01
Make the quoted square metre mean the same thing
Put the product construction in writing before comparing offers. Identify core and total thickness separately, then specify wear layer, surface, bevel, locking system, backing and finished dimensions. Add the required application and supporting evidence. A lower quotation may reflect a different board, a different finish or a different packing assumption rather than a better price for the same requirement.
Separate mandatory requirements from optional upgrades. Ask for alternatives as clearly labelled options so a lighter core or different backing cannot enter the comparison as an unexplained substitution.
02
Show the order structure behind the price
State the forecast and opening order by decor, format and construction. Ask which minimum quantities apply to the total order, each colour and any special film or packaging requirement. Identify tooling, sampling and artwork charges where relevant. Confirm the currency, quotation validity, payment terms and delivery basis rather than treating a headline price as a complete commercial offer.
Packing and loading matter to the comparison. Record square metres per carton, cartons per pallet, protective materials, gross weight and the proposed loading plan. Those inputs connect product purchasing with freight and warehouse planning.
03
Use Vietnam's market context with product-specific discipline
The World Bank's May 2026 update describes manufacturing and exports as anchors of Vietnam's economy. This supports the wider export-manufacturing context, without proving the capability or competitiveness of an individual SPC supplier. Evaluate the nominated production site and the actual offer against the buying brief.
European procurement teams may also consider the EU–Vietnam trade agreement, in force since August 2020. Preferential treatment is not assumed for a flooring range. Provide the importer or customs adviser with the product composition, manufacturing information and proposed origin evidence for a destination-specific assessment before finalising the comparison.
04
Build approvals into the launch schedule
A production lead time needs a defined starting point. Clarify which approvals, payments and material commitments must be complete before that clock begins. Set dates for decor selection, finished samples, profile review, technical documents, packaging artwork and order release. A custom surface or new packing format may have a different critical path from a repeat product.
Tie the schedule to the distributor's launch requirements. Photography, sample displays, sales training and warehouse availability should use an agreed product identity so the marketing range and the delivered goods remain aligned.
05
Compare origins against the same purchasing sheet
Vietnam, Thailand and China share the core sourcing portfolio. Use one controlled specification and quantity structure across the alternatives, then document any differences openly. Decorative-film relationships can help keep the collection recognisable if the origin changes, but finished samples and production approvals remain route-specific. The useful outcome is a defensible purchasing decision with visible assumptions, not a country label attached to an incomplete price comparison.
Your buying worksheet
Commercial comparison inputs
| Input | Record | Why it changes the comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Specification | Core, surface, profile and backing | Defines the quoted product |
| Order structure | Volume per decor and opening forecast | Exposes minimum-order assumptions |
| Packing and loading | Carton, pallet, weight and loading plan | Feeds freight and handling inputs |
| Commercial basis | Currency, terms and validity | Makes offers comparable |
| Destination inputs | Classification, origin review and import costs | Completes the importer assessment |
| Timing | Approval gates and production start point | Supports a realistic launch plan |
Before the purchase order
Buying questions
Is the lowest factory quotation the lowest landed cost?
Not necessarily. Product differences, packing, freight, delivery terms and destination import costs can change the result. Compare the same requirement with explicit assumptions before choosing a route.
What should the first sourcing brief contain?
The destination market, construction, format, finish, connection, backing, quantities by decor, intended launch timing and required evidence. Existing finished samples and film references also help define the target.
The product behind the programme