Manage an own-brand range across China factories
Use a shared range brief, SKU specifications and approved packed samples across every factory. Control artwork centrally and track evidence of production, inspection and shipment readiness against the launch plan. Agree who can approve changes or split deliveries. Cambridge China Bridge can coordinate this with its own staff in China.
Give every factory the same range brief
Create a master brief covering the range identity, sales channels, destination markets, launch window and warehouse delivery requirements. Attach a SKU register naming the manufacturing factory, product specification, packaging revision and buyer approval owner. Give each specialist factory the relevant specification alongside the shared brief, and require acknowledgement of the current revision.
Assign a buyer-side range owner to resolve conflicts between purchasing, design and warehouse teams. Our own-brand sourcing and retailer sourcing services support these programmes. If you are deciding whether to move an existing supplier base, use supplier consolidation alongside this launch plan.
Control packaging across different products
Separate shared brand rules from product-specific pack details. The shared rules should cover logo placement, typography, physical colour references, print finish, barcode placement and carton identification. Each SKU needs its own pack dimensions, materials, packed quantity and approved wording. Keep category-specific warnings and instructions separate from the common design template.
Choose whether factories buy packaging from an approved printer or produce it against the same controlled references. Name who orders, supplies and checks it at each site. Compare printed packs side by side under the same lighting. Approve acceptable differences between substrates in writing, and check packaging availability before treating a production date as achievable.
Approve the product and its finished pack
Approve product performance, artwork and the finished packed sample as separate decisions. Record the SKU, specification revision, artwork revision, sample identifier, approver and any unresolved points. Check product fit, barcode scanning, instructions and pack appearance together. Retain matching approved samples with the buyer and factory; repeat orders should reference that approval rather than an old email attachment.
GOV.UK guidance says products should only be sold once compliance with product safety regulations has been demonstrated appropriately. Treat the evidence review as a separate approval gate for each SKU. Packaging approval does not establish product compliance. For category-specific specification detail, see the own-brand hand tools and fixings programme.
Use a common readiness tracker
Keep a shared tracker with a row for each SKU and factory. Include planned and latest forecast dates, supporting evidence, the blocker, its owner and the next action. Distinguish production finished, inspection passed, packed and received at the consolidation warehouse. Ask for dated evidence of the relevant stage, rather than accepting a general statement that the order is on schedule.
Work backwards from warehouse receipt and launch availability through freight, consolidation, inspection, packing and production. Identify which products must arrive together for the range to sell as intended. Agree when a slipping milestone triggers a buyer decision, and record the impact on the whole range before changing a shipment plan.
| Gate | Evidence to attach | If unresolved |
|---|---|---|
| Specification and sample approved | Current specification and signed sample approval | Hold production release |
| Packaging ready | Approved printed pack and confirmed availability | Resolve printing or supply blocker |
| Production and inspection complete | Finished quantity and inspection result | Record rework and revised readiness |
| Consolidation received | Warehouse receipt and reconciled carton counts | Investigate shortages or mixed revisions |
| Shipment authorised | Accepted quantities, documents and buyer release | Hold booking or agree a revised shipment |
Agree what happens when a factory falls behind
Decide in advance who may approve holding the whole range, sending a partial launch or separating a delayed product. Compare the effect on shelf presentation, customer orders, storage and additional freight. Do not let a factory or forwarder make that commercial decision for you. The range extension launch guide helps assess launching together or in stages.
Use shipment consolidation to bring approved goods together, with agreed receiving checks and release authority. Arrival at the warehouse is a receipt milestone, not automatic permission to ship. Reconcile the accepted SKU quantities, carton references and shipment documents using the mixed-SKU packing list guide.
Carry the approved range into repeat orders
Issue repeat orders against the current approved product and packaging revisions. Require written approval before changes to materials, finishes, pack suppliers or artwork. When a shared design changes, record which factories and SKUs are affected, obtain acknowledgements and decide how existing packaging stock will be used or withdrawn.
After receipt, compare warehouse findings and customer feedback with the approved samples. Update the affected SKU records without silently changing the whole range. Cambridge China Bridge's staff in China can coordinate factory follow-up and readiness evidence; the buyer should retain approval of brand changes, exceptions and launch decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Can several Chinese factories use the same packaging?
They can follow shared artwork and physical print references, while using product-specific pack sizes. Name who supplies packaging and approve finished packs together before releasing production.
Should all factories finish production on the same date?
Plan towards common warehouse and launch readiness. Factories may need different production schedules; the tracker should show inspection, packing and transport dependencies as well as production.
What should we do if a factory misses the launch?
Check which products depend on the delayed SKU, then compare holding the range with a partial launch or separate shipment. Record the buyer's decision, revised dates and additional costs before changing bookings.
How do we keep repeat-order packaging consistent?
Order against controlled artwork revisions and retained printed samples. Require approval for changes, check incoming packaging at each factory and compare finished packs across the range.