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Factories often say no to small custom orders because they’re “too much trouble.” That’s why we find flexible options and help our clients save up to 60%.
Let’s take a look at how we did it in 4 real cases.
Save Client $5,000 in Mold Fees
A client from Singapore wanted 1,000 custom ice buckets with his logo. It sounded simple enough. But the factory didn’t want to take the small customization order.
And if that wasn’t enough, that was the only supplier available because of the handle design. Switching to a new supplier would pay at least $5,000 for the mold. So, he asked us for help.
To help our client avoid spending thousands and still get 1,000 customized buckets, we found a smart solution: UV stickers. Just like Joe did, simply peel and stick. No heat, no special tools needed.
Rescue the Coasters with Heat Transfer
Our U.S. clients came to us with his wooden coaster. He wanted to add custom designs to the surface, but the supplier he found didn’t do a great job. That’s when our sourcing agent Karen had an idea: heat transfer printing. It keeps the design sharp and colorful, and works really well on wood.
We quickly found a factory that not only sells heat transfer machines, but also offers printing services in-house. They have machines for mugs, caps, T-shirts, bags and of course, coasters too.
The cost per piece was under $1. Since the material cost is low and it’s mostly labor, there’s no strict MOQ required.
The process is simple: with heat and pressure, the design transfers cleanly onto the surface. Check it out. Karen is customizing one herself at the factory.
Wrap Designs on Mugs
Our client Ellie wanted to customize 1,000 mugs with a full-wrap design, similar to the one below. She asked us to find a factory that could print a sample.
As soon as we saw the design, we suggested water transfer printing. This technique works beautifully for detailed graphics, especially on curved surfaces. Not just for ceramic, it also works on plastic, metal, and glass.
We found a water transfer factory that can print on mugs. They also process toys, auto parts, and electronics. So let our sourcing agent Joe show you how it works.
First, a printed water-soluble film is floated on the surface of the water. Then, they dip the object in, and it gets wrapped with the pattern. Like Joe dipped his own arm in (yes, he really did that). Check out the pattern on his hand. It looks crisp and detailed.
Alright, let’s get back to it.
After the item is dipped, it goes through drying. Depending on the material, some products are oven-dried at high temperatures.
We did math for our client. For 1,000 mugs, the total printing cost around $500, plus a $250 setup fee per design.
We Got a Laser Engraver for Clients
Last week, Mike from Canada came to us wanting his logo engraved on a metal bottle opener. Actually, we’ve had quite a few clients ask for laser engraving, on wood, acrylic, crystal, metal…
So, we think it’s time to get a laser engraver.
We headed straight to a laser engraving machine factory. There were all kinds of machines. The manager explained that it depends on the material and where you want the engraving, on the surface or inside.
This green laser can magically engrave inside acrylic, glass, and crystal.
And while we were exploring the factory, something incredible caught our eye. A 12-meter-long traditional Chinese painting, fully engraved onto a giant sheet of glass. Done by a huge engraver with a conveyor belt.
Of course, we didn’t need something that big. For our client’s products, the factory manager recommended an infrared laser machine, which is perfect for engraving or cutting on various materials, including metal surfaces. It cost around $1,500.
Text, logos, patterns, all can done in five seconds. Now it’s set up in our warehouse, ready for custom engraving jobs.
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