Business Model Reviews
One Way Export: Construction Materials & Finishes from China
Dec
China has become a major hub for SPC flooring, wall panels, waterproofing, smart glass and many other building materials used in homes, hotels and commercial projects worldwide.
One Way Export helps you source these products, consolidate them in our China warehouse, and ship them to your country so you can supply contractors, developers and retailers with modern, competitive materials.
Key Product Types and Profit Overview
Below is a simplified view of common items, typical China factory ranges and realistic resale ranges. Real numbers depend on quality, specs, certification and order size.
Typical Price & Profit Snapshot
| Product Type (China Origin) | Typical China Cost (per m² / unit)* | Typical Resale Range (Outside China)* | Profit Potential Overview |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPC flooring (click‑lock planks, tiles) | ~£6–£15 per m² | ~£20–£45 per m² (retail / small project) | Strong, especially on projects |
| SPC / “soft stone” wall panels & decorative panels | ~£8–£20 per m² | ~£30–£70 per m² | Strong, design‑driven |
| WPC / bamboo fiber wallboards & cladding | ~£10–£25 per m² | ~£35–£80 per m² | Strong, especially feature walls |
| Smart glass / switchable film (PVC or glass units) | ~£60–£150 per m² (film cheaper, glass higher) | ~£180–£400+ per m² depending on market | High, but technical and niche |
| Air ventilators / exhaust fans | ~£10–£40 per unit | ~£40–£120 per unit | Medium–high |
| Floral mosaic & decorative wall tiles/panels | ~£12–£30 per m² | ~£40–£100 per m² | Strong in retail/design markets |
| Epoxy floor coatings & sand‑epoxy systems | ~£3–£10 per kg / component | Packaged as systems with 2–4x landed cost | Medium–high |
| Liquid waterproof membranes & roofing waterproof products | ~£1.50–£5 per kg / litre | 2–4x landed cost depending on branding | Medium |
| Digital / smart door locks | ~£20–£80 per lock | ~£80–£250 per lock | High if certified & supported |
| General hardware (tabs, small fittings, trims, profiles) | Pennies–a few pounds per piece | Sold as part of system with strong margin | Add‑on profit |
*These are broad working ranges for explanation, not quotes.
Business Model: How to Use These Products
For each category, there are two main ways to make money:
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Project supply (B2B)
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Sell directly to builders, interior designers, hotels, offices and developers.
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Profit comes from volume and system supply: flooring + wall panels + trims + glue + accessories.
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Retail / distribution (B2C/B2B2C)
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Sell through a showroom, online store, or to smaller local shops.
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Profit comes from higher per‑m² or per‑piece price, with more focus on design and samples.
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One Way Export can help you create packages (for example: SPC flooring + matching skirting + tabs + WPC wall panels + digital locks) so you supply a complete look instead of just single items.
Risk Score by Product Category
Risk score: 1 = low, 5 = high. This combines quality risk, certification risk, logistics and market risk.
| Category | Main Risks | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|
| SPC flooring & SPC wall panels | Thickness, click system quality, wear layer, certificates, colour variation | 3 |
| Soft stone / decorative wall panels (SPC/WPC/PS etc.) | Colour consistency, fire rating, adhesion, bending, shipping damage | 3–4 |
| Bamboo fiber / natural composite wallboards | Moisture resistance, formaldehyde/VOC levels, stability | 3–4 |
| Smart glass / switchable film | Electrical reliability, safety glass standards, install know‑how | 4–5 |
| Air ventilators & exhaust fans | Motor quality, noise level, safety marks (CE, etc.) | 3–4 |
| Mosaic & decorative wall panels | Colour batch differences, chip bonding, breakage during shipping | 3 |
| Epoxy floor paint & sand systems | Correct mixing, performance, chemical standards, flammability | 4 |
| Liquid waterproof membranes & roofing materials | Real waterproof performance, application method, climate suitability | 4 |
| Digital locks | Electronics reliability, security standards, software/firmware issues | 4–5 |
| General hardware tabs/fittings | Tolerance, strength, surface treatment | 2–3 |
One Way Export can reduce these risks with better sampling, documentation and inspection, but you still need to choose the right categories for your local standards and market.
How One Way Export Fits into This Construction Model
For construction materials, the key is specification + consistency + compliance, not just low price.
One Way Export can:
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Source and compare factories
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SPC flooring and wall panels (different thicknesses, wear layers, click systems).
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WPC and bamboo fibre wallboards, acoustic and decorative panels.
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Waterproof membranes, epoxy coatings and roofing systems.
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Smart glass film/glass, digital locks, ventilators and accessories.
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Check standards and documentation
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Ask suppliers for test reports (for example fire rating, slip resistance, VOC emissions, CE‑related reports) and basic quality certificates.
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Help you understand what your local market typically expects (for example documentation for EU, UK or other local building standards).
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Warehouse & consolidate
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Receive SPC flooring, panels, adhesives, trims, digital locks and accessories from different factories into one warehouse.
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Consolidate into FCL or LCL shipments according to your project schedule.
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Organise shipping & landed cost
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Help calculate total landed cost per m² or per unit so you know your real profit.
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Arrange sea freight (often the best option for heavy building materials) and documentation for customs.
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Example: Profit and Risk in Practice
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SPC flooring & WPC wall panels for interiors
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Buy at around £10–£15 per m² landed (including shipping and duty) for good‑quality products.
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Sell to projects or retail at around £30–£50 per m² depending on design and service.
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Gross margin per m² can be roughly £15–£30 before local labour, showroom and marketing.
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Smart digital locks + SPC flooring package
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Floor margins are strong and predictable; digital locks add a high‑margin upsell per door.
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Both require attention to certification and after‑sales support but can make your offering more “premium” than local competitors.
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If you tell One Way Export which market you serve (for example: UK refurb, hotel projects, overseas developers) and which of these items interest you most, we can help design a product mix and sourcing plan that balances profit and risk for your construction‑materials business.
