A bulk-production estimate covers only one part of a custom order. Specification review, sample delivery, revisions, approval and transport need separate time allowances. Build the order schedule from the date you need the goods at their destination, with a separate allowance for each stage.
What the quoted days cover
WiseBeanie's standard sample estimate is 5–7 days after sample requirements and applicable payments are confirmed. A three-day rush sample needs project confirmation and carries an additional rush fee. Special yarns, complex work and revisions can change the timing.
The usual bulk-production estimate is 15–20 days after order acceptance, written approval of the sample and final specifications, and receipt of the required 50% deposit. It doesn't start with the first inquiry. Quantity, material supply, construction, packaging and factory scheduling can affect the confirmed estimate.
Adding the sample and production figures together won't give you a reliable arrival date. Sample shipping, review, changes and bulk transport still need time of their own.
| Stage | What must be settled |
|---|---|
| Requirements and quote | Style, quantities, materials, branding and commercial scope |
| Sampling | Specification, final artwork and agreed sample charges |
| Sample review | Physical delivery, buyer feedback and revisions |
| Production release | Accepted order, written approvals and deposit |
| Bulk production | Materials, making, finishing and agreed inspections |
| Dispatch and delivery | Release conditions, packing, transport and destination arrangements |
Keep “ready to ship” and “arrives at destination” as separate dates in the order record. Check which one the quotation actually gives you.
Put the handoffs into the schedule
For each stage, write down the input that allows work to begin and the output that closes it. “Sample in progress” is less useful than knowing that artwork has been accepted, the sample is being made and physical delivery has not yet started.
A status record can use four fields: current stage, remaining input, person responsible and revised expected date. If the factory is waiting on a color decision, record it as you would a material delay. Update the next action when a decision or date changes.
Some work may overlap, but confirm before scheduling it that way. Preparing label artwork while reviewing fit may be sensible; printing final composition information before the yarn is settled is a different risk. Schedule around actual dependencies; don't assume every task can overlap.
Don't use the production estimate as a buffer
If you are considering a late change, ask which stages it reopens. A new logo file may need another artwork review; a different construction may need a new sample. Confirm the scheduling impact before releasing the change.
Confirm whether quoted days are working or calendar days, and account for factory and destination closures in the written schedule. The standard estimates above do not specify that convention.
If a date slips, request an updated schedule showing the remaining work. A shorter production estimate alone doesn't explain how time will be recovered elsewhere. Evaluate any proposed change to quantity, design or transport on its own terms, including cost and approval implications.
Decide what happens if the date cannot be met
For an event order, identify the latest useful arrival date separately from the preferred date. If the schedule no longer reaches it, discuss the available choices before continuing to spend on the original plan. An alternative style, revised scope or different delivery arrangement needs its own feasibility review; none should be treated as an automatic rush solution.
Keep the agreed decision in writing, including what remains an estimate. Your team can then plan the launch with the same information as the factory, rather than an earlier, more optimistic date.
The schedule needs your team's dates, too
Ask when artwork must be final and when the physical sample needs a response. Assign someone to each decision. A sample sitting unopened for a week can move the schedule just as surely as a manufacturing delay.
If the design changes after approval, request a revised schedule. Keep the old and new specification versions identifiable so the factory knows which one to follow.
The production-process overview can help you map these decisions. When discussing the dates, also settle the destination, transport method and delivery responsibilities.
Your warehouse or retailer needs time to check and process the shipment. If the hats are for an event, avoid making the event date the warehouse arrival target as well.
Share the date you need the order to arrive so WiseBeanie can review the full schedule. Delivery dates remain estimates unless a guarantee is explicitly agreed in writing.
Related Guides and Factory Options
Tell us your quantity, design status, destination and required arrival date. We will review sampling, production and shipping as separate parts of the schedule.
Review Your Project Timing