In pictures

Explainer

Eight steps

Explainer

A first run of 500 towels (example)

Explainer

Order sizes

In this article

The eight steps
A sample budget
What 500 pieces looks like
Branding on a trial
Mistakes that sink a first run
Bed linen and robes are easier to start small
Next step

Short answer: use the first 500 pieces to prove that people will buy your towel and that it survives washing. Keep it to one product, one or two colours, and branding you can add yourself. Custom woven labels, printed packaging and embroidery start at 2,000 pieces per SKU, and that is the right time to pay for them.

The eight steps

Eight steps

Week 1

Decide the towel

One size, one weight, one or two colours.

Day

Write the spec

7 to 14 days

Order a paid sample

2 weeks

Wash it five times. Use it

Day

Place the trial, 50% advance

30 to 45 days

Production, inspection, balance

1 to 4 weeks

Shipping from Cochin

Ongoing

Brand it, photograph it, sell it

Step	What you do	Time
1. Decide the towel	One size, one weight, one or two colours	A week
2. Write the spec	Size, GSM, fibre, colour reference, hem	A day
3. Order a sample	Paid, with cost quoted upfront	7 to 14 days
4. Test it	Wash it five times. Use it for two weeks	2 weeks
5. Place the trial	Signed spec, 50 percent advance	A day
6. Production	Inspection report and photos before the balance	30 to 45 days
7. Shipping	Sea or air from Cochin	1 to 4 weeks by sea
8. Brand and sell	Add your tags and bands. Photograph. List	Ongoing

A sample budget

A first run of 500 towels (example)

TowelsFreight, duty, clearingPhotosBands and tagsSample

TotalAbout $3,280

The towel price is from our published band. The other lines are examples for you to replace.

Item	Cost
500 bath towels, 600 GSM, at $3.50	$1,750
Sample and courier (example)	$80
Freight, duty and clearing (example)	$900
Belly bands and swing tags, printed locally (example)	$250
Product photos (example)	$300
Total	about $3,280

That is about $6.56 per towel landed and branded. Trial runs are priced above list, at a small premium, so ask for the exact figure. At 2,000 pieces the unit price drops.

What 500 pieces looks like

500 towels in one colour is one SKU. Split across two colours, it is 250 each, which may sit below the dye-lot minimum. Ask before you plan colours. White and one colour is a common, safe start.

Branding on a trial

Towels, bath mats and pool towels

Per SKU: one size, GSM and colour.

500 pcs

Trial run

Trial run, priced at a small premium

2,000 pcs / SKU

Wholesale

Wholesale pricing starts here

Smaller towel orders can join a run we already have in production, in that run's size, GSM and colour. Private label: 2,000 pcs / SKU.

Bed linen and white bathrobes

Standard or custom sizes.

50pieces per size

Sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases at 200, 300 and 400 TC
250 TC, subject to availability
White bathrobes. Colours on enquiry

Private label is possible at 50 pieces per size if you supply your own labels.

Custom woven labels and printed boxes have their own minimums and setup costs. For the first 500:

Use a standard care label sewn in at production.
Add your own belly band or swing tag at your end.
Put the budget into photography and the product.

When the towel sells and you reorder at 2,000 pieces per SKU, add the woven label and packaging. See woven label, printed label or embroidery.

Mistakes that sink a first run

Too many variants. Three sizes in four colours is twelve SKUs. Start with one or two.
Skipping the wash test. Your reviews will be written after wash five, not on unboxing.
Unbacked claims. "Organic", "antibacterial" and "Egyptian cotton" all need proof. See how to write product claims.
No landed-cost sum. Price from landed cost, not FOB. See how to calculate landed cost.

Bed linen and robes are easier to start small

Bed linen at 200, 300 and 400 thread count and white bathrobes start at 50 pieces per size, and private label is possible at that quantity if you supply your own labels. A brand can launch a sheet set or a robe with far less stock than a towel.

Next step

Read our pages for OEM towel production and Shopify brands. When you have a spec, or only an idea of one, send it to us and we'll quote the sample and the trial.