“Can you make this type of wash care label?” That was the message I saw in a new friend request when I checked my phone this morning.
The client was quite polite: “Hello, I’m from Songwon in Korea…”
Mr. Li wanted a wash care label made of black ribbon with white printed text. As expected, no matter where the client is from, the conversation almost always turns to price within the first three sentences.
I certainly wasn’t going to give him a quote right away. Since the product was destined for export to Korea, wash care label simply quoting based on the photo Mr. Li sent would have been irresponsible.
In our experience with export orders, requirements vary significantly by country and brand. For instance, we handle orders for the British brand Tiny Treasures; for their labels—whether woven or printed care labels—they mandate the use of recycled materials, and in some cases, require materials free of fluorescent agents.
Mr. Li seemed a bit impatient and called me directly via voice chat—it was the earliest inquiry call I’d ever received, just past 7 a.m.
There are 2 production methods for this type of black-ribbon, white-print label: flexographic printing and screen printing. The results differ, and the price gap between the two can be as much as twofold. How could I possibly judge the right method from a single, blurry photo?
I wasn’t about to rush into quoting a low price, only to end up with a product that didn’t match the client’s actual needs.
Mr. Li remarked, “I had no idea there was so much to know about a tiny wsah care label.”
It reminded me of an interesting experience I had a while back when recruiting printing technicians. Two different technicians using the exact same equipment, ink, and materials produced vastly different print quality. No two leaves in the world are exactly alike, after all.
No matter how small an industrial product is, doing it well—and doing it to a high standard—requires technical expertise and careful attention to detail.
You really can’t underestimate a small wash care label like this. While its cost is negligible compared to the overall product price, its function is critical; it determines whether the product can be exported and sold on the market. This is especially true for export labels, which must display vital information—such as compliance standards—meaning there is absolutely no room for error regarding the ink and raw materials used. Towards the end of the call, I could sense Mr. Li’s hesitation: “Previously, these wash care labels were manufactured in South Korea. He is currently in Tongren, and to ensure better quality control, he wants to source the first batch locally if possible. However, since many of their products are manufactured in Dongguan, he might consider partnering with us later once he visits Dongguan.”
It is completely understandable for clients who prioritize quality to be cautious; after all, business deals are always built on trust.
Mr. Li contacted me after watching just one of my videos. I suggested he watch a few more to get a better understanding of our factory and build some trust before we discuss further; this would make future collaboration much smoother.
Curious about the nature of this Korean company, I looked it up and discovered it is a publicly listed firm—a market leader in its industry.
I wasn’t dazzled by this fact, though; we already serve over a dozen major brands, including Disney, Sega, and Bandai. Besides, we don’t distinguish between clients based on size; regardless of scale, if a company can’t afford our products or doesn’t care about quality, they aren’t the right client for us.
I am Ruan Qiuyue. We are a Disney-certified label manufacturer. With quality endorsed by Disney, you need not hesitate—why not start with a small trial order?
If you want, I can also craft a slightly more marketing-friendly, concise English version suitable for LinkedIn, international clients, or your company profile—keeping the same confidence and story but in a tighter, punchy format. This version often performs better abroad.