5 Mistakes Brands Make During Production

Going through the production process can seem a little overwhelming and with so much to be accounted for, things often get lost along the way, fall through the cracks and create missed opportunities. Here are 5 mistakes brands often make during production, and how they can be avoided.

1 | Not Being Ready 
Not knowing what the production process entails can cause confusion and misunderstandings between you and your factory. Always have a clear design and understanding of the production process before it begins so that you aren't running into any problems during the process and avoid messing with production times. 

2 | No Product Development Done
Although you'll be going through the development with your factory directly, any design and prototyping should be done beforehand. Having at least a tech pack will show you are ready to work with a factory and give them the best information to provide an accurate quote. 

3 | Poor Emails to Factories 
When communicating with your factory don't be afraid to ask them specifics, they are on your side. Factories are often working with other brands, and with all of the steps involved during production, things can get lost in translation and easily missed if you're not being specific. Always use your business email, have a strong subject line, and try using an easy to read template that they can fill in quickly and clearly. 

4 | No Follow-ups
These days hearing back from email communication takes a little work. For your first outreach email, follow up, follow up, follow up. This way if the factory is busy, you have tried to get to the top of their inbox a few times. Once in production, communication is key. Scheduling weekly follow up's with your factory and taking advantage of video calls will help minimize confusion on both ends. 

5 | Not Accounting for Minimums
It is a lot of work for a factory to train their staff on a new collection, so that is why lower quantities cost more. If you are only ordering 50 pieces, many factories will not work with you and if they do, you will pay a fortune for it. Do your research, ask what their MOQs are, and be prepared to meet that. Don't forget, fabric mills have minimums too, and sometimes they are higher than your factory so you may still order more than you plan. 

Production has a lot of moving parts and if you are new to it, it can be overwhelming. To be prepared check out our Production Pro course for all the training and templates you will need to do it right the first time. If you are already a pro, join our Ethical Manufacturing Platform to get in touch with the best ethical factories today.

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