Case Study: Custom Zipper Guard for a Footwear Factory in Chile
Source:Custom Glass Ornaments /
Time:2026-09-18
Zipper Guard for a Footwear Factory in Chile
A Footwear Factory approached us with a zipper guard requirement for the Chile 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
- Lead time quoted without the plating or dyeing sub-process
- Reorders that quietly changed supplier and changed the hand feel
- MOQ that was quoted per colourway rather than per style
What we specified
| Item | Zipper Guard |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Footwear Factory |
| Market | Chile |
| Order volume | 10,000 pieces across 3 specifications |
| Base material | Stainless Steel |
| Standard size | 12 mm Width |
| Finish | Powder Coating |
| Sampling rounds | 2 |
| Delivery window | 8 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | Sedex SMETA |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Stainless Steel 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 8-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
Keep one accountable owner on both sides. Most delays come from hand-offs, not from machines.
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.
