Ordering samples before you sell: the cheapest insurance you can buy

Every experienced seller has a story about the product they never sampled. The colour was off, the print sat too low, the fabric felt thinner than expected - and fifty customers found out before they did.

What a sample tells you

• **Colour accuracy** on the actual garment colour.
• **Print size and placement** - is it where you imagined on a real body?
• **Fabric feel and fit** - does it match how you describe it?
• **Durability** - wash it a few times the way a customer would.
• **The unboxing** - what does the customer actually receive?

What to look for

Hold it at arm's length: does the design read? Look up close: are edges crisp and colours solid? Try it on, or have someone else try it: does it sit where it should? Wash it inside out and check again.

Photograph it

A sample is also your best photo source. Real photos of a real product on a real person sell better than any mockup, and they show customers exactly what they will get.

When to sample again

• When you switch to a different garment or brand.
• When you change the design significantly.
• When customers mention a problem.
• Periodically for best sellers, to catch drift between batches.

Is it worth it for every design?

For a design going into your store, yes - at least one colour. For variations of a proven design on the same product, a fresh sample is less critical, but checking the new colour on screen against your previous samples is still worth the minute.

A sample is one product's cost. A run of returns and a one-star review cost far more.