Freddy started young. At nine, he was selling water bottles at the end of his street. By his early teens, he’d tried soccer coaching and a handful of other ventures. But he wanted something more — a proper business he could build and run himself.
The idea was Ozsocks: fun, distinctly Australian-inspired socks featuring icons like the swooping magpie and the bin chicken — with a social edge. Freddy donates $1 from every pair sold to the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
But getting from idea to product was harder than expected. Finding a manufacturer with the right quality, a fair minimum order quantity, and a price that worked for a first-time founder — without getting burned — felt nearly impossible. That’s when Freddy found Epic Sourcing.
Get a sourcing agency. It’s a worthwhile investment. It’s really hard to find a good manufacturer without one.
Freddy — Founder, Ozsocks
Freddy chose Epic because the pricing was transparent and the reviews were strong. What followed was a sourcing process that was smooth, straightforward, and exactly what a first-time founder needed — real options, real guidance, and a team that did the hard work of finding the right manufacturer so he didn’t have to.
Epic sourced and shortlisted manufacturers suited to Freddy’s requirements — presenting options across different quality tiers, MOQs, and price points so he could make an informed choice rather than gamble on Alibaba alone.
Getting that first sample in hand was a milestone Freddy describes vividly. Epic managed the sampling process from briefing the manufacturer through to delivery — turning a digital concept into a physical product he could hold and evaluate.
Finding a trustworthy supplier was Freddy’s biggest concern. Epic handled the due diligence — verifying manufacturers, assessing quality capability, and filtering out the unreliable options that would have wasted time and money for a first-time buyer.
As Ozsocks grew from its first design to 15+, Epic’s sourcing infrastructure scaled with it. Rather than starting from scratch with each new design, Freddy had an established supply chain and a team that already understood his product and standards.
You started selling water bottles at nine years old. What made you want to launch a proper business?
I was always interested in e-commerce from a young age. I tried things like soccer coaching and other little ventures, but I wanted something I could really build and run. I decided on Ozsocks — and a year in, it’s been great.
What was your biggest challenge getting started?
Finding a manufacturer. It’s hard to find one with a good MOQ that isn’t way too high, at a good price, with good quality — and someone you can actually trust. I was looking into sourcing agencies and Epic was one of the first I found. The pricing was good, the reviews were strong, and it just stood out.
What was it like getting your first sample?
An amazing moment. I remember the day exactly. You actually get to see the product in your hands instead of just on a screen. The process was really smooth — Epic just gave me choices to compare, I picked my manufacturer, and it went from there. From that first sample, I’ve expanded into over 15 designs.
What’s one thing you’d tell a young founder sitting on a great idea?
Don’t wait until you feel ready. I started when I wasn’t ready and learned as I went. And definitely get a sourcing agency — it’s really hard to find a good manufacturer without one. It’s a worthwhile investment.
Ozsocks launched with a single design. A year later, Freddy has expanded to over 15 designs, a manufacturing relationship he trusts, and a brand with a clear identity — built on personality, purpose, and a $1 donation to Starlight Children’s Foundation with every pair sold.
What Epic gave Freddy wasn’t just a supplier list. It was a smooth, guided entry into a world that can be overwhelming for a first-time founder — and the confidence to keep going, keep designing, and keep building.
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Tell us about your product, your category, and where you are in your journey. We’ll tell you honestly whether Epic is the right fit and what the process looks like.
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Our China and Vietnam-based team identifies and vets manufacturers matched to your product requirements, quality expectations, and budget — presenting you with real, comparable options.
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We manage sampling, quality checks, and production coordination so you can focus on your brand. From first sample to first shipment, we’re with you every step of the way.
