Get Your First Sample Made: A One-Day Workshop for Apparel Founders
Ed O'Connell
Apparel Manufacturing Consultant, LA
Get your first sample made — without the expensive mistakes.
Most apparel founders lose 3–6 months and thousands of dollars making the same avoidable mistakes. They email factories and hear nothing back. They get samples that look nothing like what they intended. They don't know if their tech pack is complete, if their quote is fair, or whether domestic or overseas manufacturing is right for their product.
The information exists — but it's scattered across forums, YouTube videos, and blog posts written by people who haven't actually built a brand or run a factory relationship.
I have. I built SÔZ Studios from scratch in LA — bought the books, called the factories, made the expensive mistakes. Then I built a consultancy helping founders avoid the same ones.
This workshop is two hours of exactly what I wish I'd had when I started: a clear, specific, honest walkthrough of how to get your first sample made — who to contact, what to say, what your tech pack needs, how sampling actually works, and what to do when a sample comes back wrong.
No generic advice. No textbook frameworks. Real answers to the questions founders are actually Googling at midnight.
You'll leave with a plan for your specific product — not another list of things to research.
What you’ll learn
You'll know how to find a factory, get a sample made, and fix it when it comes back wrong — without wasting months figuring it out alone.
Learn the 5 questions every factory is asking when they read your email — and how to answer all 5 before they have to ask
Review real outreach templates that get responses from domestic and overseas factories
Identify what's missing from your current outreach and fix it before you send another email
Walk through a complete tech pack checklist covering sketches, BOM, spec sheet, and construction notes
Learn what factories do when specs are incomplete — and why it always costs you time and money
Get a clear verdict on whether your current documentation is factory-ready
Apply a decision framework built around your product, volume, timeline, and margin requirements
Understand the real cost difference including duties, freight, and longer sample cycles overseas
Leave with a clear manufacturing strategy for your specific brand — not a generic pros and cons list
Learn what a CMT quote includes — and what it almost always leaves out
Understand what drives per-unit pricing so you can negotiate from a position of knowledge
Spot the red flags in a quote that signal problems before you commit
Learn how to document fit corrections clearly so factories build what you actually intended
Review a real fit session notes template used in active client projects
Understand how many revision rounds to expect and how to minimize them with better communication
Get live Q&A time on your specific factory situation, sample challenge, or development question
Identify the one or two things most likely to go wrong in your project — and how to prevent them
Walk away with a concrete action plan, not another list of things to research
Workshop agenda
Getting Factory Ready
Learn what factories evaluate in your outreach, assess your tech pack readiness, and decide between domestic and overseas manufacturing for your specific product.
Sampling, Quotes & Live Q&A
How sampling actually works, how to read a factory quote, how to run a fit session — then open Q&A on your specific product, factory situation, or development challenge.
Learn directly from Ed
Ed O'Connell
Founder of SÔZ STUDIOS ATELIER (EX-Amazon)
Who this workshop is for
The First-Time Founder Has a product idea but hasn't contacted a factory yet. Doesn't know where to start or what they actually need.
The Stuck Founder Started development but hit a wall. Emailed factories, heard nothing. Got a wrong sample. Has a quote but can't evaluate.
The Brand Moving Stateside Overseas brand frustrated with long sample cycles. Wants domestic options without disrupting their factory.
What's included
Live sessions
Learn directly from Ed O'Connell in a real-time, interactive format.
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Maven Guarantee
Your purchase is backed by the Maven Guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
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Reimbursement
Get your company to pay
Everything L&D needs: email template, receipts, and certificate of completion.
Get reimbursedTeam discount
Learn with your teammates
Save 20%+ when 2 or more teammates enroll in the same cohort.
Save 20%+ with a teamPrivate cohort
Run a cohort for your org
A dedicated cohort with a custom schedule and curriculum, tailored to your team.
Book a private cohort$200
USD
8–10pm EDT