OEM and Private Label Checklist
Fourteen things to settle before artwork goes to print. Most own-brand problems are decided in the first email and discovered in the container.
An own-brand programme fails for procedural reasons far more often than technical ones. The product was fine; the barcode format was wrong, or the colour was approved from a photograph.
This is the list worth working through before any artwork is produced.
Before You Ask for a Price
Settle four things first: the base model numbers, the quantity per model, the destination market, and whether the carton will be printed or plain. A printed carton usually carries a different minimum order quantity from a plain one, so the price is not comparable without it.
Send your company name and email with the enquiry. The source site asks for exactly this set of information, which is a good sign that quoting is straightforward when it is provided.
What to Specify
Colour reference as a recognised standard rather than a description. Logo artwork as vector files with the placement marked. Label content including any regulatory text your market requires. Carton print, barcode format and carton markings. Packing method, because it sets the container quantity.
Then ask which of those are fixed and which are open. Frame geometry and tooling are usually fixed; colour and packaging are usually open.
| Item | Send as | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Recognised colour standard reference | A described colour is not a specification |
| Logo | Vector artwork with placement marked | Raster logos reproduce badly at scale |
| Label | Full text including regulatory wording | Market requirements differ across regions |
| Barcode | Format and number range | Retail systems reject the wrong format |
| Carton | Print artwork and markings | Affects both cost and container quantity |
| Packing | Knocked down, nested or assembled | Sets units per container and landed cost |
Approve a Physical Sample
A photograph is not an approval. Colour reproduces differently on every screen, and a sample is the only way to check a finish, a weld or a fold.
Build sample time into the launch date rather than discovering it afterwards. This is the single most common reason own-brand launches slip.
What the Source Site Does Not Publish
Minimum order quantities, tooling costs, lead times, payment terms, warranty terms and certifications are not published on qdrenwei.com. None of them are assumed here.
Ask for all six in writing before committing artwork or a launch date. A supplier that answers them clearly is a supplier you can plan around.
Keep the Record
File the approved sample, the signed artwork, the packing specification and the confirmed loading quantity together. The second order then becomes a repeat rather than a renegotiation.
This is worth more on the third order than on the first.
Key Takeaways
- Settle models, quantity, market and carton type before asking for a price
- Specify colour and artwork as standards and vector files, not descriptions
- Approve a physical sample, never a photograph
- Get MOQ, tooling, lead time, terms, warranty and certification in writing
- File the approved sample and artwork for re-orders
Products Mentioned in This Guide
Where to Go Next in the Catalogue
The Most Popular Products
Garden Cart
Child Vehicle
Pet Carriers
Solutions Related to This Guide
Private Label and OEM
Sample and First Order
Export Packing and Documentation
Questions About This Guide
What information should a first OEM enquiry contain?
Model numbers, quantity per model, destination port or market, your company name and email, and whether you need printed or plain cartons.
Is a photograph enough to approve a colour?
No. Screens reproduce colour differently. Approve a physical sample against a recognised colour standard.
What is the minimum order for an own-brand run?
Not published on the source site. Ask against the specific models and the branding you want, because printed packaging usually carries its own minimum.
Continue Reading
Rubber Products and Moulding Basics
Container Loading for Bulky Goods
Greenhouse Frame and Cover Specification Guide
Apply This to Your Own Specification
Send the measurements, loads and surfaces described in this guide and the sales desk will come back with model numbers rather than a brochure.