Prototyping is the stage that decides the success or failure of a packaging project – not because 7 days is a long time, but because the quality of what you put into those 7 days determines whether the returned sample is approved immediately or if the project has to restart. This article walks through each step that takes place at the factory during the prototyping phase and how to use it most effectively to extract value from your budget and schedule.

Why the prototyping phase decides the entire project

A custom-ordered wooden, lacquer, or leather-wrapped box will be decided for you by someone else at every point you leave as a vague assumption. The entire purpose of prototyping is to turn assumptions into decisions – and to do so while the cost of change is low. Changing the paint color on a sample is a rework cycle; changing it after mass production is discarding the entire batch. After 18+ years of production, we can confirm that almost every problematic order can be traced back to a rushed or skipped prototyping phase.

How the 7 days at the factory unfold

At TANCY, prototyping takes about 7 days, consisting of three overlapping parts:

1. Structure and drawings are finalized through digital 3D models
2. Physical samples are made using the exact materials and technology of the mass production batch
3. Your feedback is processed through up to two revision rounds

Goal: when you approve, what you approve is the exact object that production will reproduce.

Step 1 — Digital 3D model approval: decide before committing to materials

Digital 3D models finalize structure, proportions, color direction, and logo placement without having to wait for factory scheduling. Treat it like a real approval gate: check that the dimensions fit your product, the wood grain direction and finish, and all logo positions – not just the front. Pictured is an open-frame wine box that holds a bottle using wooden slats: this type of structure must be finalized at the 3D stage, as changing from a frame structure to a closed structure after approval will reset the entire prototyping phase, not just count as a revision round.

Discovering that a "logo is squeezed against the edge of the lid" or "box proportions conflict with the lining layout" in a 3D render is many times cheaper than discovering it on a finished wooden panel.

Step 2 — Physical samples

After the digital render is approved, the physical sample is made using the exact material and exact technology of the mass production batch: the same type of wood, the same paint system, and the same lining. That is why you can confidently evaluate the sample: gloss level, color under real light, hinge feel, tightness of the lining, and the weight when closing the lid.

Evaluate the sample in the environment where it will live: store lights for retail packaging, natural light for e-commerce – and always put your actual product inside. The leather-wrapped box with red velvet lining and tiered pedestal in the photo is the type of sample that should be tested with the actual glass bottle to be shipped, not with a substitute bottle.

Two revision rounds: how to use them effectively

The prototyping window includes up to two revision rounds. How to use effectively: gather full internal feedback, combine each round into one written list, and send it all at once – instead of sending individual comments piece by piece. Prioritize structural and material changes (dimensions, lining layout, paint color) before minor decorative adjustments that production can accommodate. Disciplined buyers almost always finalize a sample for approval within two rounds.

What to prepare before requesting a sample

The biggest accelerator is complete input. Before the 7-day clock starts running, prepare:

Artwork: Logo and printing files in AI, C4D, or PDF format
Product dimensions: Length × width × height of the item the box must hold – along with the actual product if possible
Material direction: Wood, leather, or paint; reference gloss or matte finish; reference color or Pantone code
Structure: Box type, lid type, lining layout, any magnets or alloy buckles
Branding: Logo placement and your preferred finishing technology (foil stamping, embossing, printing)

Send these five items through the contact page and you will receive a prototyping plan along with a quote within 24 hours.

Three mistakes that cost buyers the most time

After thousands of projects, the three mistakes below account for the majority of delays:

1. Sizing by memory instead of measuring the product. Linings cut according to assumed dimensions will never fit perfectly – ceramic bottles, special geometric bottles, or multi-item gift sets must all be measured using the actual product.
2. Judging color on a phone screen instead of a physical sample under real light. Screens display glowing color; paint on wood absorbs and reflects light – the two are not interchangeable.
3. Changing the structure after the 3D model is approved. This is not a revision round – it resets a part of the prototyping phase and pulls back the production schedule.

All three mistakes are avoidable – and none are the factory's responsibility. If you are not familiar with how a workshop operates, the 9-point manufacturer selection checklist includes a section comparing each party's prototyping commitments.

From sample approval to mass production

Production starts immediately after the sample is signed off, taking 15–50 days depending on quantity and complexity. Each stage – from CNC wood cutting to lining and final QC – is checked before moving to the next, and we accept third-party inspections (SGS) if your project requires it. Full details of the 12 stages are in the factory production process article.

Regarding payment and logistics: T/T with a 30% deposit, the remainder paid before shipment; EXW or FOB Guangzhou delivery; small batches or samples sent by air via DHL, FedEx, or UPS. TANCY factory (Guangzhou Tancy Industrial Co., Ltd., 6,500 m² workshop, 130+ staff including 7 designers and 200+ skilled craftsmen, capacity 50,000 boxes per month) routinely exports to the EU, US, Japan, Korea, and the Middle East.

When can you skip custom prototyping

If you need packaging urgently, or want to verify demand before investing in molds, the stock sample line is a reasonable shortcut: wooden wine boxes, leather wine boxes, gift boxes, and other lines have stock versions, order from 50 pieces per model and you can still attach your own metal logo. Stock items trade customization for speed – no prototyping phase, and items ship within a few days. When a sample sells well and you switch to a custom order, the MOQ starts from 300 pieces per model for all product lines. Details on balancing the two options are in the premium packaging MOQ article; how linings affect quality perception is detailed in the jewelry box lining guide.

Do you provide samples, and are they free?

Yes, we provide samples – samples are charged. Samples buy certainty: an object made using the exact material and technology of the mass production batch, within a 7-day window including digital 3D models and two revision rounds.

How long does the packaging prototyping process take?

A total of about 7 days, including digital 3D model approval, physical sample creation, and up to two revision rounds. Sending full artwork and actual product dimensions from the beginning is the best way to keep the schedule lean. After sample approval, production takes 15–50 days depending on quantity and complexity.

What files and information do I need to provide?

Logo and artwork files in AI, C4D, or PDF format; exact dimensions of the item the box must hold; material and finish direction (wood, leather, or paint; gloss or matte; Pantone code); preferred logo placement. Once we receive the full information, we will confirm the prototyping plan within 24 hours.

What happens after sample approval?

Production starts after the sample is signed off, taking 15–50 days, with each stage checked before moving forward; we accept third-party SGS inspections. Payment is T/T with a 30% deposit, remainder before shipment; delivery is EXW or FOB Guangzhou; small batches ship via DHL, FedEx, or UPS.