Case Study: Custom Ladder Lock for a Sportswear Brand in Brazil
Source:Custom Branded Soccer Balls /
Time:2026-09-18
Ladder Lock for a Sportswear Brand in Brazil
A Sportswear Brand approached us with a ladder lock requirement for the Brazil 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
- Shrinkage that only showed up after the first wash
- Cartons packed to the factory ratio instead of the buyer's size ratio
- Shade drift between the approved lab dip and the bulk lot
What we specified
| Item | Ladder Lock |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Sportswear Brand |
| Market | Brazil |
| Order volume | 20,000 pieces across 2 specifications |
| Base material | Silicone |
| Standard size | 25 mm Width |
| Finish | Yarn-Dyed Finish |
| Sampling rounds | 2 |
| Delivery window | 5 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | REACH SVHC Screening |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Silicone and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Anodised 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
- 20,000 pieces delivered inside the 5-week window.
- Unit cost held within 3.0% 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
Fix the specification count early. Adding variants after production starts is the most expensive change a client can request.
Planning something similar?
If you are comparing suppliers, send us the spec they quoted against. We will quote the same spec and show you where the difference sits.
