Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode, Kian Golzari—one of the world’s top sourcing and manufacturing experts—breaks down exactly how to find the right supplier, avoid bad products, and work smarter with factories.
He reveals:
✅ How he sourced for the NBA, United Nations, Olympics & major brands
✅ Why most founders waste money choosing the wrong supplier
✅ How to use Alibaba the right way—and spot red flags
✅ The key steps to developing a product from idea to shelf
✅ What separates a good supplier from a great partner
✅ How to negotiate pricing, MOQs, and timelines without getting burned
If you’re developing a physical product and want to get it made fast, high-quality, and for the right price—this episode is essential listening.
Omnisend | Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started.
📩 How We Can Help You Scale Your Business Faster
🔥 Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+
Start your $1 trial → foundr.com/startdollartrial
💡 Prefer a custom roadmap and 1-on-1 coaching?
→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application
→ Already have a store? Apply here → foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application
🔗 Connect With Nathan Chan
📸 Instagram → instagram.com/nathanchan
💼 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan
🔗 Connect With Kian Golzari
🌍 Website → sourcingwithkian.com
📸 Instagram → instagram.com/kian_jg
00:00 - Intro
01:04 - Kian’s Background: Working With NBA, Olympics & Celebrities
03:16 - Common Mistakes Founders Make With Sourcing
05:28 - How to Talk to Suppliers Like a Pro
08:41 - The Truth About Alibaba & Sourcing Agents
11:33 - When to Visit China (And When Not To)
13:51 - How to Vet Factories Without Leaving Your Desk
17:06 - The 3 Sourcing Paths Every Founder Should Know
21:24 - Best Strategies for Price Negotiation
24:30 - What to Do Before Paying a Factory
28:10 - The Power of Packaging in Brand Positioning
31:26 - Fast vs Slow Shipping: What Founders Miss
34:43 - Kian’s Golden Rule for Product Quality
36:57 - How to Avoid Costly Product Mistakes
39:19 - His Top Advice for First-Time Founders
42:03 - The $1M Lesson He Learned the Hard Way
44:11 - Final Words on Longevity, Margins & Supplier Relationships
🎯 Follow Foundr for More Business Growth Strategies
📺 YouTube → bit.ly/2uyvzdt
🌍 Website → foundr.com
📸 Instagram → instagram.com/foundr
📘 Facebook → facebook.com/foundr
🐦 Twitter → twitter.com/foundr
💼 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/foundr
🎙️ Podcast → foundr.com/podcast
In this episode, Kian Golzari—one of the world’s top sourcing and manufacturing experts—breaks down exactly how to find the right supplier, avoid bad products, and work smarter with factories.
He reveals:
✅ How he sourced for the NBA, United Nations, Olympics & major brands
✅ Why most founders waste money choosing the wrong supplier
✅ How to use Alibaba the right way—and spot red flags
✅ The key steps to developing a product from idea to shelf
✅ What separates a good supplier from a great partner
✅ How to negotiate pricing, MOQs, and timelines without getting burned
If you’re developing a physical product and want to get it made fast, high-quality, and for the right price—this episode is essential listening.
Omnisend | Get 50% off your first 3 months of email and SMS marketing with Omnisend with the code FOUNDR50. Just head to your.omnisend.com/foundr to get started.
📩 How We Can Help You Scale Your Business Faster
🔥 Learn directly from 7, 8 & 9-figure founders inside Foundr+
Start your $1 trial → foundr.com/startdollartrial
💡 Prefer a custom roadmap and 1-on-1 coaching?
→ Starting from scratch? Apply here → foundr.com/pages/coaching-start-application
→ Already have a store? Apply here → foundr.com/pages/coaching-growth-application
🔗 Connect With Nathan Chan
📸 Instagram → instagram.com/nathanchan
💼 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/nathanhchan
🔗 Connect With Kian Golzari
🌍 Website → sourcingwithkian.com
📸 Instagram → instagram.com/kian_jg
00:00 - Intro
01:04 - Kian’s Background: Working With NBA, Olympics & Celebrities
03:16 - Common Mistakes Founders Make With Sourcing
05:28 - How to Talk to Suppliers Like a Pro
08:41 - The Truth About Alibaba & Sourcing Agents
11:33 - When to Visit China (And When Not To)
13:51 - How to Vet Factories Without Leaving Your Desk
17:06 - The 3 Sourcing Paths Every Founder Should Know
21:24 - Best Strategies for Price Negotiation
24:30 - What to Do Before Paying a Factory
28:10 - The Power of Packaging in Brand Positioning
31:26 - Fast vs Slow Shipping: What Founders Miss
34:43 - Kian’s Golden Rule for Product Quality
36:57 - How to Avoid Costly Product Mistakes
39:19 - His Top Advice for First-Time Founders
42:03 - The $1M Lesson He Learned the Hard Way
44:11 - Final Words on Longevity, Margins & Supplier Relationships
🎯 Follow Foundr for More Business Growth Strategies
📺 YouTube → bit.ly/2uyvzdt
🌍 Website → foundr.com
📸 Instagram → instagram.com/foundr
📘 Facebook → facebook.com/foundr
🐦 Twitter → twitter.com/foundr
💼 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/foundr
🎙️ Podcast → foundr.com/podcast
