The design consultation is one of the first steps towards a successful business partnership. It’s the time when the client and the business begin to interview each other as much as possible. The main goal is to understand each other and find the perfect roadmap to achieve the client’s requirement and goals. The initial consultation is when we start to put out ideas, comfort zone and future goals. It is essential to start this off in the right and decent way.
Before booking your consultation with a manufacturer, the most important thing is to be prepared. Knowing what services you need and asking the right questions, with confidence in your concept, will give you the best chance at getting them on board with your project. Including a pre-production checklist in your process might be the helping hand you need.
The goal of a design consultation is to exchange information and discuss details, needs and wants. It will help both the client and business save time, money and help avoid any mistakes in the future. It is also essential to understand each other on how to work with the leather manufacturing project.
Here we put out a list of things you can use the next time you visit for a design consultation.
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Know Your Product
Manufacturers often prefer to work with clients who have the potential for long-term growth. Have a thorough understanding of your product and evidence of its potential to yield sustainable returns.
Create a tech pack detailing the technical information regarding your product. Typically it will include measurements, hardware, grading, labels, and other crucial aspects of your design. This level of detail will help communicate your product to your manufacturer and inspire confidence in it.
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Talk About Your Budget
This might be a tough part to get into, but it is equally important to understand how much you are looking for with your budget. Both the manufacturer and the client wouldn’t want the outcome with poor delivery. Having a realistic expectation with your budget saves you a lot of time and headache. When you openly communicate with your consultant, it builds trust and relationship.
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Identify the services you need
You will need to identify the services you will need from your manufacturers so that you are prepared for any questions. Determine if you also need help with sourcing materials, trimmings and other services that will be vital to the development of your product.
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Be Honest with Your Requirements
It’s beyond remarkable, to be honest with your requirements and what you look for with the manufacturers. It helps to create a vision for both parties such that along the way, the process won’t slow down because of differences.
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Discover Your Style Preferences in Advance
At your first consultation, you need to show the consultant what type of product you want. A visual representation or a prototype is an elegant way to convey what you want instead of a handful of gestures and words.
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Prepare Questions
Prepare questions that will help you determine whether the manufacturer’s experience coincides with the project you have planned. Don’t be afraid to ask questions that will help you along the leather manufacturing process. This will help to clarify things you don’t completely understand. The manufacturer may even recommend another company that will suit your needs better.
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Prepare a Timeline
You should prepare a timeline before your consultation so that you can discuss this with your manufacturer. When planning your schedule, always incorporate extra time as you’ll need that time for pre-development mock-ups, prototypes and any further changes when creating the final specification sheet before actual production takes place.
Choose the manufacturer that suits your needs.
Always do your research before diving right in to book a consultation. That will include giving manufacturers a call with some initial questions about their services before doing so. Check that their pricing matches your budget, and if they supply in the quantities suited for your business needs. On that note, ethical production, sustainable material sourcing, and fair worker treatment may also be relevant to the brand you want to build.
Now that you’ve gone through the checklist and entirely prepared, all that is left to do is to book a consultation. We wish you all the best in your production journey.
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