A cosmetic packaging project is not a purchase; it is a sequence of decisions, each of which locks something the next one depends on. This page is the sequence we actually run, what we need from you at each step, and where the time really goes.
At a glance
- StepsInquiry → drawing → quotation → sample → approval → mass production → QC → shipment
- Quotation needsProduct type, capacity, material, dimensions, colour, decoration, quantity, destination country
- Custom sampleUSD 100–200 · about 7–10 days
- Production25–35 days after specifications are confirmed
- New mould35–42 days, depending on structure
- Tubes MOQ10,000 pcs for AS/PE tubes
The eight steps
- InquiryYou send a photo, a drawing, a reference sample or a target look. We do not need a finished specification to start — we need to know what product goes inside.
- Drawing & feasibilityStructure, wall thickness, capacity and decoration are checked against what the mould and the printing process can actually hold. This is where an impossible reference usually becomes a workable one.
- QuotationPrice, MOQ, tooling, sample cost, lead time and delivery terms in writing — with the specification line items stated, so two quotes can be compared on the same basis.
- SampleA stock sample for look and feel, or a customised sample when colour, printing or finishing has to be judged.
- ApprovalThe signed sample and the written specification become the quality reference for everything that follows. See Sampling & Mold Development.
- Mass productionProduction runs against the approved sample; decoration and assembly follow in sequence, not in parallel.
- Quality controlAQL Level II inspection plus the functional tests that apply to the item. See Quality Control.
- ShipmentExpress, air, sea, rail or road, on your forwarder or ours, under the Incoterm we agreed. See Shipping & Global Supply.
Four decisions that move the whole schedule
| Decision | What it locks | Cost if changed late |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Capacity, wall thickness, which mould is used | New tooling and a new sample cycle |
| Colour | Raw material batch, spray or metallization route | Re-matching, and a colour that will not match the previous run exactly |
| Decoration | Artwork, plate or screen set-up, registration tolerance | New plates and a re-run of the print stage |
| Quantity | Machine set-up amortisation, carton plan, freight mode | Re-quoting, and a carton plan that no longer fits the container |
Where projects lose time
- Artwork arrives after the sample. Print position and tolerance can only be judged against final artwork; approving a plain sample and then designing is the most common delay we see.
- Colour approved from a photograph. A screen shows a rendering; the physical chip and the sprayed part are what your buyer will hold.
- MOQ decided at order stage. Below-MOQ runs are possible, but they need planning before the material is ordered, not after.
- Compliance documents requested at shipping. If your market needs a specific report, raise it before sampling. See the compliance question.
What you should receive in writing
- Specification: material, capacity, dimensions, weight, colour reference, decoration and finish.
- Price, MOQ, tooling cost and sample cost, each stated separately.
- Lead time counted from the confirmed date, not from the enquiry.
- Payment and delivery terms — 50% deposit and 50% before dispatch is our standard; see payment terms.
If you only have a photo, start there. Send the picture, the product it will hold and the quantity you have in mind. We will come back with the material and process that fit, the MOQ that applies, and the two or three specifications that would change the price.
Ready to begin? Start a project — or browse the packaging we make first.