Hello, I’m Thomas, also known as Tom, and I’m one of the co-founders of Tom Sourcing. My journey began in the international trade department of a small electronics factory in Shanghai. I started as a documentation clerk in a department that didn’t exist before—this was a company that had no international trade experience. Through hands-on practice and learning from trade associations and practical training, I quickly became proficient in handling export documentation, shipping, letters of credit, customs, and tax refund processes. Over time, I witnessed the transformation of this factory from a small workshop with just a handful of people to a medium-sized enterprise with hundreds of employees and its own manufacturing facility, all within a span of 2-3 years.
My main professional career unfolded at a US-based company, where I was the first employee in the China office. I started by inspecting products in Guangdong, gradually moved into project management, built teams, and set up two factories in the region, ultimately becoming the General Manager of the US Company China Branch. I was involved in lots of high-profile projects, including collaborations with industry giants such as Juki, Brother, PFAFF, and Bernina, focusing on plastics, hardware, electronics, and mechanical parts. One of the most memorable projects I led was the development of a computer-driven long-arm sewing machine. This was a massive undertaking that involved recruiting the first engineer, creating the design, making the prototypes for several times, setting up a factory, and building a production line. The project took 4-5 years, but we successfully developed and mass-produced the product, which led to a large range of related products in the following years.
After spending 11 years in Guangdong, I faced a major turning point in my life when my daughter was about to start primary school. It was a moment of reflection: it was time to go home. So, I packed up my family and returned to Shanghai, leaving behind the comfort and stability I had built in Guangdong.
In August 2020, my family and I established Tom Sourcing, a brand we created during the initial wave of the pandemic. We started working from home, and as our business grew and client demand increased, we moved into our current office and warehouse space in 2023. By our sixth year, we registered Tom Sourcing in the US, with the goal of offering one-stop shopping and better serving our clients wordwide.