C2W Group — Faucet Manufacturer Sourcing and Qualification Proposal for CopperSmith

01 — Background

Background

CopperSmith is a US-based premium plumbing fixtures brand with an established product line covering kitchen, bathroom, and bathtub categories, supplied to the high-end specification market. Production of the current product line is delivered through CopperSmith’s existing manufacturing partners in China, with proprietary finishing applied at CopperSmith’s finishing partners (Susan and Jack) located in Zhangzhou.

CopperSmith is initiating a new product development program to extend its range into original faucet manufacturing. The program covers five product categories (kitchen pot fillers, kitchen faucets, bathroom faucets, bathtub fillers, bathtub overflow systems) across three base materials (unfinished stainless steel, unfinished copper, unfinished brass). The stated objective is to identify and qualify a single China-based manufacturer capable of producing the full range, supplied in raw unfinished form to CopperSmith’s existing finishing partners in Zhangzhou for application of proprietary finishes and final quality validation.

This proposal covers Phase 1 of that program: sourcing, qualification, sample procurement, and finish validation. Phase 2, covering product development support for the original CopperSmith faucet collection and assessment of next-generation sealant and topcoat technologies, is a distinct engagement scoped separately following the successful completion of Phase 1.

02 — Volume & Timeline Targets

Volume and Timeline Targets

The following table reflects the working assumptions for this engagement. Items marked for confirmation are noted as such, do not delay engagement commencement, and do not affect the engagement fee.

Parameter	Detail
Product Categories	Kitchen pot fillers, kitchen faucets, bathroom faucets, bathtub fillers, bathtub overflow systems
Base Materials	Unfinished stainless steel, unfinished copper, unfinished brass
Finished Product Form	Raw, unfinished, unlacquered, supplied to CopperSmith finishing partners for proprietary finish application and final quality validation
Annual Volumes	To be confirmed by client at engagement kickoff. Volumes do not affect the engagement fee or scope
Target Landed Cost	To be confirmed by client at engagement kickoff
Finishing Destination	Existing CopperSmith finishing partners (Susan and Jack) in Zhangzhou, China
Stage 1: Sourcing and Qualification	6 weeks (indicative) from engagement confirmation
Stage 2 (Optional): Sample Program and Finish Validation	Dependent on supplier sample lead times, typically 4 to 8 weeks from sample order placement. Includes up to 10 weeks of oversight, two QC passes at Shield Works, and international dispatch of finished samples to CopperSmith. Findings issued as a supplementary report

03 — Phase 1 Scope & Deliverables

Phase 1 Scope and Deliverables

Phase 1 is structured as a core engagement plus an optional oversight stage. Stage 1 delivers the full sourcing and qualification package: who the right manufacturer is, on what terms, validated by audit. It is standalone and complete in its own right. Stage 2 is an optional add-on covering the sample program and finish validation oversight, elected by CopperSmith at the point sample orders are placed. Given the product brief is well defined and CopperSmith already operates a comparable supply chain model in China, the team will move directly into supplier identification without a separate research phase.

Stage 1 deliverables: Sourcing and Qualification ($8,500)

01

Manufacturer landscape review and shortlist build

Identification of China-based faucet manufacturers with verified experience in premium plumbing fixtures across the five product categories and three base materials. Output is a structured longlist narrowed to a qualified shortlist of three to five candidate manufacturers, with rationale for inclusion and exclusion.

02

Capability and quality systems assessment

Documented assessment of each shortlisted manufacturer’s production capabilities, in-house processes (casting, machining, polishing, tubing), quality systems and certifications, experience with copper, brass, and stainless steel for premium plumbing fixtures, and capacity profile against the CopperSmith volume range.

03

Finish-readiness assessment for raw-supply model

Targeted assessment of each shortlisted manufacturer’s ability to deliver product in raw, unfinished, unlacquered form to a specification suitable for downstream application of CopperSmith proprietary finishes at the Zhangzhou facility. Covers surface tolerance, oxidation control, packaging, and handover protocol considerations.

04

Quotation gathering and structured comparison

First-round quotations from each shortlisted supplier across the agreed SKU set, presented in a like-for-like comparison covering unit pricing by SKU, MOQs, lead times, payment terms, tooling position, and commercial terms.

05

Factory audit

On-site visit and audit by the C2W team at the preferred manufacturer’s production facility, with documented findings covering production conditions, quality systems in practice, IP protection posture, and verification of stated capabilities. One factory audit is included in the Phase 1 fee. Additional audits on alternative shortlisted candidates are available at a separately agreed fee.

06

Final recommendation and sourcing package

A consolidated written recommendation report identifying the recommended primary manufacturer, confirmed quotations across the SKU set, a procurement and onboarding timeline, and a flagged risk register, issued at the conclusion of Stage 1. Where the assessment indicates a single-partner consolidation is not feasible for the full range, a primary plus secondary partner recommendation will be presented with rationale.

Optional Stage 2: Sample Program and Finish Validation Oversight ($3,000)

Stage 2 covers the period between sample order placement and completed finishing trials. This is the highest-friction stretch of any new supplier relationship: the manufacturer is producing to an unfamiliar raw-supply specification, and the finishing line is working with an unfamiliar substrate. When a finishing trial underperforms, the manufacturer points to the finishing process and the finisher points to the substrate. Stage 2 places C2W in that gap as the independent coordinator, translating finish-readiness requirements to the manufacturer, tracking quality through sample production, inspecting every sample at the Shield Works QC lab both before it reaches the finishing line and again after finishing before it ships to you, and documenting root cause findings so problems are resolved on evidence rather than argument.

Stage 2 is delivered as remote coordination and oversight, plus two in-house QC inspection passes at the Shield Works QC lab in Zhuhai. The sample flow runs: manufacturer to Shield Works for raw substrate QC, on to the Zhangzhou finishing partners for finish trials, back through Shield Works for post-finish inspection and export packaging check, then international dispatch to CopperSmith in the US for final evaluation. No onsite visits to the manufacturer are included. Onsite sample inspections at the manufacturer are available at USD 300 to 500 per visit with prior agreement.

01

Sample procurement and coordination

Coordination of initial sample production across a defined representative SKU set: up to five SKUs (one per product category) from up to two finalist suppliers. Includes sample brief preparation, supplier follow-up, communication management, quality follow-up during sampling, and dispatch coordination across every leg of the sample flow. Additional SKUs or suppliers beyond this set are available as a separately agreed change order.

02

Raw substrate QC at Shield Works (first pass)

Raw samples are routed through the Shield Works QC lab in Zhuhai for documented inspection before they reach the finishing line: dimensional verification against agreed drawings, visual and surface inspection, and finish-readiness checks covering surface condition and oxidation control. Each sample is released with a documented QC inspection report, so the finishing partners receive verified substrate and any manufacturer-side defect is caught and resolved before it can contaminate a finishing trial.

03

Finish validation oversight

Coordination and communication support for CopperSmith’s finish validation process at the Zhangzhou facility, where Susan and Jack will test CopperSmith proprietary finishes on the sampled plumbing products. C2W will manage the sample handover process, assist with quality follow-up between the manufacturer and the finishing partners, and document finish quality, adhesion, durability, and compatibility findings across the specified materials.

04

Post-finish QC and export dispatch at Shield Works (second pass)

On completion of the finishing trials, finished samples return through the Shield Works QC lab for a second documented inspection: visual finish quality, adhesion verification, consistency across pieces and materials, and export packaging check. Samples are then dispatched internationally to CopperSmith in the US for final evaluation. Formal durability and performance testing (salt spray, wear cycling, and similar) is not included and remains under the laboratory testing exclusion.

05

Supplementary finish validation report

A documented summary consolidating both QC inspection passes, the finishing trial outcomes, and finish quality, adhesion, and compatibility findings across the sampled SKUs and materials. Issued on international dispatch of the finished samples, closing out Phase 1 with a validated manufacturer, a proven raw-supply finishing route, and finished samples in CopperSmith’s hands.

Stage 2 includes one inspection round per QC pass: one raw substrate round and one post-finish round across the agreed sample set. Where failed samples or re-submissions require repeat inspection rounds, these are available at USD 300 per round with prior agreement. Stage 2 includes up to 10 weeks of remote oversight from sample order placement. Where sample production or finish validation extends beyond this window for reasons outside C2W’s control, continued oversight is available as a separately agreed change order. Where CopperSmith elects not to take Stage 2, the Stage 1 recommendation report includes full manufacturer contact handover, and sample arrangements run directly between CopperSmith, the manufacturer, and the finishing partners.

Phase 2 scope note:

Following successful completion of Phase 1 and confirmation of a preferred manufacturer, Phase 2 will cover product development support for the original CopperSmith faucet collection and assessment of next-generation sealant and topcoat technologies as a successor to the current fluorocarbon bake-on process. Phase 2 is scoped, priced, and agreed as a separate engagement at the conclusion of Phase 1. It is not included in this proposal.

04 — Exclusions

Exclusions

The Stage 1 fee covers all research, supplier engagement, qualification, quotation gathering, the included factory audit, and reporting. The optional Stage 2 fee covers remote sample program coordination, both QC inspection passes at the Shield Works QC lab, finish validation oversight, and the supplementary report. The following items are excluded and are addressed separately where required, with prior client agreement on cost:

Sample production costs and sample tooling charges levied by suppliers.

Sample shipping and transport costs on all legs of the sample flow: manufacturer to Shield Works, Shield Works to the Zhangzhou finishing partners and return, and international dispatch to CopperSmith’s US address.

Additional factory audits beyond the one included visit. Available at USD 300 to 500 per audit with prior agreement.

Travel costs for senior C2W team members to attend supplier meetings beyond the included factory audit.

Certification, compliance, or third-party laboratory testing.

Any product engineering, redesign, DFM, or tooling development work.

Onsite visits to the manufacturer during Stage 2. Stage 2 oversight is delivered remotely, with sample QC performed in-house at the Shield Works QC lab. Onsite sample inspections at the manufacturer available at USD 300 to 500 per visit with prior agreement.

Repeat QC inspection rounds beyond the one included round per QC pass, where failed samples or re-submissions require re-inspection. Available at USD 300 per round with prior agreement.

Stage 2 oversight beyond the included 10 week window, where extension arises from supplier or client-side delay. Available as a separately agreed change order.

Phase 2 product development and sealant and topcoat technology assessment. Scoped separately as a distinct engagement following Phase 1 completion.

Ongoing supplier management, production order placement, quality control, and logistics post-engagement. Addressed under a separate commercial arrangement at the point CopperSmith elects to proceed into production.

05 — Payment Terms

Payment Terms

Stage	Fee	Payment Trigger
Stage 1: Sourcing and Qualification	$8,500 USD	Payable in full on engagement confirmation, prior to work commencement
Stage 2 (Optional): Sample Program and Finish Validation Oversight	$3,000 USD	Optional. Payable in full on sample order placement, prior to Stage 2 work commencement

The Stage 1 fee is fixed at $8,500 USD and covers the complete sourcing and qualification package through to the recommendation report. Stage 1 is a standalone engagement and closes complete on delivery of the recommendation report.

Stage 2 is optional at $3,000 USD, elected by CopperSmith at the point sample orders are placed with the recommended manufacturer. Stage 2 is delivered as remote coordination and oversight plus two in-house QC inspection passes at the Shield Works QC lab: raw substrate QC before finishing, and post-finish inspection before international dispatch to CopperSmith. No onsite visits to the manufacturer are included, and sample transport to and from Shield Works is excluded. Onsite sample inspections at the manufacturer are available where wanted at USD 300 to 500 per visit with prior agreement. Where CopperSmith elects not to take Stage 2, sample arrangements and finish validation run directly between CopperSmith, the manufacturer, and the finishing partners.

Each stage is payable in full before its work commences, which keeps the engagement structure clean and allows the team to mobilise on day one. Fees on both stages cover the professional sourcing, coordination, and inspection services defined in Section 3, delivered as described, and are not contingent on supplier performance or finish trial outcomes.

06 — Safeguards & Clarifications

Safeguards and Clarifications

Scope discipline

The Stage 1 and optional Stage 2 scope defined in Section 3 is fixed. Any addition to scope, including Phase 2 activities, onsite visits during Stage 2, oversight beyond the included 10 week Stage 2 window, additional factory audits, additional SKU expansion beyond the agreed representative sample set, or any product engineering work, is treated as a change order requiring prior written agreement on additional fee and timeline before any additional work commences.

Roles and engagement model

C2W’s role in this engagement is sourcing advisor, program coordinator, and QC inspector. The supplier selection decision rests with CopperSmith, made on the evidence presented in the Stage 1 package, and CopperSmith contracts directly with the chosen manufacturer for samples and any subsequent production. This is intentionally not a C2W supply model: you own the manufacturer relationship and pricing directly, with full transparency and no intermediary margin. Accordingly, responsibility for manufacturer performance, production quality, and finish trial outcomes sits within the direct relationships between CopperSmith, the manufacturer, and the finishing partners, with C2W’s deliverables being the professional services defined in Section 3. Should CopperSmith later prefer C2W to take a managed supply chain role for production, that is available under a separate commercial arrangement.

Single-partner outcome

The stated goal of identifying a single qualified manufacturer covering all five product categories across all three base materials is held as the working target. Where the assessment identifies that single-partner consolidation is not achievable on quality, capacity, or commercial grounds, a primary plus secondary partner recommendation will be presented for your decision with full rationale.

Finishing partner coordination

The engagement assumes the existing CopperSmith finishing partners (Susan and Jack) in Zhangzhou remain the locked downstream destination for raw output and finish validation. We will engage with the finishing partners as required to confirm raw-input specifications, handover protocols, and finish trial coordination. Any change to the finishing destination will require a scope and timeline review.

NDA position

A signed mutual NDA between C2W Group and CopperSmith will be in place prior to engagement commencement. C2W will issue a standard NDA for execution alongside the engagement invoice. C2W operates NNN agreements as standard with all suppliers in our network.

Timeline assumptions

The 6 week indicative duration applies to Stage 1: shortlist, assessments, quotations, factory audit, and recommendation report. Where Stage 2 is elected, sample production runs on supplier lead times, typically 4 to 8 weeks from sample order placement for cast and machined plumbing fixtures, and finish validation at the Zhangzhou facility follows sample delivery. Stage 2 timing is supplier-dependent and is therefore indicative rather than committed, with up to 10 weeks of remote C2W oversight included from sample order placement. Where any dependency slips, we will flag the impact to you immediately and work to alternative paths where possible.

Sourcing outcome

We will use our full supplier network and the Shield Works qualified supply base to identify candidate manufacturers meeting the defined product, material, and finish-readiness requirements. Where commercial or technical compromises are required, options will be presented with rationale for your decision.

07 — Why C2W

Why C2W

Over 20 years of sourcing, supplier qualification, and contract manufacturing programs from China for international clients across premium product categories including plumbing fixtures, hardware, and metal-formed goods.

Established supplier network and on-the-ground presence across Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang, the three principal provinces for premium plumbing fixture and sanitary hardware production in China.

Full-time dedicated project manager in our China HQ coordinating between suppliers, your team, and your finishing partners throughout the engagement.

In-house engineering, QC, and factory audit resources available across the engagement.

Shield Works precision manufacturing facility in Zhuhai, ISO certified and IP-secure, available as a structural option for assembly, quality control, and warehousing should the program progress to production.

Prior commercial relationship with CopperSmith provides continuity and reduces onboarding overhead.

Western-owned, western-managed, British-led group with full bilingual capability across the supplier base.

08 — Next Steps

Next Steps

01

Client confirms acceptance of this proposal and the staged Phase 1 fee structure.

02

C2W issues the Stage 1 invoice for $8,500 USD and a mutual NDA for execution.

03

On receipt of Stage 1 payment and signed NDA, the engagement commences. Client confirms annual volumes, target landed cost direction, and timeline targets at kickoff.

04

C2W delivers the Stage 1 sourcing and qualification package within an indicative 6 weeks, including the manufacturer shortlist, capability and finish-readiness assessments, quotations, factory audit findings, and final recommendation.

05

CopperSmith reviews the Stage 1 package, confirms the preferred manufacturer, and places sample orders. Where CopperSmith elects to take Stage 2, the invoice for $3,000 USD is issued at this point and on receipt the remote sample program and finish validation oversight commences. Where Stage 2 is not taken, sample arrangements run directly between CopperSmith, the manufacturer, and the finishing partners.

06

On completion of finish validation, the program moves to Phase 2 scoping (product development support and sealant and topcoat technology assessment) and production-stage commercial arrangements, both addressed as separate proposals at that point.

This proposal is non-binding at this stage and is intended to give CopperSmith clarity on cost, structure, and deliverables. If acceptable, the engagement can commence immediately on receipt of payment and signed NDA.

Best regards,

Mark Jacobs

CEO, C2W Group / Shield Works

June 2026