Matias Santos | Founder & CEO

Sep 24, 2025

For Brands

Your First Order With a New Supplier: What to Expect (and Avoid)

Your First Order With a New Supplier: What to Expect (and Avoid)

Placing your first production order with a new supplier is exciting — but it’s also where most mistakes happen. Whether you’re producing clothing, packaging, or consumer goods, understanding the process can save you time, money, and frustration.

Placing your first production order with a new supplier is exciting — but it’s also where most mistakes happen. Whether you’re producing clothing, packaging, or consumer goods, understanding the process can save you time, money, and frustration.

Getting the Quote Right

  • Why the first step is a detailed quote request (volumes, specs, timelines).

  • Common mistake: sending vague RFQs that suppliers can’t price properly.

  • SEO tie-in: “how to start manufacturing with accurate quotes”.

Confirming Samples Before Mass Production

  • Importance of pre-production samples to confirm quality.

  • What to expect in terms of cost and lead times.

  • Common pitfall: skipping samples to “save time” → leads to costly errors.

Payment Terms You’ll Encounter

  • Typical options: deposit + balance, milestone payments, or full upfront.

  • Risks of paying 100% upfront without protection.

  • Keywords: “first production order payment terms”.

Production Timelines & Communication

  • What a realistic timeline looks like (weeks to months).

  • Why clear communication and status updates are essential.

  • Pitfall: assuming the supplier will update you without asking.

Shipping, Delivery & Follow-Up

  • Expect lead times for logistics after production.

  • Quality control checks before final balance.

  • Building a long-term relationship vs. one-off order.

Actionable Takeaways

  • Always request a detailed quote + samples.

  • Use structured payment milestones to reduce risk.

  • Set expectations for timelines and updates.

  • Document everything in one place.

NovaSupplier Tie-In

On NovaSupplier, the quote → order → payment workflow is structured inside the platform.

  • Brands request quotes with clear specs.

  • Suppliers respond in a standardized format.

  • Payments flow securely through Stripe, with commissions and milestones tracked automatically.

This means your first order is transparent, safe, and fully documented — no messy emails or risky bank transfers.

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Join NovaSupplier

Find verified suppliers, send quotes, and manage your sourcing — all in one platform. Get started in minutes.

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Instant Access

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Verified Suppliers

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No Setup Fees

Background

Join NovaSupplier

Find verified suppliers, send quotes, and manage your sourcing — all in one platform. Get started in minutes.

Icon

Instant Access

Icon

Verified Suppliers

Icon

No Setup Fees

Background

Join NovaSupplier

Find verified suppliers, send quotes, and manage your sourcing — all in one platform. Get started in minutes.

Icon

Instant Access

Icon

Verified Suppliers

Icon

No Setup Fees

NovaSupplier

Connecting Wordwide Brands with European Suppliers.

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NovaSupplier

Connecting Wordwide Brands with European Suppliers.

Social Profiles

Linkdeln
Instagram
X.com

NovaSupplier

Connecting Wordwide Brands with European Suppliers.

Social Profiles

Linkdeln
Instagram
X.com