Nine problems brands face with a manufacturer
Nine problems a brand can run into when it hires a manufacturer. For each one: what it costs, how we approach it, and what we will not promise.
Where we do not publish a number, it is shared with your quote.
- Quality changes between batchesThe first batch looked right. The second one did not match it, and now you are the one answering to your customer.
- Minimum orders are too highI only want to test this product before I commit money to a large run.
- Sampling is slowI sent my design three weeks ago and I still have not seen a sample.
- Lead times are long and unclearEvery time I ask when it will ship, I get a different answer.
- Damage in transitThe product was fine when it left. Half the glass was broken when it arrived.
- Who creates the artwork?I have a product idea but no designer, or I have a designer but no factory that can print what they make.
- Confidentiality of my brandIf I show my design to a factory, what stops them selling the same thing to someone else?
- Payments and paperworkI do not know who I am paying, what the invoice will say, or what happens if the goods are wrong.
- Reorders go coldThe first order went well. The second order took a month to restart and came out slightly different.
Inconsistent quality between batches
The problem in a buyer’s words
“The first batch looked right. The second one did not match it, and now you are the one answering to your customer.”
What it costs you
Returns, unhappy end customers, bad reviews on your own brand, and hours spent opening cartons to check what arrived.
How ArtzFolio approaches it
- Work runs in four stages: design and development, production planning, production and quality control, and packaging and logistics.
- Technical specifications, design files and prototypes are agreed first, and iterating on product samples is part of that stage.
- Photo frames and pinboards are ready-to-use products that need no assembly.
What we will not promise
We do not publish test standards, inspection reports or defect rates on this site.
Questions to ask any manufacturer
- Ask any manufacturer for a written specification with sizes, materials and colours, and keep it next to the approved sample.
- Ask what is checked on the first unit, during the run and at packing, and ask to see that in writing.
- Compare the first delivered batch with the approved sample on the day it arrives, before you ship onward.
Products this applies to: Photo frames, Pin and bulletin boards.
Minimum orders that are too high to test a product
The problem in a buyer’s words
“I only want to test this product before I commit money to a large run.”
What it costs you
Cash tied up in stock that may not sell, or a good product idea that never gets tested.
How ArtzFolio approaches it
- ArtzFolio offers contract manufacturing services to businesses and individuals.
- Customisation covers material, printing technique, product dimensions, packaging and branding, so you can describe exactly what you want.
- We do not print a minimum order figure on this site. Tell us the product and the quantity you have in mind when you enquire.
What we will not promise
We do not publish a minimum order quantity on this site. The minimum for your product and quantity is shared with your quote.
Questions to ask any manufacturer
- Ask for the minimum for the exact size, material and finish you want, not for the category in general.
- Ask whether the minimum changes if you take one size or colour only.
- Ask what you can see and check before the first full run.
Products this applies to: Photo frames, Wall paintings.
Slow sampling that delays your launch
The problem in a buyer’s words
“I sent my design three weeks ago and I still have not seen a sample.”
What it costs you
A launch date that keeps moving, a season missed, and a supplier you can no longer plan around.
How ArtzFolio approaches it
- Design and development is the first stage of the process and it covers technical specifications, design files, prototypes and iterating on product samples.
- Iterating on product samples is part of that first stage, which also covers technical specifications and design files.
What we will not promise
We do not publish a sample policy, a sample price or a sampling time on this site. Sample terms are shared with your quote.
Questions to ask any manufacturer
- Send the final artwork file, the size and the material in your first message so that nothing has to be asked twice.
- Ask for a date on which the sample will be dispatched, and ask who decides when it is good enough.
- Approve in writing so that the approved sample is the reference for the production run.
Products this applies to: Photo frames, Pin and bulletin boards.
Long and unpredictable lead times
The problem in a buyer’s words
“Every time I ask when it will ship, I get a different answer.”
What it costs you
Empty shelves, missed festival dates, and advertising spend running with nothing to sell.
How ArtzFolio approaches it
- Production planning is the second of the four stages.
- Packaging and logistics is the last stage, and it comes with logistics assistance.
What we will not promise
We do not publish a lead time or a dispatch promise on this site.
Questions to ask any manufacturer
- Ask for the lead time counted from approval of the sample, not from the date of enquiry.
- Ask what would delay the date, such as late artwork or a change of material.
- Plan your own launch date with a buffer after the promised dispatch date.
Products this applies to: Wall paintings, Fabric, upholstery and soft furnishing printing.
Damage in transit
The problem in a buyer’s words
“The product was fine when it left. Half the glass was broken when it arrived.”
What it costs you
Refunds and replacements, courier claims that take weeks, and customers who do not come back.
How ArtzFolio approaches it
- Packaging is one of the things you can customise, along with material, printing, size and branding.
- Packaging and logistics is the last stage of the process, and logistics assistance is part of it.
What we will not promise
We do not publish packaging test results, courier size limits or damage rates on this site, and we do not state a shipping basis here.
Questions to ask any manufacturer
- Ask how a product with glass or acrylic is packed and how many units go in one carton.
- Ask who is responsible for damage between the factory and your warehouse before you agree the shipping basis.
- Photograph the first delivered carton before opening it, and keep the photos.
Products this applies to: Photo frames, Wall paintings.
Design and artwork supply: who creates the art?
The problem in a buyer’s words
“I have a product idea but no designer, or I have a designer but no factory that can print what they make.”
What it costs you
A long chain of freelancers and vendors, files that do not match the machine, and colours that change on the way.
How ArtzFolio approaches it
- ArtzFolio provides both OEM and ODM services.
- Design and development covers technical specifications, design files and prototypes.
- Art prints can be made on canvas, paper, fabrics, glass, wood, metal and marble, and large art can be split into multiple panels.
What we will not promise
We do not publish design counts on this site.
Questions to ask any manufacturer
- Send artwork at the largest size you have, in the original file format, together with the final size of the product.
- Say plainly who owns the artwork, so that there is no doubt later.
- Ask for a printed proof on the actual material, because a screen never shows the finish.
Products this applies to: Wall art, Wall paintings, Personalised photo collages.
Confidentiality of your brand and designs
The problem in a buyer’s words
“If I show my design to a factory, what stops them selling the same thing to someone else?”
What it costs you
Copycat products on a marketplace, a price war on your own idea, and no way to prove who made it first.
How ArtzFolio approaches it
- ArtzFolio provides both OEM and ODM services, and branding is one of the customisation options, so the product can carry your brand.
- ArtzFolio.com is a registered trademark of Vishnu Image Folio Pvt. Ltd., the company behind this site.
- We do not publish a confidentiality policy on this site.
What we will not promise
We do not publish a non-disclosure policy, an exclusivity promise or a list of clients on this site, and we do not show client logos.
Questions to ask any manufacturer
- Ask for a signed confidentiality agreement before you send unreleased artwork.
- Ask whether your design may be shown to other buyers and get the answer in writing.
- Keep dated copies of your original files so that you can show when they were created.
Products this applies to: Wall art, Photo frames.
Payment and invoice paperwork risk
The problem in a buyer’s words
“I do not know who I am paying, what the invoice will say, or what happens if the goods are wrong.”
What it costs you
Money sent to the wrong party or an invoice you cannot claim.
How ArtzFolio approaches it
- The company behind ArtzFolio is Vishnu Image Folio Pvt. Ltd., which is also the owner of the ArtzFolio.com trademark.
- This site states no payment terms, tax numbers or shipping terms. Payment terms are shared with your quote.
What we will not promise
We do not publish payment percentages, tax numbers, registered addresses or shipping terms on this site.
Questions to ask any manufacturer
- Ask for the legal name that will appear on the invoice and check it against what you are told here.
- Ask for the payment schedule in writing before you pay anything.
- Ask which documents will be supplied with the order and who is responsible for each one.
Reorders that go cold
The problem in a buyer’s words
“The first order went well. The second order took a month to restart and came out slightly different.”
What it costs you
A best-seller that goes out of stock, and a product that no longer matches the listing photos.
How ArtzFolio approaches it
- Technical specifications and design files are part of design and development, the first stage.
- Material, printing technique, size, packaging and branding are all set out as customisation options, which gives you a checklist to repeat.
What we will not promise
We do not publish reorder lead times, price protection or stock-holding promises on this site.
Questions to ask any manufacturer
- Keep the approved sample, the specification and the artwork file together, and give the same set for every repeat order.
- Ask whether a change in raw material since the last order is expected, and ask to see a fresh sample if so.
- Plan the repeat order before stock runs low, using the dispatch date you were given on the first order.