How to Source Custom Furniture from Indonesia: A Buyer’s Guide

Buyers who source furniture from Indonesia for the first time usually ask the same four things. What do I send the factory? How much do I have to order? How long until it ships? How do I know the wood is legal? This guide follows an export order in the order things actually happen, based on how we run orders at our workshop in Jepara, Central Java, where we have been building furniture since 2010.

Start with the kind of order you need

There are three ways to begin, and the one you choose decides how quickly you get a quotation.

• A catalog piece as shown. Pick a product from our sample catalog by name or code. This is the fastest route, because the size and construction already exist.
• A catalog piece with changes. The same piece in a different size, wood, finish or upholstery.
• Your own design. Send a photo, a sketch or a technical drawing. We develop custom designs for customers and do not show them to others, which is explained on our IP exclusivity page.

If you plan to sell under your own brand, read about OEM and white label production before you send the brief.

What to put in your first message

You do not need a full specification to start. A photo and a quantity is enough, and we will ask for the rest. The more complete the brief, the fewer rounds it takes to reach a quotation you can compare. Useful details:

• Photos, drawings or a link to the reference piece
• Target dimensions, or “same as the photo”
• The wood or material you want, and the finish colour
• Quantity per item, and how many different items you want in the container
• The country the goods are going to, because it affects the documents
• Packaging or labelling requirements, if you have any
• Your target delivery month

Settle material and finish before you compare prices

Two quotations for the same table are rarely for the same table. One may be solid teak, the other mahogany with a different top. Write the material and finish into your request, then compare quotations line by line instead of by the total.

We work with teak, recycled teak, mahogany, mindi, recycled pine, metal, brass, leather, shagreen, rattan and upholstery, plus petrified wood and synthetic aluminium for garden furniture. Our material and finish directory lists what is available, and our guide to teak, mahogany and mindi explains how the main woods differ. Colour on a screen looks different from colour on wood, so ask for photos of the finish on a finished piece before you approve it.

From quotation to production

This is the order flow we use:

1. Choose products or send your design. Pick items by name or code, or send photos, drawings and measurements.
2. Receive sizes, quantities and a quotation. We confirm dimensions, materials, finishes and the price for your container mix.
3. Confirm the details and pay a 30% deposit. Production starts after the deposit is received and all details are confirmed.
4. Production in Jepara. Lead time is 30 to 60 days.
5. Pay the balance and ship. The balance is paid before shipment, and the container leaves from Semarang port.

The full process, with the terms in one place, is on our export and logistics page, and the numbers are explained in MOQ, lead time and payment terms.

Plan the container, not the single piece

Our minimum order is one 20-foot container, and you can mix different products inside it. For a first order this is useful: instead of filling the container with one model, you can combine chairs, a side table and a few mirrors, and see which ones sell. Ask for the carton or crate dimensions of each item, so your freight forwarder can check how the load will fit.

Check timber legality early

SVLK (Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu) is Indonesia’s timber legality verification system. Our certificate number is VLHH-33-07-0788, and we can send you a copy together with the export documents.

Importers in the EU, the UK and the US are generally expected to show where their wood came from. Ask your customs broker which documents your market needs before you place the order, not after the container is booked.

Agree how you will check the goods

Before you pay the balance, decide with your supplier how you will see the finished goods. Common options are photos or video of each item and of the loaded container, or an inspection by a third party you appoint. Put the arrangement in writing when you accept the quotation, so it is not a discussion at the end.

Mistakes that cost buyers time

• Comparing quotations with different materials. The cheaper offer is often a different product.
• Sending a design without dimensions. Factories will guess, and the first sample will be the wrong size.
• Leaving documents until the container is booked. Legality papers, packing list and labelling take time to prepare.
• Planning around the shortest lead time. Our range is 30 to 60 days before shipping. Plan for the longer end, and add your own transit time.

Common questions

What is the minimum order?

One 20-foot container. Different products can be mixed in it.

How long does production take?

30 to 60 days, depending on the design, finishes and quantity. The clock starts when the deposit is received and the details are confirmed.

How do payments work?

30% deposit to start production, and the balance before the container ships from Semarang.

Start your order

Send us your product list, photos or drawings through the quote form, or message us on WhatsApp. We reply with sizes and a quotation.