polybag or small pack to carry branding and barcode information.

Colour card

A printed card supplied inside or alongside a polybag pack, carrying brand, product and barcode information.

Multipack

A single retail unit containing several pieces of the product, used to raise the perceived value and the average unit sold.

Die-cutting

Cutting flat material — foam, felt, tape, labels — into a shape with a cutting die. Low-cost and fast, it is the usual route for custom pad and label outlines.

Injection moulding

Forming a plastic part by injecting melted material into a steel mould. Required for volumetric parts such as hooks, clips, lock bodies and guards.

Tooling

The mould, die or plate needed to produce a part. Usually a one-time cost amortized over the order volume.

PEEL / peel strength

The force needed to pull an adhesive off a surface, used to compare adhesive grades for a given substrate.

Residue-free adhesive

An adhesive formulated so that removal leaves the surface clean, used for rentals, displays and repainted walls.

Acrylic adhesive

A high-strength adhesive intended for long-term holds rather than easy removal.

PU gel adhesive

A reusable polyurethane gel adhesive that stays tacky through repeated press-and-lift cycles, suited to humid rooms.

Foam tape

Double-sided tape with a foam core that absorbs surface unevenness between two bonded objects.

Hook & loop

Two mating tapes (hook side and loop side) that press together and pull apart repeatedly — the mechanism behind reusable fasteners and cable ties.

TPE

Thermoplastic elastomer — a soft, rubber-like plastic used for non-adhesive furniture grippers and stabilizers.

EVA

Ethylene-vinyl acetate — a closed-cell foam used for furniture pads, door stoppers and corner cushioning.

Felt

A pressed fibre material used for furniture pads where a soft, quiet glide on hard floors is wanted.

PS

Polystyrene — a rigid plastic used where clear or semi-transparent parts are needed.

PP

Polypropylene — a rigid plastic that tolerates repeated flexing and is available in food-contact grades.

ABS

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene — a tough, dimensionally stable plastic used for structural hook, rack and lock bodies.

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride — a soft, wipe-clean plastic used for corner guards and door stoppers.

Incoming inspection

Quality check performed on raw materials and components before production begins.

In-process inspection

Quality checks performed during production, at set intervals on the line.

Final inspection

Quality check on the finished batch before packing, using a documented sampling plan.

AQL

Acceptable Quality Limit — the sampling standard used to decide how many units to inspect and how many defects are acceptable.

Consolidation

Combining products from several production sources into one inspected, packed and shipped order.

HTS / HS code

The customs classification code for a product, used to determine duty and to complete import documentation.

CBM

Cubic metre — the volume measure used for carton and container calculations in freight.