Case Study: Custom Shoulder Pad for an Independent Boutique in South Korea
Source:PET Label Stickers /
Time:2026-09-18
Shoulder Pad for an Independent Boutique in South Korea
An Independent Boutique approached us with a shoulder pad requirement for the South Korea 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
- A spec that lived in an email instead of a tech pack
What we specified
| Item | Shoulder Pad |
|---|---|
| Client type | An Independent Boutique |
| Market | South Korea |
| Order volume | 100,000 pieces across 6 specifications |
| Base material | TPU |
| Standard size | 9 mm Width |
| Finish | Epoxy Doming |
| Sampling rounds | 3 |
| Delivery window | 6 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | ISO 14001 |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around TPU and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Epoxy Doming 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
- 100,000 pieces delivered inside the 6-week window.
- Unit cost held within 2.0% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 2.0%.
- The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Approve a pre-production sample made from the actual bulk base material. Substitute material behaves differently in finishing.
Planning something similar?
Share the programme details and we will propose two alternatives — one optimised for unit cost, one for lead time — and let you choose.
