Having the first journal sample arrive a couple of weeks ago marked a huge milestone in this new startup journey. From the moment I opened the parcel to holding the journal in my hands and feeling the texture of the linen cover, I felt that everything was starting to fall into place.

It’s been quite the journey, and in some ways, a struggle, to get this first sample ready, so I wanted to shed some light on it and speak about the process of what was required.

(click below to skip ahead if you like)

How was the sample organised?

To get this first sample ordered it actually took me a lot longer than I had initially thought. The reason being is that I wasn’t aware of all the different options I’d have available. To give you a rough idea of the types of options I explored, investigated and considered, here are a few of them:

Cover material (leather, fake leather, hardboard, linen), binding options (spiral binding, perfect binding, board book binding), paper type (recycled, plain, FSC), paper thickness, paper size and accessories (page ribbon, pen holder, inner pocket).

Without getting into the nitty-gritty of it, each of the above options (plus many that I haven’t listed out), were considered and in some ways tested based on suitability and usability. Even just choosing the right cover material was through a large process of trial and error, some of which I mention in my blog, Business (and bliss) in Bali.

From having spoken with suppliers in Australia and across the world, I had managed to narrow down my options to around 5-7 different manufacturers. I kept in constant contact with all of them, and actually asked them all the same questions. This was a great way to a) confirm the information I was receiving, and b) compare previous work, reviews, testimonials etc.

Helpful tip: try not to be overwhelmed with all the options available. Have a idea in mind of what you’re after and request information that aligns to it.

How much does a sample cost?

To order a sample the price per unit ends up being quite expensive, and there are a few reasons for this. The main reason is that if what you’re ordering is something you’ve fully customised, then chances are the manufacturer won’t have that mould already made up. Creating the mould and setting up the machinery to print a few samples requires additional costs which results in the samples being unexpectedly expensive. To give you an idea, I spent around $380 on three samples (which didn’t include delivery).

When you move into bulk purchases, this number comes down quite significantly.

Helpful tip: if you’re ever planning on getting a company to make you a sample of something, request for the sample fee to come off the production cost should you end up going ahead with them.

How did the sample turn out?

All in all, I was completely surprised by the first sample. I had so many setbacks in the lead-up to the sample such as delays due to national holidays, issues with the design file and a misunderstanding in technical aspects of the journal, that I was expecting this first sample to be a near-disaster. In fact, it was almost that good that I even felt tempted to not order the same sample through other manufacturers.

Even though I was tempted to immediately go ahead with this first manufacturer, it’s hard to truly know the quality you’re receiving and the quality you could be potentially missing out on if you don’t have anything else to compare with, which is why I’ll be ordering more samples.

I did notice a few minor issues such as the size of the logo on the cover being too thin for the style of printing I require. I also noticed some improvements that can be made with the internal section of the journal – however, this is mainly around the design, not necessarily due to the quality of the sample.

Helpful tip: don’t be tempted to settle for the first sample you receive.

How long does it take to make a sample?

Excluding delivery times, I’m finding that the average time to produce a sample is around 8-11 days. It’s super important to respect sample production times as it can be tempting to rush them, but when this happens the chances of the company making mistakes or delivering sub-quality products increases.

One of my biggest challenges was not realising that I had agreed to the samples just before a few days of national holidays which resulted in the lead time being extended by an extra week after all the disruptions.

Helpful tip: ask early if there are any upcoming holidays or anything else the company foresees that could potentially impact sample and production times.

How many samples should be ordered?

There’s actually no one-size- fits-all response to this. Depending on what the product is, the time required to develop and the costs involved, I would generally recommend having no less than two and no more than five samples. The reason for having two or more samples is that it’s crucial to have something to compare quality and workmanship with. I’d suggest no more than five samples as it can be very easy to drown in indecisiveness. Although I agree with trying to get things as right as possible from the start, there’s also the matter of time. Each sample requires additional time to order, produce, receive, test and analyse. With every sample ordered, it’s extra time without going to market.

Helpful tip: looking to create an MVP (minimum viable product) and iterating from there can save a lot of time and money. Nothing will ever be a finished product, so it’s helpful to not get too bogged down in making the first version entirely perfect as this can have its own inherent issues when it comes to speed to launch and decision paralysis. Never skip steps to jeopardise quality and save time, but at some stage, a balance does need to be stuck.

What are the next steps?

As I mentioned a little higher up, I will be looking to order more samples. I even have one lot of samples that will hopefully be arriving later this week (keep your eyes peeled!). Once I’ve received all samples and performed some additional tests with the journals, I will then be looking to move into production mode with one of the companies. Besides that, I’ll also be working through various options when it comes to packaging as well as some additional goodies to add to the final product. Ah yes, and focusing on developing and testing the app!

(my home-printed paper version vs. first official sample)