Local production vs import merch — total cost, lead time, risk

Local (in-country production): 5-14 day lead time, premium pricing, no import duty, no customs delay risk, sustainability story (local jobs, low CO2 transport), language alignment, easy strike-off. Import (China/Bangladesh/Pakistan/Vietnam): 30-60 day lead time, 30-50% lower unit cost at high volume, customs+duty+VAT add-on, quality variance risk, slower iteration. Hybrid: use local for time-critical + low-volume + premium; import for high-volume + commodity. Example: 5000 T-shirts: import = $4 vs local = $7. 100 leather portfolios: local = $80 vs import = $50 (with 6-week wait + customs).