Case Study: Curated Sourcing Work with National Beauty Distribution

Introduction

When National Beauty Distribution – Irelands leading importer and wholesaler for the beauty, hair and cosmetics industry – approached Curated Sourcing needing a new, luxury tote bag to supply at an upcoming high-profile event, we were only happy to oblige.

Curated Sourcing was the ideal partner for this project, given our expertise in creating bespoke luxury merchandise. National Beauty Distribution envisioned a luxe tote bag for an upcoming high-profile event, a product line that falls squarely within our core product ranges. Our decades of experience and dedication to high-quality, custom-made products ensured we could more than meet the client’s unique requirements and tight deadlines.

But it wasn’t without its challenges.

What were the pain points?

At the project’s outset, National Beauty Distribution faced several significant hurdles, particularly concerning stringent time constraints and budget limitations.

The project required a quick turnaround to ensure the tote bags were ready in time for the event. Any delay could compromise the event’s success and their brand reputation.

National Beauty Distribution also had a strict budget, needing a high-quality, luxe finish without exceeding financial limits. For us, balancing cost-effectiveness with premium quality was essential.

What was our collaborative solution?

We approached the challenges National Beauty Distribution were facing with our bespoke structured, collaborative, and innovative process to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery without compromising on quality.

• We took on time constraints: To meet the tight schedule, we maintained daily communication with National Beauty Distribution, providing regular updates and negotiating hard with suppliers and internal teams all hours of the day to expedite production.
  
• We balanced the books: The team worked diligently to negotiate the best prices with suppliers. By exploring multiple material and construction options, we ensured that the final product was luxurious yet budget friendly. Clever tweaks in design and construction freed up budget for higher-quality finishes.

The collaborative process involved:

Prototyping:

We reviewed a sample round to ensure complete approval of the final design before it went to mass production.

Material Selection:

Multiple fabric options were sent to National Beauty Distribution, allowing them to envision the final product and make informed decisions.

Design and Finishing:

Various construction ideas and finishing options were also presented to achieve the desired high-quality look.

We ensured to prioritise National Beauty Distribution’s brand identity by ensuring they were at the heart of every design decision. Daily emails facilitated clear and concise communication, ensuring that all client preferences and budget considerations were not only explored, but met.

Our 11 steps to launch:

The development and launch of the bespoke tote bags followed our meticulous process:

1. Project Brief: Defined a clear project brief with the National Beauty Distribution to outline expectations and requirements.
2. Target Costs: Acquired a target cost from National Beauty Distribution to guide budgeting decisions.
3. Order Quantity: Determined the desired order quantity to negotiate the best prices.
4. Landed Date: Established the required delivery date to ensure timely arrival.
5. Design and Quotation: Collaborated with suppliers to create cost-effective designs and presented all available options to National Beauty Distribution for approval.
6. Sampling: Produced and reviewed various fabric samples and bag options with National Beauty Distribution for approval.
7. Design Development: Made necessary adjustments based on the National Beauty Distribution’s feedback.
8. Final Concept Creation: Secured final sign-off from National Beauty Distribution on the design and order.
9. Production Run: Initiated production, keeping National Beauty Distribution updated with a comprehensive project plan (CP) to track each stage.
10. Quality Control: Conducted rigorous quality checks to ensure all items met specifications and quality expectations.
11. Delivery: Delivered the order on time and followed up to assess the event’s success.

Unique strategies employed to ensure brand consistency and quality included ordering multiple samples. One for client review and confirmation, one for project manager reference, and two to quality control. This process, combined with a detailed manufacturing brief, ensures our tote bags are produced to exact specifications and high standards.

The Outcome

Less than a year later, we are currently working on different projects with the brand, and they have this to say about us:

“I have worked with Hollie and Curated Sourcing for over two months now creating the perfect product for the biggest event in our calendar for 2024. They were so attentive, meticulous with the small details and really went above and beyond for us. They have created the perfect tote bag for our event goodie bags. They were flexible on quantities and timelines and sent through an image and physical sample at every step of the journey. I would 100% work with them again and trust that each and every product will match their standard so far.”

Summary

Curated Sourcing’s dedicated approach, collaborative process, and attention to detail ensured the successful creation and delivery of luxe tote bags for the National Beauty Distribution’s event. By effectively addressing time constraints and budget limitations, we delivered a product that exceeded their expectations, reinforcing their brand’s prestige, enhancing the event’s success and forming a fantastic working partnership. We can’t wait for the next one.