Before the deposit
A first order is a trust exercise with a paper trail. Make the paper trail boring and explicit.
- Approve a golden sample and keep a signed copy.
- Agree on the inspection standard and who pays for rework.
- Confirm packaging, labeling and carton marks.
- Put the production timeline in writing, including Chinese New Year.
- Agree on the communication cadence and escalation contact.
A useful question
"What are the three most common reasons a first order is delayed here?"
The answer tells you more than a brochure.