The lead time for a bulk order of water bottles is the sum of three windows — specification and artwork, sampling, then production — plus freight. Quoting only the production window is how a delivery date gets missed, because production is the one part of the chain you do not control.
The chain
| Window | Duration | What compresses it |
|---|---|---|
| Specification and artwork | Hours to weeks | A complete brief with vector artwork |
| Sampling | 3–7 days from catalogue moulds | Choosing a stock body, colour and fitment |
| Sample approval | As fast as you decide | Having the decision-maker available |
| Production | 10–25 days after approval | Fewer print positions, a stock colour |
| Freight | Route dependent | The Incoterm and the port |
Why the production window is wide
Decoration explains most of the spread. A stock body in a stock colour with a single screen goes through fast; a custom Pantone with multi-position printing and a printed retail box adds a coating changeover, several print setups and a separate packaging lead time. Planning for the short end of the range is the most common scheduling error in this trade.
Capacity is a real constraint
Our published capacity is around 150,000 pieces a week, or roughly 600,000 a month. That is a line constraint rather than a marketing figure, which means a large run in a peak month competes with every other large run in that month. Booking early is not a courtesy, it is the only way to hold a date.
Questions buyers ask
Can you hold a date months ahead?
By reserving line time against a confirmed specification. An unconfirmed specification cannot hold a slot, because it cannot be scheduled.
Does a reorder take as long?
No. A reorder with no change skips the specification and sample stages and re-enters the production window directly.
Should I air freight the first order?
Sometimes, for a launch date that cannot move. It is a cost decision rather than a lead-time one, and it is worth costing before it is needed.
Work backwards from your launch date with the process page, or send the brief and we will tell you what is achievable.
