The Process
How your paddle gets made, start to finish.
No mystery, no "trust us". Here is the journey from first message to delivered cartons, with honest timeline ranges and what we need from you at each step.
Step by Step
Six steps, each with a defined output.
Timelines are ranges, not promises. They move with construction, customisation depth and season. Your dates go in writing before you commit.
- 1
1–2 days · Enquiry & first reply
You tell us what you're making. A real person replies within one business day with clarifying questions, realistic routes and first ballpark numbers.
- 2
~1 week · Specification
We turn your goals into a manufacturable spec (construction, core, face, shape, graphics, packaging) and match it to the right partner. Output: a written spec and quote.
- 3
2–4 weeks · Sampling
Physical samples produced with your graphics and shipped to you to test hard. Revisions as needed. Output: your signed-off golden sample.
- 4
3–6 weeks · Production
The full run, manufactured against the golden sample with in-line checks. First-time custom builds sit at the top of the range, repeat runs at the bottom.
- 5
~1 week · Quality control
Pre-shipment inspection against the agreed checklist: face and print, weight tolerance, edge and grip, packaging. Output: an inspection report you see before paying the balance.
- 6
1–6 weeks · Freight & delivery
Air for speed, sea for economy. Door delivery, 3PL or Amazon FBA prep with correct labelling. Output: paddles where you need them, reorder spec on file.
Quality Control
The golden sample is the contract.
The most common sourcing disaster is a bulk order that doesn't match the sample. Our whole QC model exists to close that gap. The sample you approve becomes the golden sample, and production is measured against it, not against somebody's reading of a spec sheet.
In-line checks catch drift during the run. The pre-shipment inspection then checks a statistical sample of finished paddles for face finish, print accuracy, weight tolerance, edge-guard seating, handle and grip quality, and packaging. You see the report, with photos, before the balance is due.
- Golden-sample sign-off before any production starts
- In-line checks during the run, not just at the end
- Pre-shipment inspection report with photos, before balance payment
- Agreed defect thresholds and a written remediation path
Commercials
Money, terms and logistics, stated plainly.
Deposit + balance
A deposit starts production. The balance is due after you have seen the inspection report. Never 100% up front.
Quotes with drivers
Every quote itemises what moves the price: construction, volume, graphics, packaging, freight. So you can trade off intelligently.
FOB or landed
Take the goods FOB and run your own freight, or have us deliver landed with duty, freight and FBA prep in the math.
Reorders, simplified
Spec, artwork and golden sample stay on file. Reorders skip sampling and run faster, at the same standard.
FAQ
Process questions, answered.
How long does it take from order to delivery?
For a first custom order, sampling plus production plus freight typically spans two to four months end to end, depending on construction, revisions and shipping mode. Repeat orders are much faster because sampling is already done. Your specific dates go in writing before you commit.
Can you ship directly to Amazon FBA or my 3PL?
Yes. Cartons are labelled and prepped to FBA requirements or your 3PL's spec, then shipped direct. Tell us the destination in your enquiry so it sits in the landed cost from the start.
What happens if the order arrives with defects?
Defect thresholds and the remediation path are agreed in writing before production: repair, replacement or credit depending on severity. The pre-shipment inspection exists precisely so problems surface before the goods ship, while they are still fixable.
Do I have to manage the factory myself?
No. That is the service. You deal with one English-speaking team. We run the factory relationship, chase the schedule, enforce the spec and translate everything into decisions you can actually make.
You've seen the process. Start it.
Tell us what you're making. The first reply takes one business day and commits you to nothing.