How to Avoid Costly Production Mistakes

In the merch industry, a single typo or a misunderstood size breakdown can wipe out the profit of an entire job. Here is how to build a "Production Confidence" culture.

The "Golden Proof" Rule

Never start production until a digital proof has been explicitly approved in writing. Brandkit's "Pinned Proofs" feature ensures that the artwork used by the decorator is the exact same version approved by the client.

Clear Size Matrices

Hand-writing size breakdowns (e.g., "10S, 5M, 2L") is a recipe for disaster. Always use a structured size matrix. Brandkit automatically calculates the totals and generates clear picking lists for your team, eliminating manual counting errors.

The "Shipment First" Mentality

Capturing the shipping address before the job hits the production floor is vital. Knowing the final destination helps you prioritize jobs based on transit time, not just production time.

Centralized Communication

If a client requests a change to the artwork via text message to a sales rep, but the production manager is looking at an old email thread, you're going to have a problem. Keep all job-related comments inside the Brandkit Job feed to create a single, immutable source of truth.