Three products, three reasons to buy
Take a Chinese professional football club planning an anniversary range for its shop and a match-day sales point. The plush is the main keepsake. The charm and pin give fans smaller items to choose from, without committing to a complete gift set.
Here is the example brief we'd send for an initial review:
| Product | Example target size | Example quantity | Role in the range | Still to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mascot plush, one design | 18 cm seated height, excluding accessories | 400 pieces | Main keepsake | Face, body shape, fabric, filling and construction |
| Acrylic charm, one design | 55 mm maximum panel dimension, excluding hardware | 600 pieces | Smaller standalone item | Print, cut line, hanging position and hardware |
| Pin, one design | 30 mm maximum face dimension, excluding attachment | 600 pieces | Wearable anniversary item | Lettering, finish, attachment and packing |
| Individual packaging | Sized to each approved product | 1,600 packs in total | Separate retail sales | Product fit, labels and packaging MOQ |
That's 1,600 products, but only enough for 400 complete three-piece sets. Switch to gift sets and there are 200 charms and 200 pins left over. They could still be sold separately, but that needs to be part of the plan before anyone orders boxes or prepares barcodes.
The quantities are quote requests, not confirmed supplier minimums. Ask about each line separately, including the packaging.
Where we'd spend the time before sampling
The anniversary identity needs to survive three different formats. A layout that looks good on a large screen may leave the date hard to read on a 30 mm pin. The plush raises another question: which features make the mascot recognizable once the drawing becomes a sewn shape?
I'd keep the first discussion focused on those details. Put the face, silhouette and anniversary mark on the review sheet. Mark the features the club will not accept changing; leave room to discuss the rest with the sample maker. That gives both sides something more useful than “please make it exactly like the picture.”
| Choice | Approach for this example | When to reconsider |
|---|---|---|
| Separate products or gift set? | Sell the three products individually | The club decides the range is mainly for member gifts |
| Same artwork on every product? | Keep the identity consistent; approve a layout for each format | Small lettering or details cannot be read on the sample |
| How much plush detail? | Protect the face and silhouette; review secondary details at 18 cm | A proposed simplification changes the character |
| Separate packs or one box? | Use individual packs that fit each item | A gift-set brief is agreed, with quantities adjusted |
| One launch or staged release? | Ask suppliers to work towards one required arrival date | A product's sample revisions put that date at risk |
The club can settle the sales plan, quantity split, artwork permissions and approval owner now. Physical appearance, supplier minimums and delivery commitments belong to the next stages.
Give the sample maker a size they can measure
“18 cm plush” is incomplete. In this brief it means seated height, excluding accessories. Write that beside the drawing. For the charm, the 55 mm dimension refers to the panel, not the panel plus its ring. The pin measurement excludes the attachment at the back.
A clear measurement note makes sample comments easier to act on. If the plush seems too small, the discussion can distinguish its measured height from its head size or body proportions. Those are different changes, and the sample maker needs to know which one is intended.
Our mascot plush page covers the product discussion in more detail. Keep the agreed size note with the artwork version used for the sample.
What we'd check when the samples arrive
Start with the plush face and silhouette, then turn it around. Check the side profile, costume details and the way it sits. Handle it before approving the feel and filling. Front-view photographs are useful for comments, but they leave parts of this review unanswered.
Hang the charm from its proposed hardware. Look at the direction it faces, the space around the hole and whether the hardware obscures the design. Check the pin from the back as well as the front, including how its attachment sits in the pack.
Finally, put each item into its proposed packaging. A pack approved without the product inside can leave a fit problem until late in the schedule. Record changes against each sample version and keep an approval reference for all three products. Approval of the anniversary mark alone does not release the range for production.
Ask for a quote you can compare line by line
Keep product price, sample work, tooling where needed, packaging, labels, inspection and transport separate. If a quote includes one sample revision, or assumes a particular pack, have that written down. A lower total is hard to judge when the scope differs.
Confirm whether 400 plush pieces, 600 charms and 600 pins are workable quantities. If one line falls below a supplier's MOQ, ask what changes would make it workable before increasing the whole order.
The schedule needs the same care. Give the required arrival date, then ask for dates covering artwork approval, samples, revisions, production, packing and transport. Check what starts each lead time. If a sample needs another revision, the arrival plan needs another look too.
For the wider sequence, see our development process. For choosing the range itself, start with club merchandise planning.
FAQ
Can one anniversary design work across the whole range?
Yes, as a shared visual reference. Approve its size and placement on each product, especially small dates, lettering and crest details. Keep a record of any agreed adaptations.
Can we start with fewer than 400 plush pieces?
Send the quantity you actually need and ask for a feasibility review. The quantity of 400 used here is an example for quotation, not an MOQ. The answer depends on the design, materials and current supplier quote.
Could we add a gift box later?
Possibly, but first confirm the contents and number of sets. This example supports 400 complete sets, with spare charms and pins. Box dimensions, packing work, price and timing then need checking.
Can we approve the samples remotely?
Use clear photos and video for visible details, with the sample version identified. Arrange a physical check for decisions involving feel, fit or construction that the images do not resolve. List any points still awaiting approval.
What if one product is running late?
Ask for the revised arrival date and compare the options: release the approved products first, reduce the launch range or move the release. Check the effect on packaging and sales plans before choosing.
Can the club name and designs stay private?
Yes. Set the confidentiality requirements at the start. Permission to manufacture the products is separate from permission to show the club's name, artwork or photographs publicly.
Send us the range you have in mind
Start with the product list, quantities by design, artwork status and required arrival date. Add the destination and say whether the products will be sold separately or as a set. If a size or packaging choice is still open, tell us what you want it to do.
AIYYANG can review the brief and coordinate the design, sampling and supplier questions for your club project.
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