Boutique buyers new to wholesale often underestimate total lead time by weeks, mostly because sampling and production get compressed in planning. A realistic timeline helps avoid that gap.
Sampling: one to two weeks
Requesting and receiving samples, whether existing stock pieces or custom variations, typically takes one to two weeks depending on courier speed and supplier responsiveness.
Production: two to four weeks
Once an order is confirmed and deposit paid, production time depends on order size and how much of the range is existing stock versus made to order. Existing designs move faster than custom requests.
Shipping and customs: one to eight weeks
Courier shipments typically add one to two weeks; sea freight can add six to eight, plus customs processing time that varies by destination country.
Building in a buffer
Total realistic timeline from first sample request to shelf-ready stock: six to ten weeks for courier shipments, longer for sea freight. Order well ahead of any date you need stock in hand.
Planning your timeline with us
We give buyers a realistic timeline upfront, including production and shipping, before any deposit is taken. Minimum Order Quantities Explained: What MOQ Means for Boutique Buyers covers the decision that shapes this timeline from the start, and our wholesale page has the current terms to plan an order around.