-
-
TYPE OF WORK
Gig
-
-
SALARY
$300 - $600
-
-
HOURS PER WEEK
TBD
-
-
DATE UPDATED
Feb 24, 2026
Here's a thorough post you can use on both platforms:
Supplier Relations Specialist Needed — POD Apparel Brand (One-Time Project)
About Us
We're a growing e-commerce brand selling custom apparel to a highly engaged niche market. We operate a Print-on-Demand model and work with an overseas supplier to fulfill orders across 50-100+ active SKUs. Our customers are loyal and have high expectations — which means our supplier relationship needs to match that standard.
The Problem We Need Solved
We've hit a wall with our current supplier relationship and need an experienced specialist to come in, take ownership of the situation, and get it resolved. Here's what we're dealing with:
Wrong fabrics being used — Products are being produced with lower quality fabrics than what our brand requires. We have mockups and product specifications, but they haven't been properly communicated or enforced, and the supplier has been making material decisions without our approval.
No clear point of contact — Communication is scattered across multiple WhatsApp threads with no clear accountability. It's difficult to know who is responsible for what and nothing gets resolved in a timely manner.
Slow or no responses — Response times are unacceptably slow, and follow-ups often go unanswered. This creates a lag that directly impacts our customers and our ability to fix problems quickly.
Unresolved open issues — There are multiple outstanding problems that have been lingering without resolution. We need someone to audit everything, identify what's open, and drive each issue to a close.
What You'll Be Responsible For
Communication Audit — Review all existing supplier communication threads (primarily WhatsApp), organize the information, and create a clear log of every unresolved issue with status and priority.
Supplier Restructure — Establish a single point of contact on the supplier's side. Define clear roles and accountability so we always know who handles quality, who handles fulfillment, and who handles escalations.
Product Standards Documentation — Work with us to document our product quality standards for each SKU category — fabric weight, material type, construction requirements — and get written acknowledgment from the supplier that they understand and will comply.
Issue Resolution — Actively drive all open issues to resolution. This means following up consistently, escalating when necessary, and not letting things fall through the cracks.
SOP Creation — Before the project closes, deliver a simple, clear Standard Operating Procedure for how supplier communication and quality control should be handled going forward so this situation doesn't repeat itself.
Supplier Evaluation — If the current supplier is unable or unwilling to meet our standards after this engagement, we need your honest assessment and ideally a shortlist of alternative POD suppliers who can.
Who We're Looking For
Proven experience managing supplier relationships, preferably with Print-on-Demand or apparel manufacturers
Strong understanding of fabric quality, blank apparel standards, and print-on-demand fulfillment processes
Available during Asian business hours (China/Philippines timezone)
Mandarin fluency is a strong plus — not required if your English communication with the supplier is strong
Highly organized with the ability to take a messy situation and bring structure to it
Direct communicator who follows through — we need someone who pushes for answers, not someone who waits for them
Experience creating SOPs or process documentation is a plus
Project Scope & Timeline
This is a one-time fixed project estimated at 3-4 weeks. There is potential for an ongoing retainer role if the engagement goes well and the need continues.
To Apply
Please answer the following in your proposal:
Have you managed supplier relationships with overseas POD or apparel manufacturers before? Describe the situation and what you resolved.
Are you available during Asian business hours?
Do you speak Mandarin? If so, what is your proficiency level?
What would your first 5 days on this project look like?
What is your proposed fixed fee for this scope of work?
We are looking to move quickly. Detailed, specific proposals will be prioritized over generic ones.
