Case Study: Custom Wooden Button for an Independent Boutique in China
Source:Vintage Embroidery Ribbon /
Time:2026-09-18
Wooden Button for an Independent Boutique in China
An Independent Boutique approached us with a wooden button requirement for the China 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
- MOQ that was quoted per colourway rather than per style
- A compliance document that arrived after the goods were already shipped
- Lead time quoted without the plating or dyeing sub-process
What we specified
| Item | Wooden Button |
|---|---|
| Client type | An Independent Boutique |
| Market | China |
| Order volume | 10,000 pieces across 3 specifications |
| Base material | Neoprene |
| Standard size | 6 mm Width |
| Finish | Antique Copper Finish |
| Sampling rounds | 3 |
| Delivery window | 10 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | Sedex SMETA |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Neoprene and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Brushed Silver Finish 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
- 10,000 pieces delivered inside the 10-week window.
- Unit cost held within 4.5% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 1.5%.
- The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Keep one accountable owner on both sides. Most delays come from hand-offs, not from machines.
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.
