Custom PU Slide Sandal RFQ Checklist for Brand Buyers

What information does a PU slide factory need to quote?

Start with eight groups of information:

1. buyer and target market;
2. reference design and intended use;
3. product construction;
4. PU material direction;
5. colors and branding;
6. size range and fit basis;
7. packaging and labeling;
8. project scale, quality and commercial requirements.

Label each point as confirmed, preferred or open to factory recommendation. This prevents an early preference from being treated as a final specification.

1. Buyer and target-market information

Provide the context that can change the product or documents:

• company or brand type;
• destination country or region;
• sales channel, such as wholesale, retail, e-commerce, hospitality or team use;
• target user and intended environment;
• target retail or wholesale position if this can be shared;
• planned launch window as a planning target;
• person responsible for technical and commercial approvals.

The factory does not need your full business plan. It needs enough context to avoid proposing the wrong construction, packaging or testing route.

2. Reference design and intended use

Send clear references from several angles. If the design is confidential, begin with a simplified brief and release detailed files after the supplier passes an initial review.

Useful inputs include:

• front, side, top and outsole views;
• a physical reference sample if available;
• a sketch or 3D file with version number;
• target use, such as casual, bathroom, recovery-inspired, travel, promotional or uniform applications;
• required and optional design features;
• features that must not be changed.

Identify whether the reference is a shape reference, a quality benchmark, a color reference or only a general style direction. A supplier should not assume that every visible feature must be copied.

3. Product construction

Describe the main components and how they should work together.

If the factory should recommend the construction, state the desired result and use condition rather than inventing technical details.

4. PU material direction

PU is a broad material category. Give the factory the performance and appearance priorities that matter to the buyer:

• soft, balanced or supportive feel;
• lightweight preference where relevant;
• surface texture and finish;
• resilience or shape-recovery priority;
• flexibility direction;
• indoor, outdoor or mixed use;
• expected cleaning and care conditions;
• odor, colorfastness or chemical requirements where applicable;
• whether an approved material reference exists.

Ask the supplier to state its proposed material route and any trade-offs. Do not rely on a general label such as premium PU without a project reference or measurable approval method.

For more detail, read How to Choose PU Material for Custom Slide Sandals.

5. Colors, finish and branding

For each color, specify:

• color system or physical reference;
• material and surface where the color applies;
• target finish;
• whether minor appearance variation is expected from the process;
• how the sample will be approved.

For branding, provide:

• logo artwork in an appropriate vector format where available;
• approved spelling and orientation;
• size and position;
• preferred effect, such as printed, embossed, debossed, molded or applied detail;
• number of colors;
• whether the logo is required on the product, packaging or both.

Do not ask the supplier to guess the final logo from a low-resolution screenshot. Read How to Choose Embossed, Printed or Molded Branding for process selection.

6. Size range and fit basis

State the intended market size system and the source of the fit reference:

• target size system and labeling;
• smallest and largest planned size;
• unisex, men’s, women’s or children’s fit direction;
• single-size or dual-size marking;
• target foot-length reference if available;
• reference sample and reference size;
• desired width or volume direction;
• planned quantity distribution by size;
• fit-trial method and approval responsibility.

Size conversion alone does not guarantee fit. Open-toe slides also require review of footbed length, width, toe and heel position, upper placement and retention.

7. Packaging and labeling

List every item that should be included in the quotation:

• unit polybag or protective wrap;
• pair label, hangtag or sticker;
• barcode, SKU and size label;
• inner box or retail box;
• inserts, care information or warnings;
• carton quantity and carton marks;
• destination-language requirements;
• packaging material preferences;
• e-commerce or warehouse preparation if required.

Separate required packaging from optional concepts. Packaging can change unit cost, volume, damage risk and production work. Use our Packaging and Labeling Checklist to prepare the details.

8. Project scale and commercial information

Share an honest range rather than an artificial exact number when volume is still being validated:

• expected first-order range;
• target repeat-order pattern;
• number of colors;
• number of sizes and size distribution;
• whether mixed colors or mixed sizes are required;
• preferred trade term and destination;
• payment and documentation requirements;
• inspection arrangement;
• tooling and sample requirements;
• quotation currency and validity needed.

Ask about flexible MOQ options after the supplier understands the number of molds, colors, materials, sizes and packaging combinations. MOQ is a production condition, not a single number that applies to every design.

9. Quality, testing and compliance inputs

Tell the factory what must be proven and who defines the requirement:

• buyer’s workmanship standard;
• measurement and tolerance points;
• material or whole-shoe tests;
• restricted-substance requirements;
• slip, flex, bonding or durability tests where relevant;
• inspection level or method;
• destination-market labeling;
• approved laboratory or report format if required;
• golden sample or signed reference requirements.

Use current destination-market and product-specific requirements. Do not request a generic compliance certificate without confirming whether it covers the material, product, market and production site.

A copyable PU slide RFQ template

Use the following structure in an email or attachment:

Project overview

• Company / brand type:
• Destination market:
• Sales channel:
• Intended user and use:
• Target launch period:

Product

• Product type:
• Reference files attached:
• Construction preference:
• Required features:
• Optional features:
• Features that cannot change:

Material and appearance

• PU feel and performance priorities:
• Surface texture / finish:
• Color references:
• Logo method, size and position:

Sizing

• Size system:
• Size range:
• Reference size / sample:
• Fit direction:
• Expected size assortment:

Packaging

• Unit packaging:
• Labels / barcode:
• Retail box or insert:
• Carton requirements:

Quality and commercial

• Required tests or inspection:
• Expected first-order range:
• Number of colors:
• Delivery destination and trade term:
• Documents required:
• Points open to factory recommendation:

Please state in your quotation

• material and construction assumptions;
• included logo and packaging;
• MOQ basis and flexible options;
• tooling and development items;
• sample and approval stages;
• project-specific estimated timing;
• testing and inspection included or excluded;
• payment and trade terms;
• quotation validity;
• information still required from the buyer.

How should buyers compare replies?

Create a comparison sheet with the same rows for every supplier. Mark missing information instead of guessing it.

The comparison is complete only when the important assumptions are aligned.

How Henghao Shoes reviews an RFQ

Henghao Shoes reviews custom PU slide projects around construction, PU material direction, branding, color, sizing, packaging, destination requirements and expected project scale. If information is missing, the project team can identify the points that need buyer confirmation and the points where a factory recommendation is appropriate.

Flexible MOQ options and project timing are discussed according to the approved design route, materials, tooling, size run, packaging and production conditions. They are not treated as fixed promises for every inquiry.

Buyer FAQ

Can I request a quotation with only a product photo?

A photo can support an initial estimate. A comparable quotation needs assumptions for construction, material, colors, logo, sizes, packaging, order range and quality requirements.

What if I do not know the PU specification?

Describe the intended use, feel, appearance and performance priorities. Ask the factory to recommend a material route and explain how it will be approved.

Should I disclose my target price?

It can help a supplier avoid proposing an unsuitable construction, but the decision depends on your purchasing method. If shared, pair the target with clear quality and product requirements so it does not become the only objective.

Why do quotations change after sampling?

The approved sample may change materials, construction, tooling, logo, packaging or process requirements. The supplier should explain which approved change caused the price update.

Is the lowest quotation the best choice?

Only when the quoted scope, quality assumptions, responsibilities and commercial terms are comparable. An incomplete low quotation can become more expensive after missing items are added.

More buyer questions: Visit the Custom PU Slide Sandals Buyer Help Center.

Source and scope

This checklist is editorial buyer guidance based on the information normally required to define a custom footwear project. It does not set universal technical, legal or compliance requirements. Buyers and suppliers should confirm the actual product specification, destination rules, commercial terms and responsibilities for each order.

To request a project review, contact Henghao Shoes and send the completed sections of this checklist. Unknown items can remain open for discussion.

Prepared as a privacy-safe buyer guide. Any factory capability, commercial term or compliance requirement must be confirmed for the actual project.