Start with the production route, then confirm the minimum
A useful minimum order quantity is the quantity your actual design and packaging require. Avoid choosing a supplier by a headline minimum alone: check what that minimum includes, how many designs it covers, and what changes when you add branding.
365nails handmade customization starts at 30 sets and machine-made customization starts at 500 sets. Minimum quantities vary by design, technique and packaging; your confirmed quote sets the project terms.
Compare the decisions behind the quantity
| Decision | What to put in the brief | What to confirm in the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Existing design or custom design | Reference images, shape, length and finish | Whether the proposed route is stock sourcing, handmade customization or machine-made production |
| One style or a collection | A separate quantity for each design and size assortment | Whether minimums apply per design, color, shape or total order; do not assume mixed designs count together |
| Packaging | Unbranded packing or specific logo labels, cards and boxes | Separate packaging minimums, artwork approval and additional costs |
| Delivery plan | Destination and the date the goods are needed | Sample approval, production, inspection and shipping as separate stages |
Use a test, validate and scale framework
- Define the test. Choose a buyer group and a sales channel. A salon display, an online collection and a wholesale assortment need different sizing, presentation and replenishment plans.
- Limit the variables. Test a manageable collection rather than multiplying designs, shapes and packaging variants at the same time. Set a budget for samples, inventory, packaging and freight.
- Approve the physical result. Check fit, edge finish, color, decoration security, the size assortment and how the nails are packed. Record the approved reference and any agreed changes.
- Scale from demand. Use sales, buyer feedback, returns and the reorder interval to decide the next quantity. A lower unit price is useful only when the additional inventory fits your expected demand and cash flow.
Understand production samples and standalone samples
Every 365nails production order includes a sample step: at no extra charge for handmade; machine-made quotes list any sample or tooling fee. Production starts only after sample approval.
A 365nails standalone handmade sample is 1 set: $30 for the style as-is or $50 with changes, plus flat $10 shipping, with up to 2 photo revisions before it ships.
The fee paid for a 365nails standalone handmade sample is credited toward a later order of 100 or more sets of that same style in one order, once per style, with no expiry.
A standalone sample and a sample within a production order serve different decisions. State which route you want when preparing your brief, and keep the sample approval linked to the design that will be produced.
Budget for time and packaging as well as sets
After sample approval, 365nails handmade production takes about 7–15 working days and machine-made production takes about 20–35 working days, plus shipping. Lead times vary by design, technique and packaging; your confirmed quote sets the project terms.
For 365nails unbranded custom nails, specify how you would like them packed in your brief. Add logo labels, cards or boxes to the custom list when branding is needed.
Compare quotes on the same basis: product quantity, custom work, packaging, shipping and destination costs. Ask which changes would require a new quote or a new sample approval. Do not treat a production estimate as a guaranteed arrival date.
Know the cancellation point before ordering
For 365nails custom orders, cancellation before sampling starts receives a full refund; after sampling, the refund is minus any sample fee on the confirmed quote (handmade production samples carry none). A 1-set standalone sample cannot be refunded once it has shipped. Once production begins, the order can no longer be cancelled.
Questions to settle before accepting a quote
- Does the quoted quantity apply to each design, or can any designs be combined?
- What is included in the nail set and the packaging?
- Which reference, sizes, finishes and artwork will the sample represent?
- What quality checks and pre-shipment evidence are agreed?
- Which shipping route and destination charges are included in the total?
Prepare one clear next step
Bring your references, quantity by design, packaging ideas and destination to review the current customization service and prepare your brief. The confirmed quote sets the terms for your project.
