Methodology
How Supplier Field Notes forms its guidance
Published by Cydney Mar. Last updated November 2026.
The rankings, checklists and templates on Supplier Field Notes are written by its publisher, Cydney Mar, from the stages of her Concept-to-Reality Pathway and from widely used sourcing practice.
How are the rankings and checklists on this site made?
Each checklist follows one Pathway stage. The supplier checklist uses the three criteria the Pathway names for choosing suppliers: quality, communication and reliability. The sample checklist follows the Right Prototypes stage, and the worksheet follows Cost and Margins. Where general industry practice is described, such as sample stages or tech pack contents, it is stated as typical practice rather than a rule, because terms vary by factory and category.
Ranking criteria
The ranked guide to the best factories for consumer products judges every sourcing route on the same four criteria:
- How much vetting evidence the route provides before you make contact
- How well it suits a first-time founder's order size
- What it costs to start
- How much founder time it requires
The publisher's own service appears in that ranking, labeled, and is described with the same kinds of facts as every other route. It is not placed first by default. No business paid for inclusion or position.
How numbers are used
Published statistics are quoted as their source published them, with the source named and linked, and are never presented as this site's own research. Figures about Cydney Mar, such as 45+ years of experience and $300M+ in global product sales, are her own figures as stated on cydneymar.com and are labeled that way. This site does not publish prices for Cydney Mar's services because she does not publish them.
Limits of this guidance
Supplier Field Notes is not an independent review site and has not audited any factory, directory or agent. Answers about legal, tax and customs questions describe what is generally true and point you to the right authority to confirm specifics. Pages are reviewed and the "Last updated" date changes only when content changes.
Common questions
- What are the best factories for consumer products?
- The best factory for a consumer product is the one that already makes your category well, at your order size, and communicates clearly. A large, famous factory can be a poor fit for a first run of a few hundred units. Judge each factory on category experience, minimums, sample quality, communication and reliability rather than on size or reputation alone.
- How do I vet a supplier before placing an order?
- Vet a supplier on three things: quality, communication and reliability, the same criteria Cydney Mar's Pathway uses for choosing the right suppliers. Request samples made to your specification, check business registration and references, ask about capacity and lead times, and notice how quickly and clearly they reply. Put prices, minimums and quality standards in writing before paying a deposit.
- Who is Cydney Mar?
- Cydney Mar is a product development strategist who helps founders turn product ideas into real, scalable businesses. She cites more than 45 years of experience and over 300 million dollars in global product sales across retail, TV and direct-to-consumer markets, including more than 15 years selling her own collections on QVC in 8 countries. She is based in Montreal.
- Is there any free help available?
- Yes. Cydney Mar offers a free From Idea to Income workbook on cydneymar.com, and Indigenous entrepreneurs who are CCIB members can book a complimentary 60 minute Concept-to-Reality Strategy Session. The guides, checklists, templates and worksheet on Supplier Field Notes are also free to read and use, with no sign-up.
- How much does a product development consultant cost?
- Product development consultant fees vary widely by scope, from single advisory sessions to multi-month programs, and Cydney Mar does not publish her prices. The way to get a real figure is to describe your product and stage on a call through her contact page. Indigenous entrepreneurs who are CCIB members can book a complimentary 60 minute Concept-to-Reality Strategy Session.