2026-10-28 · Hair care guide
MOQ and Sampling Explained: OEM Brush Order Timeline for Importers
Custom brush orders look simple on a quote, but the timeline between first inquiry and first shipment surprises many new buyers. Here is how a typical OEM brush order progresses at a factory like ELK Brush.
Step 1 - RFQ and specification confirmation. Send target materials, bristle type, logo method, packaging and estimated quantity. A professional factory responds within 24 hours with pricing and any alternative material suggestions.
Step 2 - Sampling. Stock samples ship in 2-3 days and show the base product quality. Custom samples (your logo, your color, your packaging) take 5-15 days. Most buyers run two sample rounds: one for product approval, one for packaging approval.
Step 3 - Deposit and production. Standard MOQ is around 1,200 pieces per design, with lower thresholds for existing stock styles. Production takes 25-35 days after the 30 percent deposit. Payment terms are normally T/T, with L/C and PayPal accepted for sample-level orders.
Step 4 - Shipping and delivery. ELK Brush ships FOB Shenzhen, and can also arrange CIF or DDP to most destinations, so importers without a forwarder still get a landed-cost quote.
Buyers who under-specify at RFQ are the ones who experience timeline slips. Sending a clear spec sheet, approving samples in writing and booking the deposit on time keeps the whole process inside the quoted window.