The short version
- A tech pack is the factory's instruction manual. If it is not in the tech pack, the factory will guess.
- Pet products need specs most tech packs skip: fill, chew resistance, wash testing, and law labels.
- Labels, packaging, and carton marks belong in the tech pack, not in an email.
- Expect at least two sample rounds. Clear tech packs and specific feedback keep it close to that.
- The pre production sample is the contract. Production is inspected against it.
What a tech pack has to do
A tech pack does three jobs. It tells the factory exactly what to build. It gives you something to check samples and production against. And because you own it, it makes your product portable, so you can move to another factory without starting over.
Anatomy of a dog bed tech pack
| Page | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Cover | Product name, style number, version, date, and contacts |
| Flat sketches | Front, back, side, and inside views with callouts |
| Measurements | Every dimension with tolerances, for every size |
| Bill of materials | Fabrics, liner, foam or fill, zippers, thread, labels, with specs and suppliers |
| Construction | Seam types, stitches per inch, reinforcement points, zipper placement |
| Fill specification | Foam density and firmness, layers, or fill weight and type |
| Colorways | Color references for each fabric and component |
| Labels | Brand label, care label, law label, and their placement |
| Packaging | Retail packaging, roll pack or compression, inserts, barcode placement |
| Carton and shipping | Case pack, carton marks, carton dimensions and weight |
| Testing | Required tests and how results are reported |
| Revision log | What changed, when, and why |
Pet specific specs most tech packs miss
- Chew and dig points. Where a dog will attack the product first, and how those points are reinforced.
- Zipper protection. Hidden or covered zippers so they are not a chew target.
- Wash testing. Number of cycles, temperature, and acceptable shrinkage for covers.
- Fill recovery. How the foam should recover after compression or roll packing.
- Small parts. Anything that could detach and be swallowed.
- Odor and off gassing. Especially for foam and coated fabrics.
Labels, packaging, and carton specs
The most common reason a finished product gets stuck at a warehouse or rejected by a retailer is not the product. It is the label, the barcode, or the carton. Put the brand label, care label, any required law label, barcode placement, warning text, case pack, and carton marks in the tech pack so they are produced right the first time. Check your retailer's or marketplace's current vendor requirements before you finalize this page.
Sample types, from first proto to golden sample
| Sample | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Proto sample | First build to check shape, size, and construction |
| Fit or revised sample | Corrections from the proto, often with the real materials |
| Salesman sample | Finished samples for photography and buyer meetings |
| Pre production sample | Made with production materials and methods. The one you sign off |
| Production sample | Pulled from the production run and checked against the pre production sample |
How many rounds, and how long
For a new pet soft good, plan on at least two sample rounds, and three or more for new construction, custom hardware, or a new factory. Each round commonly takes one to three weeks at the factory, plus courier time to you. Sampling in India can take longer on some products than in China, and the difference is worth it when the fabric or cost is better.
What keeps rounds low: a complete tech pack, photos and measurements with every comment, one person giving feedback, and sampling the parts that matter most first, like fabric swatches and fill, before a full sample.
What sampling costs
Factories usually charge for samples and pattern work, and some credit it back against the production order. International courier costs add up across rounds. The biggest cost is not the sample fee, it is the weeks lost to each extra round, which is why the tech pack matters so much.
Comparing samples from more than one factory
When we sample the same product at two factories, we score each sample the same way: measurements against the tech pack, material quality, construction, finishing, how it holds up in wash and chew tests, the quoted landed cost, and how well the factory responded to feedback. The best sample does not always win. The best partner usually does.
From approved sample to production
Once the pre production sample is approved, keep one signed sample yourself and leave one at the factory. Production is inspected against that sample and the tech pack. Book a third party inspection before final payment, and do not ship until it passes. For the rest of the process, see how to manufacture a pet product.
Tech pack and sampling services
Tech packs and sampling are included in every product project, which starts from $6,000 per product, and in the fractional product lead at $1,999 per month. We can also build a tech pack for a product you already have, or fix one that is causing too many sample rounds. See pet product design.