Sourcing indoor decorative lights at wholesale volume is a different discipline from buying a sample. At 500 or 5,000 units, the things that decide your landed cost and your return rate are almost never the things shown in the product photos.

The five things that actually set your landed cost

Two quotes for the “same” fixture can differ by 40% and both be honest. The gap is usually here:

Item	Cheap version	What it costs you later
Driver	Unmarked constant-current driver	3–5% annual failure after year two; no replacement part number
Finish	Spray paint on stamped steel	Chalking and edge rust in coastal or humid markets
Packaging	Brown box, no drop test	3–8% breakage in a 40HQ, charged back by your customer
Min order	Whatever they will accept	Half a container, freight per unit doubles
Documentation	Spec sheet only	Your lighting designer cannot sign off; project slips

MOQ is not a number — it is a quotation point

Importers usually ask “what is your MOQ?” and expect a figure. For decorative lighting there is rarely one. Every model has a point at which the order is worth scheduling: tooling time, plating batch size, packing setup and QC all have a floor. A large pendant reaches that point at a lower unit count than a small sconce, because the unit value is higher.

Two practical consequences. First, ask for the quotation point per model, not for a company-wide MOQ. Second, ask whether models can be combined: mixed orders across a product line, and mixed containers across lines, usually bring each model’s effective quantity closer to its floor.

Documentation to demand before the deposit

• IES or LDT photometric files for the exact configuration you are buying
• LM-79 test summary (integrating sphere), not a marketing lumen figure
• Driver datasheet with model number and rated life
• Packing drawing with carton dimensions and gross weight
• Finish sample on the same substrate as production

If a supplier cannot produce these before the deposit, they will not produce them after it either. See how we handle test reports and certification scope.

CRI and CCT: what actually matters in hospitality

CRI 90 matters in lobbies, restaurants and retail because warm materials — wood, leather, skin — go grey under low-CRI light. CCT is a design decision, not a quality one: 2700K reads as residential, 3000K is the hotel default, 4000K belongs in back-of-house and offices. Mixing them across one floor is the most common specification error we see.

How to compare two quotes fairly

Put both on the same basis: FOB, same CCT and CRI, same finish, same packaging, same warranty. Then compare driver brand, IP rating and documentation. A quote that is 20% cheaper with an unmarked driver is not cheaper — it is a different product. Our ceiling range ships with the driver model printed inside the housing for exactly this reason.

Products mentioned in this guide

• Aurora Round Flush Mount — flush-mount LED ceiling light for hotel corridors and residential developments
• Orb Blown-Glass Pendant — hand-blown glass pendant for hospitality and retail interiors

Related reading

• Why OEM lighting wins hotel renovation projects
• Custom lighting for commercial interiors

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no fixed MOQ?

Because the minimum is set by the quotation point of each model — the quantity at which tooling, plating and packing setup become viable. That point moves with the size and finish of the fixture, so a single company-wide number would be misleading.

Can I mix models in one order?

Yes. Mixed orders within a line and mixed containers across lines are both accepted, which usually brings each model closer to its quotation point.

What lead time should I plan for?

Samples from stock in 3–7 days; production 25–35 days after deposit and artwork approval. Add 30–38 days of sea freight to Santos, Jebel Ali or Ho Chi Minh City.