Step 1 of 7
Enquiry & brief
Who is involved: YouThorson Tiles
You share what you need — product type, sizes, finishes, quantity, destination and timing. We read it, then ask the questions that matter for your market.
How we work
From first brief to loaded container
Thorson Tiles is your tile supplier in India. Here is the process step by step: who does what, what you receive at each stage, and what our manufacturing partners confirm before you commit.
01The workflow
Seven steps, no surprises
Every order is different, but the sequence stays the same. Steps can overlap — for example, samples and quotation often run in parallel.
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Step 2 of 7
Shortlist of options
Who is involved: Thorson TilesPartner factory
We match your brief against the ranges of our partner factories and check current availability. Where something is not a good fit, we say so rather than stretch the brief.
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Step 3 of 7
Samples
Who is involved: Thorson TilesPartner factoryYou
We send you samples of shortlisted products. You check them against your specification and keep an approved set as the reference.
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Step 4 of 7
Quotation
Who is involved: Thorson TilesPartner factory
Once the specification is settled, we send you a written quotation from Thorson Tiles, based on figures confirmed by the partner factory.
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Step 5 of 7
Order confirmation
Who is involved: YouThorson TilesPartner factory
You confirm the order on the agreed terms. The order documents repeat the full specification, so everyone works from the same reference.
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Step 6 of 7
Production & pre-shipment checks
Who is involved: Partner factoryThorson TilesPre-shipment check
The partner factory produces your order and runs its own quality control. We keep you updated and check every order before it is loaded. You can also appoint your own third-party inspector.
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Step 7 of 7
Loading, documents & dispatch
Who is involved: Partner factoryThorson TilesYou
Goods are loaded as planned and shipped on the agreed Incoterm. You — or your forwarder and customs broker — handle import clearance at destination.
02How pricing is determined
Why we quote, not list prices
Tile prices depend on many variables, and several of them change month to month. A quotation built on your specification is more useful — and more honest — than a generic price list.
Body and specification
Porcelain, glazed vitrified or ceramic body, and the technical properties required.
Format and thickness
Larger and thicker tiles use more material, weigh more and fewer fit in a container.
Finish and design
Matt, glossy, polished, textured or structured surfaces, and the complexity of the design.
Quantity and order mix
Volume per product and how many products share a container.
Packing
Standard export packing or custom cartons, labels and pallet requirements.
Stock or production run
Whether goods come from available stock or need a scheduled production run.
Incoterm and destination
Which costs the seller covers, and the freight to your port or named place.
Timing and market factors
Production schedules, freight rates and exchange rates change over time.
What a quotation states
Quotation
Ref. — · Valid until —
- Product
- Name / code, body type, factory range
- Specification
- Size, thickness, finish, rectified or not
- Price basis
- Per m², per box or per piece, in the agreed currency
- Quantity
- Quantity ordered and the applicable MOQ
- Packing
- Pcs/box, m²/box, boxes/pallet, pallet type
- Incoterm
- For example FOB [port of loading] or CIF [destination port]
- Timeline
- Estimated production and dispatch window
- Payment
- Agreed terms, e.g. advance and balance against documents
- Validity
- How long the quoted price holds
03Incoterms explained
Who pays, and where risk passes
An Incoterm defines which costs and risks the seller carries, and where they pass to the buyer. Quotations can be prepared on the term you prefer, subject to agreed scope.
1Loading at origin
2Export clearance & port
3Main sea freight
4Destination port
5Named place
EXWEx Works
EXW: the seller arranges none of the stages; risk passes to the buyer at the seller’s premises.
FOBFree On Board
FOB: the seller arranges stages 1 to 2; risk passes to the buyer after stage 2.
CFRCost and Freight
CFR: the seller arranges stages 1 to 3; risk passes to the buyer after stage 2.
CIFCost, Insurance and Freight
CIF: the seller arranges stages 1 to 3; risk passes to the buyer after stage 2.
DAPDelivered At Place
DAP: the seller arranges stages 1 to 5; risk passes to the buyer after stage 5.
| Term | In short | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| EXW Ex Works | Goods are made available at the seller’s premises. The buyer arranges loading, export clearance and all transport. | Export clearance from India normally needs an Indian exporter, so EXW is less common for export. |
| FOB Free On Board | The seller clears goods for export and delivers them on board the vessel at the named port of loading. | You book and pay for the sea freight and insurance. |
| CFR Cost and Freight | The seller also pays sea freight to the destination port — but risk passes once goods are on board in India. | Insure the cargo yourself; risk and cost transfer at different points. |
| CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight | As CFR, and the seller also buys cargo insurance for the voyage. | CIF insurance is minimum cover by default; agree higher cover if you need it. |
| DAP Delivered At Place | The seller delivers to a named place in your country, ready for unloading. You handle import clearance and duties. | Destination costs vary widely, so DAP is quoted case by case. |
Containers and FCA / CPT / CIP. FOB, CFR and CIF were written for goods loaded directly onto a vessel. For containerised cargo, the ICC suggests FCA, CPT or CIP, where delivery happens when the container is handed to the carrier. These can be discussed if you or your bank prefer them.
Always name the place. An Incoterm is only complete with a named port or place — for example “FOB Mundra” or “CIF Jebel Ali” — and the version, such as Incoterms® 2020.
Verify Incoterms® 2020 wording before publishing This is a simplified summary, not legal advice. Your forwarder or the ICC rules give the full obligations.
04After you enquire
What you can expect
No automated sales sequence. A person reads your requirements and comes back with questions, options and honest next steps.
Share your requirements. We’ll come back with suitable options.
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An acknowledgement
We confirm that your enquiry has reached us, using the channel you wrote from.
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A person reads it
A member of our team reviews your requirements and follows up — usually with a few clarifying questions about specification, quantity or destination.
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Honest next steps
We explain which options look suitable, what needs factory confirmation, and what would be needed for samples or a quotation. If we can’t supply something well, we will say so.
We don’t publish a fixed response time. We work from India (IST, UTC+5:30), and reply times depend on the enquiry and on factory input.
How is the price of tiles determined?
Price depends on the specification (body type, format, thickness, finish and design), the quantity and order structure, packing requirements, whether stock is available or production is needed, the Incoterm and destination, and timing. Market factors such as freight rates and exchange rates also play a part.
Quotations state the price basis (per m², box or piece), what is included and how long the quotation is valid.
Is a quoted price fixed?
A quotation is valid for the period stated on it. After that, prices may need to be reconfirmed because production costs, freight rates and exchange rates change. Once an order is confirmed on agreed terms, those terms apply.
Do you quote FOB or CIF?
Quotations can be prepared on the Incoterm you prefer, subject to agreed scope — for example FOB at an Indian port of loading, or CFR / CIF to your destination port. EXW and delivered terms such as DAP can also be discussed.
The quotation states exactly which costs and responsibilities are included. Our Incoterms explainer summarises the differences.
What are typical lead times?
Lead time depends on whether the products are in stock or need a production run, the order size, the partner factory’s production schedule, any custom packing, and vessel schedules from the port of loading.
We confirm an estimated production and dispatch timeline at quotation and keep you updated as the order progresses. We do not quote fixed timelines before the manufacturer has confirmed them.
What payment terms are possible?
Payment terms are agreed for each order and set out in the quotation or proforma invoice. Common options in international trade include an advance bank transfer (T/T), a part-advance with the balance against shipping documents, or a letter of credit. What is available depends on the order and the parties involved.
For your security, always confirm bank details with us through a second, known channel before making any payment.
Which export documents are provided?
Export shipments commonly include a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and, where required, a certificate of origin. Other documents — test reports, fumigation or phytosanitary certificates for wooden pallets, or market-specific paperwork — depend on the product, the Incoterm and your country’s requirements.
Tell us your destination early and confirm import requirements with your customs broker; the documents included are listed in the quotation.
Ready when you are. Start with a short brief.
Share your target product, size, finish, quantity and destination, and we’ll come back with suitable options and a clear quotation. Final availability, MOQ, lead time and specifications are confirmed at quotation.