Select samples for a decision
Choose the products and variants that answer the buyer’s stated need. Show a focused range rather than everything you make. Samples should represent normal production, not an exceptional handmade piece that cannot be repeated. Record the batch, date, specification, and approved reference so later production can be compared with what the buyer received.
Design the unboxing around evaluation
Protect every item, organize the order logically, and make codes easy to match with a digital specification. Include only useful material: product name, variant, size, ingredients or materials, shelf life or care where relevant, pack configuration, MOQ, lead time, and contact. Avoid dense brochures that hide the information the buyer needs.
Plan safe and lawful shipping
Check whether the samples face courier, customs, dangerous-goods, food, plant, liquid, battery, alcohol, or temperature restrictions. Agree who pays transport, duties, and testing. Use leak protection, tamper evidence, cushioning, and temperature controls appropriate to the product, and never declare an inaccurate value or description.
Create the follow-up before sending
Photograph the final kit, share tracking, and schedule a review after delivery. Ask the buyer to rate defined criteria such as appearance, function, taste, fit, finish, packaging, and price position. Record feedback by sample code and confirm the next action: revised sample, quotation, compliance check, pilot order, or closure.
Frequently asked questions
Should samples be free?
The policy depends on value and qualification. A supplier may provide low-cost samples free while charging for custom prototypes, a larger kit, or freight, sometimes crediting the fee against an order.
Can a sample replace a written specification?
No. The physical sample and controlled specification should work together; appearance alone cannot define every material, tolerance, formulation, or performance requirement.
What should happen after delivery?
Confirm receipt, hold a structured review, record changes, and agree one concrete next step with an owner and date.