Metal Button Sourcing Program for Independent Boutiques
Metal Button Programme for Independent Boutiques
This programme covers the full path from a metal button requirement to a repeatable bulk supply for independent boutiques. Instead of buying whatever a catalogue happens to stock, you specify the base material, the 5# Gauge, the finish and the packing, and we hold that specification so every reorder matches the last one.
The most common failure in metal button sourcing is not price — it is drift. A base material changes mill, the shade moves, a plating bath changes and the item quietly stops matching the approved sample. We prevent that with a written spec, an approved counter sample and a golden sample retained at the factory.
What the programme covers
- Specification build from your tech pack or a physical reference sample
- Base material and finish options with costed alternatives
- Sampling, testing and approval against California Prop 65
- Bulk production with in-line inspection and photo reporting
- Packing, documentation and shipment under the agreed Incoterm
Recommended specifications
- Nickel Silver — selected for colour depth and finish stability
- Aluminium — chosen when the item has to survive repeated laundering
- Bamboo — selected for colour depth and finish stability
- PU Leather — chosen when the item has to survive repeated laundering
Programme parameters
| Item | Metal Button |
|---|---|
| Target sector | Independent Boutiques |
| Standard size | 5# Gauge |
| Finish options | Yarn-Dyed Finish, Gunmetal Finish, Rose Gold Plating |
| Processes | Epoxy Coating, Laminating, Digital Printing |
| MOQ | 500 pieces per specification |
| Sampling | 10 working days, 3 days per revision |
| Bulk lead time | 15-30 days |
| Compliance | California Prop 65 |
| Delivery terms | EXW / FOB / CIF / DDP |
Why buyers choose this route
- Golden sample retained at the factory and a second one held by the buyer
- MOQ quoted per style per colourway, stated before sampling starts
- Trim and fabric sourced from audited mills with test reports on file
- AQL inspection on every bulk lot with photo reporting before balance payment
- Costed alternatives shown at quotation so the trade-off is visible
How the programme runs
- Discovery call: quantity, target price, delivery window and compliance needs
- Material and finish proposal with costed alternatives
- Counter sample built from your tech pack or reference sample
- Approval, testing and pre-production sign-off
- Bulk production with in-line inspection and photo reporting
- Packing, documentation and shipment under the agreed Incoterm
FAQ
Can you handle our own artwork or tooling?
Yes. Artwork files or existing tooling can be used; we confirm tolerances in writing before the first production run.
Do you hold stock for reorders?
Approved specifications are kept on file and, for repeat programmes, base material can be reserved against a rolling forecast.
What happens if a bulk lot fails inspection?
The lot is reworked or remade at our cost. Inspection reports are shared before the balance payment is due.
What is the minimum order quantity?
Standard MOQ is 500 per style per colour. Mixed colourways can be combined on the same spec if the base material is identical.
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.
