Case Study: Custom Cycling Short for a Coffee Roaster Chain in Canada
Source:Cycling Short /
Time:2026-09-18
Cycling Short for a Coffee Roaster Chain in Canada
A Coffee Roaster Chain approached us with a cycling short requirement for Canada. The brief was specific: a defined look, a hard launch date and a unit cost that had to survive shipping and duty. This case study records what was specified, what went wrong in sampling and how the bulk order was delivered.
The challenge
- Suppliers who disappear once the deposit is paid
- No reliable way to track a order once it enters production
- Inconsistent sizing between production runs
What we specified
| Product | Cycling Short |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Coffee Roaster Chain |
| Market | Canada |
| Order volume | 5,000 pieces across 2 colourways |
| Base fabric | Cashmere |
| Decoration | DTG Digital Printing |
| Size range | XS-3XL |
| Sampling rounds | 4 |
| Delivery window | 12 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the tech pack around Cashmere and locked shrinkage allowance before grading.
- Decoration was moved to DTG Digital Printing after strike-off tests showed better wash durability.
- A pre-production sample was approved and retained as the golden reference.
- Production ran with in-line inspection and a mid-run photo report.
- Cartons were packed to the client's own barcode and size ratio specification.
Result
- 5,000 pieces delivered inside the 12-week window.
- Unit cost held within 1.5% of the original quotation.
- Return rate linked to fit or workmanship stayed under 1.0%.
- The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Approve a pre-production sample from the actual bulk fabric. Proto cloth behaves differently in cutting and washing.
Planning something similar?
Tell us the quantity, target price and delivery window, and we will build a customisation programme around those three numbers.
