A sample round exists to answer a question, and the round goes wrong when the question was never written down. A brief that names the item, the quantity, the colour reference, the decoration method and the destination market is what makes the first sample useful rather than illustrative.
What goes into a brief
- The item or the closest catalogue item number. If it is not in the catalogue, a drawing or a photograph with dimensions.
- The quantity you expect to order. Not a range — the number you will actually commit to, because it decides whether tooling is involved.
- The destination market. Which decides the document set before the colour is even discussed.
- The decoration. Method if you have a preference, and artwork as vector regardless.
- The deadline you are working to. A launch date changes what is achievable and it is better known on day one than day twenty.
The rounds
| Stage | The question it answers |
|---|---|
| Mockup | Does the artwork read at the size and position intended |
| First sample | Does the colour, the decoration and the lid meet the specification |
| Functional test | Does it hold vacuum, seal, and keep the temperature claimed |
| Revised sample | Do the changes made after round one land correctly |
| Approved sample | The production reference — photographed, kept, and quoted against |
The approved sample is a document
Once a sample is approved it becomes the definition of what production must deliver. If it exists only as a piece of metal in a showroom, a later dispute has nothing to compare against. Photograph it from four angles, note the item number, the colour reference and the date, and keep the file with the order. That is the cheapest insurance in the whole programme.
Questions buyers ask
How many rounds should I budget for?
One is normal for a catalogue item with a straightforward logo. Two or three is normal for a custom colour plus multi-position decoration.
Should the sample be the exact colour?
It should be the colour with the tolerance you have agreed. A sample that is perfect and unrepeatable is not useful if the production run cannot hold it.
Can I test the sample myself?
Yes, and you should — the destination market's own testing is your risk, not ours. Ask for the test method we used so the two results are comparable.
Samples from catalogue moulds run in 3–7 days; the samples page sets out the routes and what a mockup will and will not tell you.
