A request for quotation (RFQ) is useful only when suppliers are pricing the same product and delivery scope. A request for “a private label brush set” leaves too many decisions open: which brushes, what materials, how many units, which logo treatment and what packaging? Two attractive prices can therefore describe very different orders.
Still deciding how much design input you need? Compare the working arrangements in our OEM vs ODM makeup brush guide before preparing your quotation request.
This makeup brush RFQ checklist helps brand owners, product developers and procurement managers turn a product concept into a brief that an OEM/ODM supplier can review. You do not need every detail resolved before making contact. Mark each requirement as confirmed, preferred or open for recommendation so the quotation clearly separates assumptions from commitments.
1. Define the project and the intended application
Start with the target market, the role of the brush in your range and the intended application. A launch gift, a standalone face brush and a retail eye brush set need different product and packaging decisions. Include visual references, but explain which features matter: the head shape, proportions, colour direction or overall presentation. A reference photograph alone does not define construction or materials.
State whether you have an existing specification to manufacture, want to adapt an available format, or need development recommendations. OEM and ODM terminology can vary between suppliers, so describe the actual work required. The OEM/ODM solution page outlines the decisions to discuss.
2. List each brush as a separate line item
Give every brush a reference code. For each line, record its intended use, head shape, approximate dimensions if known, material preference, handle direction and ferrule finish. Distinguish required dimensions from reference measurements. If materials are undecided, ask the supplier to identify and price its proposed options rather than substituting them silently.
For double-ended designs, specify both ends and the quantity basis. “20 pieces” might refer to tools, brush heads or a bundle that includes accessories. Spell out the count and request an itemised contents list. For a set, identify which items share the same handle finish and branding; use the brush set planning guide to review the range architecture.
3. Separate order quantity from MOQ
Provide an estimated purchase quantity per brush, per colour and per set configuration. If you want volume comparisons, request clearly labelled quantity tiers. Ask whether the minimum order quantity applies to a single brush style, a colour, a decoration treatment, a packaging component or the total order.
A supplier's headline MOQ may not cover a custom colour or a printed box. Ask which elements create a separate minimum and what alternatives are available. Do not treat a forecast or possible repeat order as a committed quantity; label it separately so the initial quotation reflects the order you can approve.
4. Specify logo artwork and decoration scope
Supply the logo in an editable artwork format where available, together with intended position, approximate size and colour references. Ask the supplier to confirm suitable decoration methods for the proposed surface, artwork limitations and how the result will be reviewed on a sample.
List logo setup charges, tooling or other one-time development charges separately from the unit price. If exact colour matching or a particular finish is essential, identify the physical reference and approval method. A screen image should be treated as direction rather than a final colour standard. See custom makeup brush options for the details to include in a decoration brief.
5. Treat packaging as part of the specification
State whether the quotation should include individual protection, sleeves, a pouch, a box, inserts or a complete retail set. Confirm the number of brushes and accessories inside each selling unit and the number of selling units per export carton. Ask the supplier to identify any proposed packaging assumptions.
Provide artwork, barcode placement and language requirements when available. If retail dimensions or shipping weight affect your project, request proposed measurements and clarify whether they are estimates or confirmed pack-out data. Do not assume that a product photograph includes the displayed accessories in the quoted price.
6. Break the schedule into approval milestones
Share the desired launch date and delivery destination, then ask for a schedule broken into development, sample preparation, buyer review, material preparation, production, inspection and dispatch. Ask what starts each lead-time calculation and which approvals or payments it depends on.
Record sample charges, what the sample includes and how revisions are handled. A logo sample, a colour reference and a complete pre-production set answer different questions. Request a written approval record and make sure any changes after sampling are reflected in the final specification. The sample review checklist can help structure that review; agree relevant test methods and acceptance criteria for your own project.
7. Align inspection, documentation and shipping scope
Tell the supplier your target country and the inspection or documentation you require. Ask for available evidence relevant to the exact product and material specification. Generic factory documents or another product's report do not automatically establish suitability for your order; have your responsible compliance team assess the requirements.
Request the trade term, named place and applicable Incoterms edition in the quotation. Confirm whether freight, insurance, export handling, import charges and destination delivery are included or excluded. Identify the party responsible for import clearance and local charges. Compare suppliers on the same delivery basis; an ex-factory product price is not directly comparable to a delivered quotation.
8. Compare the quotation line by line
Before choosing a supplier, check that each quotation records the product specification or revision, quantities, unit of sale, currency, unit prices, one-time charges, packaging scope, sample costs, payment terms, quotation validity and delivery assumptions. Ask the supplier to list exclusions and unresolved decisions explicitly.
Keep alternatives separate. For example, quote a proposed material change or simpler packaging as an option alongside the requested specification. This lets your team see what changed and why the price moved without losing the original comparison.
A copy-and-paste makeup brush RFQ brief
- Brand and contact: company name, website, contact role and work email.
- Project: target market, intended application, launch direction and reference files.
- Products: item codes, brush shapes, dimensions, material preferences and set contents.
- Branding: handle and ferrule finish, colour references, logo artwork and placement.
- Quantities: units per item, per colour and per configuration; requested comparison tiers.
- Packaging: individual and retail packaging, accessories, artwork and carton requirements.
- Sampling: sample scope, revision needs, approval requirements and desired timing.
- Quality and documents: agreed inspection requirements and destination-specific documentation to review.
- Delivery: destination, requested trade term, desired receipt date and shipping scope.
- Quotation format: itemised prices, setup charges, exclusions, payment terms and validity.
Frequently asked questions
Can I request a quote before all materials are confirmed?
Yes. Identify the open decisions and ask for clearly described options. Treat an early estimate as provisional until materials, quantities, decoration and packaging are agreed.
Why can two suppliers quote different MOQs?
Their quotations may use different product formats, colour requirements or packaging assumptions. Ask each supplier to state the minimum for every customised component and compare the same specification.
Should sampling and production be quoted together?
Request both, but keep the charges and approval stages separate. Confirm what each sample represents and when the production price and schedule become firm.
What should I send HEXUE Beauty first?
Send the brush types or set contents, reference images, estimated quantity, target market, logo and packaging direction, and desired timing through the OEM/ODM enquiry form. If your concept is still developing, state which decisions need recommendations. MOQ, available customisation, sample terms and production timing should be confirmed against that brief.