Case Study: Custom Lobster Clasp for a Hotel Group in Portugal
Source:Bulk Blank Postcards /
Time:2026-09-18
Lobster Clasp for a Hotel Group in Portugal
A Hotel Group approached us with a lobster clasp requirement for the Portugal market. The brief was specific: a defined look, a hard launch date and a unit cost that had to survive freight and duty. This case study records what was specified, what went wrong in sampling and how the bulk order was delivered.
The challenge
- A compliance document that arrived after the goods were already shipped
- Elastic that lost recovery after three washes
- Lead time quoted without the plating or dyeing sub-process
What we specified
| Item | Lobster Clasp |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Hotel Group |
| Market | Portugal |
| Order volume | 5,000 pieces across 2 specifications |
| Base material | Ceramic |
| Standard size | 9 mm Width |
| Finish | Antique Brass Plating |
| Sampling rounds | 4 |
| Delivery window | 6 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | AATCC Test Methods |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Ceramic and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Pearlescent Coating after strike-off tests showed better durability.
- A pre-production sample was approved and retained as the golden reference.
- Production ran with in-line inspection and a mid-run photo report.
- Cartons were packed to the client's own barcode and ratio specification.
Result
- 5,000 pieces delivered inside the 6-week window.
- Unit cost held within 1.5% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 1.0%.
- The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Lock the material standard before sampling. Once the base changes, every downstream approval has to be redone and the calendar slips.
Planning something similar?
Tell us the item, the quantity and the delivery window. We will quote it with the sub-processes named, so the lead time you approve is the lead time you get.
