What to Expect When Working With Us
Who “we” are: Sell in Europe is a digital compliance platform. Onboarding happens online—forms, file uploads, and structured review—not on-site consulting by default. This page describes that platform-led journey.
Before We Start
You'll get an email from us with:
- An introduction to Sell in Europe and what we do
- A summary of EU textile requirements
- An onboarding checklist of documents we'll need
- A Code of Conduct to sign
Timeline: This takes about a week.
Phase 1: Initial Conversation (2–3 weeks)
We'll ask you some basic questions about your business:
- What do you produce?
- Where are your facilities?
- Do you have any existing certifications?
- Who should we contact with questions?
You'll sign our Code of Conduct and send back your company information.
What happens: We do a quick assessment to see if there are any obvious red flags. If everything looks good, we ask you to gather documentation.
Phase 2: The Documentation Gathering (4–6 weeks)
This is the longest part. We send you a detailed checklist of everything we need:
- Company information and certifications
- Details about where your materials come from
- Chemical test reports and supplier declarations
- Environmental data (energy, water, emissions, waste)
- Labour compliance information
- Information about your products
What happens: You collect these from your suppliers and internal records. We know this can take time—we're happy to answer questions along the way. Once you submit everything, we organize it and prepare to review it.
Pro tip: Start gathering this while you're still in Phase 1 if you can. It speeds things up.
Phase 3: Verification (3–4 weeks)
Now we review everything you've sent.
What we do:
- Check that test reports are from real labs
- Verify certifications are current and genuine
- Make sure your supply chain makes sense
- Review your environmental data for accuracy
- Assess overall risk
What might happen:
- If everything looks good: We move to Phase 4 (trial batch)
- If we have questions: We ask you to clarify or provide additional documents
- If we find problems: We send you a list of what needs to be fixed. You have time to fix it, then we re-review.
For high-risk areas: We might conduct a virtual audit (video call to your facility) or visit in person to see your equipment and processes.
Phase 4: Trial Batch (2–4 weeks)
We place a small order—typically 50–100 kg of a specific product—and we watch closely.
What happens:
- You produce the batch using your normal process
- We send a sample to a lab to test fibre composition
- We check the labels for accuracy and EU compliance
- We assess the product's durability and quality
- We verify that your sustainability claims hold up
Why this matters: We want to make sure you can consistently deliver what you promise. Real production data is more useful than paperwork.
Outcome:
- Pass: You're approved for bulk production
- Minor issues: We ask you to adjust something and try again
- Major issues: We discuss whether this partnership is workable
Phase 5: Approved & Ongoing (Continuous)
Congratulations—you're approved! But this isn't the end. It's the beginning of an ongoing partnership.
What happens now:
- We add you to our approved supplier list
- Every 3 months, we ask for an update on energy, water, and other key data
- Every year, we conduct an audit to make sure you're still meeting standards
- We keep an eye on EU regulations and let you know if anything changes
- We're available if you have questions
Your responsibilities:
- Keep your certifications current
- Keep your REACH test reports up to date (at least annual)
- Tell us if anything changes (new suppliers, new processes, etc.)
- Respond promptly to our data requests
- Be available for annual audits
If something goes wrong:
- We contact you right away
- We give you a timeline to fix the issue
- If it's serious or you don't fix it, we may pause orders temporarily or end the partnership
Timeline: The Bottom Line
Expect the whole process to take 3–4.5 months from start to approval. Here's a rough breakdown:
- Phase 1 (Initial): 2–3 weeks
- Phase 2 (Documents): 4–6 weeks
- Phase 3 (Verification): 3–4 weeks
- Phase 4 (Trial batch): 2–4 weeks
- Phase 5 (Approval): Starts immediately
If you need to correct issues, add 4–8 weeks.
Tips for Success
- Be honest. If you don't have something, say so. We'll work with you.
- Respond quickly. The faster you send documents and answer questions, the faster we move forward.
- Ask questions. If you don't understand what we need, ask. We're here to help.
- Start early on sustainability data. Even if you don't have everything, begin collecting energy and water data now.
- Get your suppliers involved. You'll need information from them. Give them time to gather it.
- Keep records organized. Use a folder system or spreadsheet to keep everything accessible.
Common Questions
Q: Do I need to have all the certifications mentioned? A: No. We prefer you have them, but we'll work with you even if you don't. Certifications just make things faster.
Q: What if my supply chain is complicated? A: That's normal. Just document it clearly. We need to understand where materials come from and how they flow through your facility.
Q: What if I can't provide chemical test reports? A: We need them for EU compliance. If you don't have them, you'll need to get testing done. We can recommend labs.
Q: How long does the trial batch take? A: Usually 2–4 weeks, depending on your production schedule and lab turnaround for testing.
Q: What happens after approval? A: You're part of our approved network. We order from you, monitor compliance, and stay in touch. It's a working relationship, not a one-time approval.