If you want to work with a Chinese brand in your market, prepare evidence of local market access, existing sales channels, after-sales capability, import readiness and a practical plan for the category. These five areas are a starting point for a proposal, not a universal set of brand admission requirements.
Each brand can weigh these factors differently according to its products, market and cooperation model. Check its current application route, and distinguish what your company already does from what you propose to develop.
Five areas to address in your proposal
Local market access — explain which buyers and areas you already reach, with evidence you can share appropriately. Separate current coverage from customers or territories you hope to develop.
An existing channel — describe the retail, dealer, wholesale or ecommerce channels you operate and their relevance to the proposed product range.
After-sales capability — explain who currently handles returns, spare parts and service where relevant to the products. Identify any training, facilities or provider arrangements you would still need.
Import and compliance readiness — identify who would check the applicable import, product and labeling requirements, what evidence is available, and what remains unresolved.
A realistic first plan — target channels, a first-order range, and a market-launch rhythm.
How to approach a Chinese brand with a distribution proposal
If you have chosen a Chinese brand, build your proposal around what your company can demonstrate now, the business you propose to develop, and the decisions you need the brand to make. The aim is to give both sides enough information to decide whether a distribution discussion is worthwhile. Asking for national exclusivity and a price list does not establish that fit.
The worksheet below is ChinaBrandPath’s suggested structure, not an official brand application. Use the brand’s current application route and answer its specific questions first. A proposal does not establish an appointment, an available territory or permission to use the brand’s name as an authorized partner.
If you are still preparing a short introduction, start with the first-contact brief in our guide to becoming a distributor. This worksheet develops that introduction into a proposal for a brand you have already selected.
What current brand pages can tell you
Application requirements depend on the brand, market and cooperation model. Three public pages illustrate different parts of the conversation:
- Dreame’s US partnership application asks about the business, including its operating history, other brands carried and operating region. Those details help describe an applicant’s existing business; they are not a universal eligibility threshold for Chinese brands.
- EcoFlow’s EU cooperation page separates application and eligibility review from discussion, agreement and the start of cooperation. Submitting information is one step in that page’s process, not the same as becoming a partner.
- KINGSONS’ partner page describes the local business, established sales channels, capacity to hold inventory and knowledge of the local market it seeks in partners. It presents several cooperation models, so a requirement or offer associated with one model should not be assumed to apply to another.
These pages were checked on 5 October 2026. They do not establish that your proposed country, products or channels are available. Confirm the current route and relevant conditions with the brand.
Separate evidence from plans and requests
Use three labels throughout the proposal:
- Current capability: something your company already does and can substantiate.
- Proposed commitment: something you would undertake if agreed conditions are met. Name the person responsible, resources needed and dependencies.
- For brand confirmation: a point your company cannot decide alone, such as product availability, sales permissions or warranty responsibilities.
A retailer you hope to recruit belongs in the plan, not in your existing network. A possible repair provider is a dependency until you have confirmed what it can undertake. Projected orders are planning assumptions, not customer commitments or a purchase guarantee.
A proposal worksheet you can fill in
Replace each bracket with your own information. Where evidence is unavailable, state the gap instead of inserting an estimate that looks like a fact. Share confidential supporting material only through an appropriate, verified route; customer names are not needed to explain the shape of your business.
| Proposal section | What to write | Evidence or question to attach |
|---|---|---|
| Company and relevant experience | [Legal company name, registration jurisdiction, website, operating history and relevant category experience] |
[Registration reference and verifiable business presence]. Explain the scope of existing brand relationships without implying authorization you do not hold. |
| Target market and customers | [Country, initial geographic coverage, customer segment and buying situation] |
[Dated observations, relevant sales history or anonymized customer requests]. State the period and coverage; a few enquiries do not prove national demand. |
| Existing channels | [Stores, dealers, B2B accounts or online channels you actively operate] |
[Channel URLs, location list or an anonymized activity summary]. Separate owned channels, contracted partners and prospects. |
| Selected products and brand fit | [Product lines or models, intended use and why they fit your customers] |
[Specific customer need or gap in your range]. Ask which models and channels the brand permits in your market. |
| Market-entry plan | [Initial activities, responsible people, proposed sequence and review point] |
[Resources already available, proposed spending and dependencies]. Distinguish a testable launch plan from a sales promise. |
| Inventory and fulfilment | [Stock budget you can substantiate, storage arrangements, order handling and replenishment plan] |
[Existing capacity or a clearly labelled provider proposal]. Ask about order quantities, supply arrangements and lead times; do not invent the brand’s terms. |
| Customer support and after-sales | [Who would handle enquiries, returns, diagnosis and repairs where relevant] |
[Current capability, training gaps and proposed providers]. Ask who approves warranty claims, supplies parts and pays the associated costs. |
| Requested cooperation and next decision | [Proposed products, territory, channels and the discussion you want to have] |
[Questions on route availability, brand use, performance expectations and responsibilities]. Identify exclusivity as a request, if relevant, rather than an agreed right. |
Keep the first version focused on the proposed relationship. A full compliance file, financial model or contract may follow, but naming an unresolved dependency now is more useful than implying it has already been settled.
A fillable proposal example
This is a writing example, not a real applicant, customer case or successful proposal. Replace every bracket, remove statements you cannot support, and adapt the questions to the selected brand’s current route.
Subject: Proposed distribution cooperation for [Brand] in [Market] — [Company]
We are [legal company name], based in [market]. We currently sell [relevant category] through [channels we actually operate]. Our relevant experience is [supported description]; [website or evidence reference] shows our current activity.
We are interested in [specific product line] because [observed customer need and its source]. Our initial scope would be [geographic area, customer segment and channels]. We have not confirmed whether this scope is available under your current partner arrangements.
For an initial launch, we propose [activities and sequence], led by [responsible role]. We can currently provide [verified resources]. The plan would also require [training, additional capacity or other dependency], which is not yet in place. Our proposed stock budget is [range and basis], subject to an agreed product range and commercial terms; it is not an order commitment.
We would handle [support activities within our capability]. We would need to agree [warranty approval, repair arrangements, spare parts, training or cost responsibilities] before presenting those services to customers.
Could you confirm the appropriate partnership route for this proposal, whether the proposed products and channels can be considered, and what further evidence you need? We would welcome a discussion about [specific unresolved decision]. We understand that any appointment and rights would require your approval and agreed terms.
An unresolved item can be written plainly: “Local repairs are not yet arranged. We need to understand your service requirements before selecting a provider.” That gives the brand a concrete question to answer. Calling the same situation “complete nationwide after-sales coverage” would misrepresent the proposal.
Decide whether the proposal is ready to send
Send it for consideration when the company and current-channel claims are supportable, the proposed product and market scope is clear, and the next question is specific. An open question about the brand’s route can be a legitimate reason to make contact; it does not need a guessed answer.
Revise it first if prospects are counted as customers, planned facilities are presented as operational, or the proposal promises resources your company has not approved. Where a material gap remains, describe it and ask whether the brand is willing to consider a proposal at that stage. Do not hide the gap to make the application appear stronger.
Keep a dated copy of the proposal and the brand’s replies. If discussions progress, carry unresolved items into a distribution commercial-terms checklist. A positive reply or meeting should not be described publicly as authorization to represent the brand.
If you want ChinaBrandPath to check whether your named-brand request fits its services, use the named-brand eligibility assessment. That is a ChinaBrandPath review, separate from the brand’s application and authorization decisions.
Keep the request proportionate to the evidence
Lead with the channels and activities you can support. If you want to discuss exclusivity, define the proposed territory, products and channels, and ask which conditions the brand would require. Do not present a request as an agreed right.
Describe the product and destination before making compliance claims. Naming a regulator does not show that a particular product meets the applicable requirements; identify the evidence still needed and who will obtain or assess it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to choose a brand before applying?
For the proposal worksheet above, choose a specific brand first. If you have not selected one, start by comparing brands against your market, channels and product needs before preparing a named-brand proposal.
What makes an application stronger?
Clear sales channels, category experience, customer coverage, import capability, after-sales readiness, and a realistic launch plan.