Step 3 — Pilot order (Days 11-21)

Purpose of this step

Pilot order of 50-200 units with full QC report, sample sign-off, and color/finish verification. Pilot fee credited against first production PO. This is one of four steps in our 30-day onboarding flow — see the full overview.

Agenda / what we cover

• Pilot volume (typically 50-200 units across 1-3 SKUs)
• Sample stage: 3 production samples per SKU before bulk run
• QC inspection (third-party available on request)
• Optional: distribute pilot to internal employees for NPS feedback
• Iterate on issues (color, fit, decoration) before scale

Outcomes / what you receive

• Production sample sign-off (3 samples per SKU)
• Full QC report (AQL 2.5 visual, 1.0 critical)
• Lead-time validation (actual vs quoted)
• Recipient feedback (if pilot distributed)
• Decoration color/finish verification (ΔE ≤ 2.0 vs Pantone target)

Deliverable

QC report, signed sample sheet, and a green/yellow/red recommendation to proceed to bulk production.

How long it takes

This step typically takes 3-10 calendar days, depending on your internal review cadence. We track elapsed time against the 30-day target and flag risk if any step exceeds plan by more than 50%.

Common questions in this step

• Can we customize the deliverable? Yes — adapt to your existing procurement templates if you already have them.
• What if we need more time? Fine. The 30-day plan is a goal, not a hard deadline. Most clients land in 35-45 days.
• Can we run this remotely? Yes — every step is fully remote-capable. On-site visits available for premium tiers.
• What if we don't proceed after this step? No obligation. There is no penalty for stopping at any step before the master agreement.

Next step

Once this step closes, we move to the next phase. Return to the full onboarding flow for the bigger picture, or email onboarding@merch.am with questions.