Most delays in a first wholesale order come from missing information, not from production. Quotations get revised, samples get remade and shipping dates slip because a specification was not fixed at the start. This checklist covers what to prepare so your enquiry can be quoted in one round.
A. Commercial information
- Item list with quantities per item
- Target unit price, if you have one — even a range helps the supplier propose the right specification
- Required delivery date, and whether that date is a hard deadline
- Destination port or city, and the Incoterm you expect (FOB, CIF, EXW)
- Whether this is a one-off order or the first of a recurring program
B. Product specification
- Material and construction requirements
- Size, weight and capacity, with tolerances you will accept
- Colour, including a reference (Pantone or a physical swatch)
- Any specification taken from a previous order, with the reference number
C. Branding and artwork
- Logo files in vector format (AI, EPS, PDF or SVG). Raster files should be high resolution.
- Where the logo goes on each item, and in what colour
- Any mandatory text: warnings, ingredients, country of origin, recycling marks
- Artwork approval process — who signs off, and how changes are versioned
D. Packaging
- Inner packaging per item: bag, pouch, sachet, sleeve, box
- Items per inner pack, and inner packs per carton
- Carton marks and labelling requirements
- Export packing requirements if the goods will be transhipped or stored
E. Compliance and documentation
- Any certification or test report your market requires
- Documents you will need to clear customs
- Whether the supplier's own documentation is acceptable in your market
F. Quality and sampling
- Whether a physical sample is required before production, and who pays for it
- What will be inspected, and at which stage
- Acceptable defect level
- How discrepancies are handled after delivery
How to compare the quotations you receive
Compare line by line, not by total. Two quotes can look close while differing on fill weight, packaging, carton quantity or included documentation. Ask each supplier to confirm the same specification sheet, then compare that sheet directly.
The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest order
A lower unit price achieved by reducing fill weight, thinning the slipper sole or downgrading the inner bag costs more in the long run — through guest complaints, reorders and, in distributor programs, returned stock. Decide your minimum acceptable standard first, then negotiate on price.
Our product range lists the specifications we supply. Send your checklist to our sales team and we will quote against it.