Who we work with
GROUNDWORK is a small, single-operator service, so it is worth being direct about who it actually fits, and who it does not. The common thread is a question that can only be answered by someone physically present in China, checking something and reporting back honestly.
This is a description of the work itself, not a list of past clients. It is early, and the first assignments are still being scheduled. What follows is who this kind of on-the-ground verification is designed for.
Work this tends to fit
Importers and sourcing agents
Confirming a supplier is real before a deposit, checking a factory exists at the address it claims, verifying product samples in person, or representing you at a trade fair you cannot attend.
Online and marketplace sellers
Vetting a manufacturer behind a listing, checking stock or packaging before a shipment, photographing goods as described, or resolving a quality dispute with evidence from the ground.
Investors and diligence teams
Independent checks that a company, site or asset is what it is said to be: registry confirmations, a physical visit, and a written report with timestamped photos.
Law firms and accountants
Dependable hands for the factual legwork in China: picking up or delivering documents, attending a location, or gathering primary material to support a file. We do not give legal advice.
Journalists and researchers
On-location photo and video capture, verifying that a place or event is as reported, and background checks done from public and primary sources.
Individuals who need hands and eyes
Checking on a property, visiting someone on your behalf, handling an errand or paperwork you cannot do from abroad, or attending to something personal you cannot reach in person.
What we do not do
Being clear about the edges saves everyone time. We do not take on the following, and we will tell you so immediately rather than let a quote go forward.
- No handling of cash or making payments on a client's behalf.
- No legal, notary or government filing services. We can gather facts and attend locations, but we do not act as a lawyer or submit official filings.
- No full-container pre-shipment quality inspection as a standard product. A single scoping visit or sample check is one thing; a standardized container QC line is another, and is only arranged as an individually quoted project.
We take on lawful, on-the-ground tasks. If a request falls outside what one careful operator can genuinely deliver, you will hear that from us before you pay anything.