Pokémon Umbrella Order
As we all know, any product involving copyright faces significant challenges during the development process, as it involves multiple parties—factories, traders, end clients, and copyright holders.
What Makes Client Choose Us?
Today, we would like to share a case about a Pokémon umbrella order from one of our Singaporean clients (a trader) exporting to Taiwan (the end client). The buyer who contacted us had no prior experience with such cases, but she knew that our factory has extensive expertise in this area. We have previously produced Pokémon umbrellas and many Disney-themed umbrellas, which are similar in nature. Therefore, after receiving our quotation, she engaged us for sampling.
Professional Advise
On August 22, we received the 1st design draft from the client. However, the draft was not sufficiently detailed—it included some color codes but did not clearly specify which codes corresponded to which cartoon characters.
We advised the client that if color accuracy was important, it would be best to specify the color codes for each character. We provided an example, as shown below:
Following our suggestion, the client adjusted and provided more detailed color codes. The first round of samples was completed on September 5.
Always have a plan B
After receiving the samples, the Taiwanese client feedbacked that the overall colors appeared dull and the cartoon characters were not vivid enough. On September 16, the client revised the patterns and color codes accordingly, and based on their requirements, we proceeded with the 2nd round of sampling. At this stage, we also faced a tight delivery schedule, as the umbrellas were intended for a promotional campaign. To expedite confirmation from both the client and the copyright holder, we arranged for two printing factories to produce samples simultaneously. The second batch of samples was shipped on September 23. Our decision proved to be wise. After receiving both samples, the client was more satisfied with the sample produced by the second printing factory and confirmed the order on October 3, requesting further adjustments based on that sample.
Order Is The Beginning Of Service
Many people might assume that once an order is placed, everything becomes easier. On the contrary, securing the order is just the beginning of service. After the order was confirmed, we went through three more rounds of sample revisions.
On Oct. 9, the client provided updated artwork, and we shipped the revised samples on Oct.14. However, we were informed that feedback for this round would only be available by Oct.30, as the samples needed to be submitted to the Japanese copyright holder for approval. It was only at this point that we learned the previous samples had only been reviewed by the Singaporean trader, the Taiwanese client, and the Taiwanese copyright representative. This round was the first to be submitted to Japan—a stark reminder of how challenging the process could be.
We finally received feedback from the Japanese copyright holder on Nov. 5, which, as expected, included new revision requirements. Several key cartoon characters required significant color adjustments. Fortunately, our printing factory was highly cooperative and efficient, allowing us to complete the revised samples by November 8.
On Nov. 14, we received the client' s final revision request, and by Nov. 20, the samples were successfully approved. According to agreed delivery time(30days after sample approval), shipment would be Dec.20. However, with the client' s promotion deadline approaching, they requested split shipments), with the first batch scheduled for Dec.9. To help the client meet their promotional timeline, we provided 25pcs samples advanced on December 5 and completed the entire bulk production by December 8. The client expressed great relief and sent their heartfelt thanks!
Choosing An Experienced Factory Is Key To Navigating Challenges And Ensuring Quality&Delivery Time.
In summary, choosing an experienced factory is crucial. We have substantial expertise in producing licensed umbrellas and can provide valuable advice on color design, fast sampling, and patient, iterative revisions—all hallmarks of a responsible factory! If you have a similar umbrella project, we would be delighted to assist you!
