01
A photo of the product
With a ruler or a coin in frame. Often faster than a written size list.
Wholesale · Process
What happens after you order
Seven stages between a brief and a shipped carton, and what you receive at each one. An order should not go quiet.
Brief
What to send us.
Six things turn a vague enquiry into a quote. Missing any of them usually costs one round of email.
02
The size you need
Internal dimensions, or the product size and we work it out.
03
Quantity
One number per size. It decides the print method more than anything else.
04
Artwork or a reference
A logo file is enough to start; a finished design moves faster.
05
The date you need it
On shelf or in your warehouse — the date that actually matters.
06
Where it ships
Country and postcode. Freight and duty depend on it.
Stages
Seven stages, seven things in your inbox.
Each stage below ends with something you can read, hold or check. That is the point of listing them.
1
Quote sent
A written quote with material, print, finishing and commercial terms, plus a validity date.
Day 0
2
Artwork received
Confirmation that the file opened, the preflight result and any fixes needed before plating.
Within 12 hours
3
Proof issued
A PDF proof, or a printed proof when colour is critical. Nothing is plated before you approve.
2-3 days
4
Sample shipped
A tracking number for the sample, with photos of what went into the box.
About 5 days
5
Production started
Confirmation of the quantity, the board and the scheduled completion date.
After approval
6
Inspection passed
Photos of the finished lot and the inspection notes, sent before packing.
Before packing
7
Shipped
Packing list, commercial invoice and the forwarder's tracking reference.
On dispatch
Rush
What can move, and what cannot.
Rush orders are possible. Four things decide how much time can actually come out.
1
Press slot
Production runs on a schedule. A rush order takes a slot from another job, which is why rush work is priced higher rather than promised for free.
Schedule
2
Material availability
Stock board can start immediately. Speciality paper, coloured stock and custom laminates may need to be ordered in.
Material
3
Finishing passes
Each finish is a separate machine pass. Foil, emboss and spot UV queue independently, so adding a finish adds days rather than hours.
Finishing
4
Freight mode
The last saving is usually freight: sea to air can cut weeks, at a cost that often exceeds the production saving.
Freight
Compression
Three ways to shorten a schedule.
Each one buys days at a cost. Knowing which one you are buying stops the wrong expectation.
1
Compress the sample
A digital proof and a photo approval can replace a physical sample when the board and colour are already settled. Saves about a week; adds risk on colour.
Fastest saving
2
Compress production
A rush slot is available when the press schedule allows, priced above the standard rate. Speciality board and multiple finishes limit how much can move.
Cost line
3
Compress freight
Sea to air, or air to express, removes weeks. On bulky packaging the freight premium often exceeds the production saving.
Largest lever
4
What cannot compress
Drying time, curing between finishing passes and hand assembly. These are physical, not scheduling decisions.
Hard floor
Not in the timeline
Three things this schedule does not count.
The seven stages above assume a straight run. These three sit outside them, and each one moves the date.
01
Your own approval time
The clock starts when you sign off the sample. However long that takes internally is added to the dates above, not absorbed by them.
02
Freight and customs
Not included in production time. Sea freight is measured in weeks, air in days, and clearance depends on the destination.
03
Public holidays
Working days exclude weekends and public holidays. Closures around major holidays are confirmed on your quote rather than assumed.
Next in this guide
Stage two depends on the file. The next guide covers the twelve checks that get artwork ready for press.
Get a quote
Ask where your order would sit
Send your product, size and the date you need it. We reply with the stages and the dates that would apply to your order.
Email
sales@boxeschina.com
Phone
+86 132 1510 9191
Factory
Weiyuan Road, Humen Town
Dongguan, Guangdong, China 523900
Hours
Mon-Fri, 9:00-18:00 (Beijing time)
Inquiry
Send the details
Share your product, size and quantity.