Furniture development & sourcing · Vietnam

Furniture development and sourcing in Vietnam, handled carefully.

Bridging Western expectations and Vietnamese manufacturing, so your products arrive as intended.

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Rows of finished black oak armchairs on a Vietnamese factory floor

Who I work with

Furniture brands

Developing new collections and finding manufacturers who can deliver your standards.

Retailers

Sourcing reliable products and suppliers with consistent quality.

Importers & wholesalers

Vetting factories, managing supplier relationships, and quality control.

Furniture & product designers

Turning designs into producible products, through sampling and prototyping to production.

Services

Take the full journey from idea to production, or bring me in for the part you need. That includes OEM projects: products made in Vietnam to your design, under your brand. I have experience with wood, metal, marble, travertine, solid brass and concrete, and with combining them into one finished piece.

Sourcing

Finding and vetting the right factories and suppliers for your product, price level and quality requirements, and building relationships that last.

Development

Guiding your product through the development phase: samples, prototypes, adjustments and quality control, until it is ready for production.

Consulting

Experienced advice when you need it: a second opinion on suppliers, quality issues, or how to approach production in Vietnam.

Flexible pricing

Project-based, a daily rate, or a commission, depending on the scope of work. Whether it's a single product or a full collection, we'll find the setup that fits.

Materials I work with

  • Wood
  • Metal
  • Marble
  • Travertine
  • Solid brass
  • Concrete

Selected projects

Close-up of the finger joint between the armrest and leg of an oak lounge chair

Details

A key detail on this lounge chair is the joint between the armrest and the leg. As a defining part of the design, it needs to be handled with extra care.

Four stained oak color samples laid next to the customer's Pantone chips

Checking color swatches

Checking color swatches against Pantone chips sent by the customer. A live comparison is the way to go, rather than judging colors online from pictures.

Round dining table with a travertine top on an oak pedestal base

Travertine

A customer wanted a travertine top instead of a wooden one, while keeping the weight down for safe and easy transportation.

Stack of finished oak components on a pallet on the factory floor

Component

Getting status updates on production: where we're at, and which components are ready.

Case study

Profile change on chair

The profile between the armrest and the backrest didn't work well. We made the changes live, working directly with the factory to adjust both the profile and the jig.

  1. First sample of the oak chair, showing the original profile where the armrest meets the backrest A · The transition doesn't work
  2. A new profile cut in oak, held against the chair to compare it with the original B · Comparing to the actual whitewood component
  3. Hands fitting a template of the new profile onto the chair frame C · Sketching the new profile
  4. The finished oak chair with the new, smooth profile between armrest and backrest D · Final result

Case study

Problem solving

Because of the customer's design and the limits of the hinge functionality, the doors couldn't open. We needed a solution that kept as much of the design concept as possible, while still working with hardware available on the market.

  1. Cabinet door hitting the leg when opened A · Door opens into the leg
  2. Testing an alternative hinge on the cabinet door B · Checking different optional hinges
  3. Quick MDF mock-up used to test the door and leg clearance C · Testing with a quick mock-up
  4. Door clearing the leg after rounding the corners and adding tolerance D · Solution: rounded corners and more tolerance

How it works

  1. 01

    Brief

    We talk through your product, targets, timeline and quality expectations.

  2. 02

    Sourcing

    I identify and evaluate suitable suppliers and recommend the best fit.

  3. 03

    Development

    Samples and prototypes are refined until they meet your standard.

  4. 04

    Production & quality

    I follow production and quality control, so what ships matches what was agreed.

Portrait of Dino seated in a grey lounge chair in a furniture showroom

About

I was born in Denmark to Vietnamese parents and have lived and worked in Vietnam since 2009. That background gives me something rare in this industry: I understand both how my clients think and how Vietnamese suppliers work, including what’s said between the lines.

Throughout my career, I’ve led product development, managed supplier relationships, and coordinated cross-functional teams. My approach is practical: break challenges down, base decisions on data, and focus on execution rather than promises. Whether you need a reliable supplier, support through the development phase, or an experienced second opinion, I help you get there with quality and consistency.

Analytical approach

Supplier performance, quality and workflows evaluated systematically.

Strong collaboration

Reliable, goal-oriented teamwork between you and your suppliers.

Hands-on execution

Development, sourcing and quality control connected end to end.

Let’s talk about your product.

Tell me briefly what you’re working on, and I’ll get back to you to discuss how I can help.

Email: dan [at] helloxinchao.net LinkedIn: View my profile Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam