Sample approval checklist before bulk production
The sample is the quality standard for everything that follows. If the approval is vague, the bulk order has no standard to be measured against, and a dispute becomes one person's memory against another's. This checklist exists to make the approval specific enough to be enforceable.
Order the sample properly
Ask for the sample in the actual configuration you intend to buy, not the closest available. That means the right fibre, curl, length, band and count, and ideally the intended packaging. A sample of the right lash in the wrong band tells you very little, because the band is what customers complain about. If packaging is part of your order, get a packaging sample too, as a physical proof rather than a screen file.
Check the lash itself
Compare against a reference rather than judging in isolation. Put a known lash next to it and assess these.
- Fibre feel — soft or stiff, and whether it matches the description you were sold
- Curl — does the shape hold when you flex it, or does it flatten
- Tip taper — do the tips thin gradually, or end bluntly
- Length consistency — measure several lashes across the tray, not just one
- Density — is the lash full across its whole length, or sparse at the ends
- Band — type, width, thickness and how it feels against skin
- Finish and cleanliness — no stray fibres, no visible adhesive, no kinks
Check the band specifically
The band causes more returns and complaints than the fibre. Flex it, check it does not crack or separate, confirm the width is even along the whole strip, and confirm the type matches what was quoted — a thin band and a standard black cotton band are different products at the same price. If the lash is meant to be reusable, check the band survives a careful removal.
Check the packaging
A physical proof, on the real stock, with the real finish. Check colour against your reference rather than against the screen, confirm the size holds the product without movement, check every element you paid for is present, and confirm the barcode, material text and any required market marks. Photograph the proof from the angles your customer will see.
Wear them before approving
Apply the sample and wear it for a few hours rather than judging it in the tray. Note how it feels, whether the band irritates, whether the curl drops, and how it looks in daylight and in photographs. A lash that photographs well and irritates after an hour is a return waiting to happen.
Record the approval in writing
This is the step that protects you. Put the approval in a message or document with these details attached.
- The exact style codes, fibre, curl, length, band and count approved
- The packaging specification and, where relevant, the printed proof reference
- The quantity approved and the unit price at that quantity
- A statement that this sample is the quality standard for the bulk order
- The photographs you took, labelled with the style codes
What to do when the sample is wrong
Say so immediately and specifically, and send a photograph of the problem next to the reference. Vague dissatisfaction produces a vague second sample. If two sample rounds cannot get to an acceptable standard, that is useful information about the supplier and is far cheaper to learn now than after a bulk payment.
After the sample is approved
Keep the approved sample. Physically keep one unit sealed and labelled with the style code and the approval date, and keep your photographs in the same place. When the bulk shipment arrives, check it against that sample before accepting or distributing anything — and check it while you still have leverage, not after you have sold the stock.
Next step
Samples are the cheapest way to reduce risk on a first order, so it is worth requesting them across several styles before deciding on a range. Shortlist styles from the catalogue, add your intended quantities, and send an inquiry list — or write to [email protected] to ask about sampling for the styles you are considering.