Case Study: Custom Cord End for a Footwear Factory in Kenya
Source:Vintage Embroidery Ribbon /
Time:2026-09-18
Cord End for a Footwear Factory in Kenya
A Footwear Factory approached us with a cord end requirement for the Kenya 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
- Cartons packed to the factory ratio instead of the buyer's size ratio
- Lead time quoted without the plating or dyeing sub-process
- Reorders that quietly changed supplier and changed the hand feel
What we specified
| Item | Cord End |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Footwear Factory |
| Market | Kenya |
| Order volume | 100,000 pieces across 4 specifications |
| Base material | Zinc Alloy |
| Standard size | 8# Gauge |
| Finish | Anodised Finish |
| Sampling rounds | 3 |
| Delivery window | 5 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | EN 71-3 |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Zinc Alloy and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Soft-Touch Rubber 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
- 100,000 pieces delivered inside the 5-week window.
- Unit cost held within 1.5% 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
Keep one accountable owner on both sides. Most delays come from hand-offs, not from machines.
Planning something similar?
Send the reference sample or tech pack and we will come back with a costed specification, a sampling timetable and the compliance documents your market requires.
