– ABOUT OUR MATERIAL SOURCING SERVICE –

Material sourcing is one of the most complex and time consuming aspects of sampling and manufacturing fashion accessories.

We created this service to support our customers and help them in finding suitable, feasible and reliable solutions.

What you pay for by using this service is:

– The time that it takes us to understand the full extent of your needs and to answer all of your questions

– The time to explain to you what is possible and what is not in relation to your budget and project requirements

– The time that it takes us to explain the options you have and the pros and cons of each of them

– The time that it takes us to contact suppliers and gather all the information for you (calls, emails, etc)

– The time that it takes us to organise all of this information and clearly communicate it to you so you can make your choices

– The time that it takes us to place the orders, to chase the supplier for updates, to contact the shipping company if needed, to be available to receive deliveries and keep you posted along the way

COST OF THE SERVICE AND WHAT IT INCLUDES

The cost of the service includes:

Our expertise – With our 20 years of experience in the industry, you can trust us to know what you need for your project. 

Reliability –  Over the years, we have built relationships with a portfolio of reliable suppliers (manufacturers, retailers, or wholesalers) both in the UK and EU that offer different levels of quality and price ranges.

Our dedicated work – We will take the time to understand your requirements and show you what we think is suitable for your project. We will then contact the supplier(s) to check availability and updated prices. If needed, we will send you pictures, samples and the information you need to make your choice.

Support with orders and deliveries – If and when you decide to proceed, we will take care of the order and have the material(s) delivered to us. You won’t need to worry about anything and we will keep you posted on the delivery updates.

HOW CAN I REVIEW THE MATERIAL(S)?

At our studio: If you are coming for a consultation, we can show you our material portfolio and advise you on the best options. After the consultation we will continue the research independently and get back to you with the outcome and all information about the materials you have selected.

Remotely: If you are not coming for a consultation, the whole process is carried out remotely. We will communicate with you through pictures, tables containing all relevant information and sending samples, when possible and/or required.

WHO IS THIS SERVICE DEDICATED TO?

We reserve our material sourcing service for customers who are using our product development, prototyping and/or manufacturing services.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO SOURCE THE CORRECT MATERIALS FOR ME?

We will need to have as much information as possible about your requirements (if you have any) such as: pictures of similar products, references for the colour, thickness, temper, measurements, performance, sustainability, etc.

FITTINGS SOURCING: IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW:

QUALITY/DURABILITY OF FITTINGS

We supply from a portfolio of reliable suppliers (manufacturers, retailers, agents and wholesalers) that offer different levels of quality and price ranges. We will select the fittings that best fit your budget and requirements.

Brass or steel are the most suitable materials for dog leads and collar fittings. Of course, the fabrication and construction of the fittings also define their durability, but traditionally these two materials are the most recommended for dog accessories because they are the strongest. Please note that there are fewer choices in these materials and unless the product is custom made, usually they come in more classic and arguably less trendy styles. 

Unfortunately, we are not able to guarantee the suitability and durability of the fittings and trimmings supplied. Should this be a concern for you, we suggest you place a small order (a MOQ might be required in some cases) and test them on your end.

BESPOKE FITTINGS/TRIMMINGS

Our materials sourcing service does not include bespoke fittings or trimmings except for zips.

If you wish to have your fittings or trimmings customised, we can suggest a trusted company that can take care of it but, unfortunately, we won’t be able to follow the process for you.  Please note that this option requires significant investment and, sometimes, long lead times.

In general, we recommend our customers stick with existing stock for the prototype and then, if necessary, consider the bespoke fittings and trimmings for production.

FITTINGS COLOUR MATCHING

Colour matching for metal and plastic fittings can be an issue because different manufacturers use different materials and plating components/techniques. We will order from the same suppliers whenever possible and/or select fittings from our physical catalogues to verify the colours in person. However, please remember that this won’t always be possible.

If colour matching is a priority for you and it is not possible for us to source from pre-existing stock, you have the option to have your fittings coated. We can refer you to companies that can help you with this but, unfortunately, we won’t be able to follow the process for you. Please note that this option requires significant investment and, sometimes, long lead times.

In general, we recommend our customers stick with existing stock for the prototype and then, if necessary, consider this option for production.