Custom Plush Sample Fees: What’s Included, Revisions, and Reorders

Planning to order 100 custom plush toys? Before you get started, you may want to know what the sample fee covers, how revisions work, and whether you’ll pay development fees again when you reorder.

ທີ່ CustomPlushMaker, sample development and production are quoted separately. We use your artwork or reference images to develop a physical plush sample, refine it with your feedback, and establish the approved design and specifications for production.

Here’s what to expect before you pay for sampling.

1. What Does the $155 Starting Price Apply To?

Our custom plush sample development fee starts at $155 USD. Your quote depends on the design and the work needed to make it.

For example, a conventional teddy bear up to 30 cm tall—about 12 inches—wearing a basic outfit with a straightforward embroidered or printed logo can serve as a reference for the starting price.

The final fee depends on the toy’s shape, size, embroidery or printing, and the development needed for plush clothing and accessories. We’ll review your design and explain what your quote includes.

International sample shipping and destination import charges are additional. We explain those costs below.

2. What Does the Sample Development Fee Include?

Turning a drawing into a three-dimensional plush toy involves several people, including pattern makers, cutters, embroidery specialists, and sewing staff.

Your project quote defines the work included. Not every design requires every process listed above.

Character Design Is a Separate Service

Customers typically supply the artwork or reference images, and we develop those into a plush sample.

If you need a character designed from scratch—or want our design team to revise or expand your existing artwork—we can quote that service separately.

Creating or revising character artwork is different from adjusting a plush sample within an already agreed design.

What If Your Design Needs Specialized Components?

Some projects include vinyl components, custom plastic parts, metal accessories, or electronic sound modules that require specialist suppliers.

Depending on the project, we can help identify suitable suppliers and coordinate how those components will fit with the plush body.

You can also work with your own supplier and provide the components for us to assess for final assembly. We’ll confirm responsibilities, the work involved, and any related fees in advance.

3. How Long Does Sampling Take—and What Will You See First?

The first shape prototype typically takes 1–3 calendar weeks from receipt of your sample payment.

This is an early sample for reviewing the general shape, proportions, and construction approach. It does not yet include all the embroidery, printed logos, or other finishing details, and it is not the final sample ready for shipment.

A drawing and a fabric toy are different formats. Some details may need to be adapted to suit the material or construction method. The early prototype gives us an opportunity to discuss those choices with you.

The 1–3 weeks covers the initial shape prototype—not the finished sample or its delivery. Detail development, revisions, time awaiting feedback, and international shipping require additional time.

If you have an event or launch date, tell us before paying for sampling.

4. How Many Revisions Are Included?

Initial sample development includes two rounds of revisions per design at no additional charge. We’ll work with you to refine the shape, expression, and other details within the agreed design and specifications.

Before development begins, we’ll explain the revision scope and how rounds are counted, including how feedback on the initial shape prototype fits into the process.

Changing the character, completely redeveloping the patterns, or adding plush clothing and accessories may require additional development. We’ll explain any extra fees and get your approval before doing that work.

Submit Each Round of Feedback Together

After reviewing one set of sample photos, you might ask us to:

• Move the eyes slightly higher.
• Make the mouth smaller.
• Add more stuffing to the belly.

Submitted together, these requests count as one round of feedback, rather than three separate revisions.

Once we make the changes and send updated photos, new adjustment requests count toward the next round. Gathering feedback from everyone on your team before replying helps avoid repeated work and delays.

5. When Is a Change Quoted as a New Sample?

The key questions are whether the existing patterns can still be used and how much new development is required.

For example, adding a jacket to an approved bear without changing its body can be quoted as a separate accessory. We would not charge again for developing the existing bear.

You do not pay twice for completed work that can still be used. New or substantially reworked elements are assessed separately. We confirm additional fees with you before starting.

6. What If You Want Changes After Receiving the Physical Sample?

We normally ship a physical sample after you approve its photos for shipment.

If you request new changes after receiving that sample, we quote the revision work separately. You also pay to ship the revised sample. Any unused revision rounds from before shipment do not automatically carry over to changes requested after delivery.

We distinguish between:

• New or changed requirements: Assessed and quoted according to the additional work.
• Missed revision instructions or confirmed requirements: Corrected by us, rather than charged as new design work. If another shipment is needed, we confirm the arrangements and related costs with you beforehand.

Approving a sample for shipment is separate from approving production. If you choose to inspect the sample in person, we confirm the final production requirements after that review.

We recommend a physical sample if feel, weight, firmness, or size is important to your decision. Photos and video cannot fully replace an in-person review.

7. Who Pays for Shipping and Import Charges?

Import charges depend on the destination’s requirements and customs processing.

You can also approve the sample through photos and video without receiving it before production. This avoids that sample shipment’s international shipping cost and transit time.

Projects that proceed to production using photo and video approval may also qualify for a production discount. We’ll explain the applicable arrangement in your quote.

If you need to evaluate the toy’s feel, weight, or firmness, we still recommend receiving a physical sample.

8. Do You Pay Development Fees Again for Production or Reorders?

Any production discount associated with photo approval is separate from a refund or credit of the sample development fee.

We keep your project’s sewing patterns, fabric and component specifications, cutting templates and files, and embroidery digitizing files on record for future production.

An unchanged reorder does not require paying again for completed development. Each batch still needs production preparation, and production and shipping are quoted for the new order.

What to Confirm Before Paying

Before starting sample development, make sure you understand:

• The artwork, size, colorway, construction, and accessory requirements.
• What the development fee includes and what costs extra.
• The scope, timing, and counting method for the two included revision rounds.
• The initial prototype timeline and subsequent development steps.
• Whether you want a physical sample, including shipping and import costs.
• How design changes and adjustments after sample delivery are charged.

At CustomPlushMaker, production starts at 100 pieces per design, per colorway, with sample development quoted separately.

Send CustomPlushMaker your artwork, preferred size, quantity, accessory requirements, and target delivery date. We’ll discuss the result you want, review the materials and construction, and provide a sample quote and development plan that explain what’s included and what would cost extra.

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