If you’re an international applicant scrolling through our site, wondering if “By Application” is something you can actually get in on—let’s cut the fluff right away: yes, it is. But let’s not stop at a one-word answer, because a lot of people hear “By Application” and immediately assume it’s only for locals, or that there’s some hidden hoops only folks in the U.S. (or whatever our base is) can jump through. Spoiler: that’s not how we run things. By Application
I’m part of the team that handles the By Application process for our supply line, so I get the questions. Last week, I had a message from a vendor in Madrid asking if she could pitch our small-batch packaging to our retail partners in Tokyo—she thought “By Application” meant we only work with people we meet at trade shows, folks who already have a foot in the door, not someone cold-outing from another continent. That’s a super common mix-up, and I want to clear it up first.
First, let’s define what “By Application” actually is, because it’s not some exclusive club. It’s our way to cut through the noise—instead of posting a generic job board listing or a vague “submit a bid” form, we ask people to send us a short, specific application that tells us why they’re a fit for what we need right now. No fancy resumes, no 10-page business plans (unless you’re applying for a bulk contract, which is a different tier), just the basics: what you make, how you make it, and how it aligns with the projects we’re launching in the next 6 months. And for international folks? That process is 100% the same as it is for someone 2 states over. We don’t require you to fly in for an in-person meeting, we don’t hold your application hostage because you’re not based where our HQ is, and we do accept the most common international payment methods (no random hoops there, either).
Wait, let’s talk about the myths, because there are a lot. A lot of international applicants think we have to jump through extra compliance hoops, like proving we’re in the U.S. or that we have a local distributor. For us, compliance is non-negotiable—but that goes for everyone, no matter where you are. We follow all the standard import/export rules for the products we handle, so if you’re applying to supply us with something that needs to cross borders, we’ll walk through that step by step, together. Last year, we worked with a small craft coffee roaster in Colombia who applied through our By Application portal—no local presence, no prior U.S. retail experience, just samples of their beans and a note that they wanted to bring fair-trade, single-origin options to our West Coast stores. They went through the same application process as a roaster in Portland, and they’re now one of our top bean suppliers. That’s not a fluke; that’s how we designed this.
Another myth: “By Application” means we pick people we already know. Nope. We get hundreds of applications every month, and a huge chunk are from international folks. We don’t have a “network quota” or a “local priority” box to check. The only thing we care about is whether you can deliver what we need, when we need it, and at a price that works for both of us. Last quarter, we had an application from a jewelry maker in India who makes small, ethically sourced copper pieces—she found our By Application page through a social media shoutout, sent over photos of her work, and explained that she could meet our minimum order for our holiday pop-up shop. We hired her, and her pieces sold out in 2 weeks. She never stepped foot in our offices, never talked to a local rep first—just applied, and got the job.
Now, let’s get into the actual process for international applicants, so you know exactly what to expect. Here’s the breakdown of what we ask for, no surprises:
- First, your basic info: name, business name, country, and a link to your work (Instagram, Etsy, website—whatever, as long as we can see what you make).
- A 200-word max note on why you want to work with us, specifically. We don’t need a novel—just tell us if you’ve shopped with our stores, if you love our brand, if you have a product that fits the type of items we carry. The Indian jewelry maker mentioned our focus on sustainable materials, which was exactly the angle we were pushing for the pop-up. That’s the kind of note that stands out.
- A sample (or a photo of a sample) of your product. If you’re too far to send a physical sample, a high-res photo works—just make sure it’s clear, shows the quality, and is of something you actually produce.
- A rough idea of pricing and minimum order quantity. This is non-negotiable for us—we need to know if you can scale, and if your prices fit our budget. No need for exact numbers right away, just a range.
That’s it. No visa checks, no local business registration proofs (unless you’re based in a country where we can’t easily do business, which we’ll tell you upfront), no weird hoops. We’ll get back to you within 2 weeks, same as we do for domestic applicants. If your application is a fit, we’ll send over a simple contract, walk you through the shipping process, and connect you with a account manager who speaks your language if you need that. We’ve got team members in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, so language barriers are rarely an issue.
Wait, but what about the downsides? Let’s be real—working internationally isn’t always easy. Shipping can take a bit longer, there might be delays, and we might have to adjust our timelines a little. But that’s true for everyone, not just international folks. A domestic supplier might have a factory delay, too. We don’t penalize you for that, as long as you communicate early. Last year, the Colombian coffee roaster had a crop delay because of unexpected rain—they emailed us 3 weeks before delivery, offered a small discount for the wait, and we adjusted our launch date. It was no big deal, because we value transparency more than perfect timing.
I get why a lot of international applicants hold back. We’ve all been there—applying for a job, a gig, a partnership, and thinking “they’ll never pick me, I’m too far, too unknown.” That’s why we designed By Application to be as open and fair as possible. We didn’t create it to exclude people; we created it to cut through the gatekeeping that happens with a lot of supplier lists. Trade shows, industry circles, word-of-mouth—those are great, but they leave out so many talented people who don’t have connections. By Application is our way to find those people, no matter where they are.
Let me share another example. A few months ago, we had an applicant from Nigeria who makes handwoven bags using local reeds. She saw our By Application page on TikTok (funny enough, that’s where a lot of our best applicants come from), sent over videos of her team working, and explained that her bags are water-resistant, which would work for our outdoor gear line. We took her on, and she’s now supplying 1000 bags a month to our stores in the U.S. and Canada. She never met anyone from our team in person, never went to a trade show, just applied. That’s the kind of thing that makes this job worth doing.
Now, if you’re an international applicant reading this, and you’re thinking “okay, this sounds good, but how do I actually move forward?”—here’s what to do next. Don’t overthink the application. Keep it simple, be honest, show us your work. If you have questions before you apply, you can reach out to our team to chat—we love answering questions, no matter how small. We’re not gonna judge you for asking about shipping timelines, or pricing, or anything else.
Wait, let’s address the one thing that might still be hanging over your head: do we have a limit on how many international suppliers we work with? No. We’re always looking for unique products from around the world. We want to showcase makers and artisans from different countries, different backgrounds, because that’s what makes our brand interesting. Customers love discovering products from places they’ve never been, and we love being the ones to bring that to them.
So to circle back to the original question: Is “By Application” open to international applicants? Yes, full stop. No hidden rules, no local bias, no weird hoops. It’s as open for you as it is for someone next door. We built this process to be inclusive, not exclusive, and that means every applicant, no matter where they’re from, gets a fair shot.
If you’re ready to submit an application, or you just want to ask a question about the process, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team is here to help, whether you’re a first-time applicant or a seasoned maker. We’re always excited to connect with new people, especially those from around the world who have something unique to bring.
Don’t let distance or uncertainty hold you back. Your work could be exactly what we’re looking for. Reach out, and let’s chat.
Nanomaterial Dispersion & Homogenization References:
- Global Supplier Diversity Initiative. (2023). Inclusive Sourcing: Best Practices for International Small Business Partnerships.
- International Trade Administration. (2022). Customs and Compliance for Cross-Border Small Business Transactions.
- Small Business Administration. (2023). Navigating International Supply Chain Partnerships: A Guide for Makers.
Hangzhou Precision Machinery Co., Ltd.
Address: NO.1, 10th Rd. Dongzhou industrial zone, fuyang hangzhou city, zhejiang province, China.
E-mail: abby@jh-ultrasonic.com
WebSite: https://www.jh-ultrasonic.com/
