A boutique trial order answers one question with the least cash: “Will my customers buy this?” We offer two ways to test. You can order 10 ready-to-ship pieces per design, or 30 smocked pieces per design made to order in about 20 days. Which one is right depends on what you are testing.
By the Cherrysmock team, Hanoi, Vietnam. Updated October 2026.
Quick answer: For a boutique trial order, use 10 ready-to-ship pieces to test a style, price or customer group fast (5 to 7 days). Use 30 smocked pieces when you are building a season around a hero design (about 20 days). After two to three weeks, compare sell-through: pieces sold divided by pieces received.
A boutique trial order is a small first purchase used to test whether a style sells before you commit more cash. A boutique trial order is judged on one number, sell-through, over three to four weeks.
This guide covers boutique trial order step by step, with example numbers you can reuse.
Key takeaways: boutique trial order
- 10 RTS pieces: fast, cheap test of style, price or customer group.
- 30 smocked pieces: a real first lot for a hero seasonal design.
- Measure sell-through = sold ÷ received after two to three weeks.
- Check photos, fabric details and the size chart before you pay.
When is a 10-piece ready-to-ship boutique trial order best?
Choose this when you want to learn quickly or you are testing something new:
- A new customer group, such as event buyers instead of everyday shoppers.
- A new price point.
- A trend you do not want to miss.
RTS arrives in 5 to 7 days, so you get real sales data within a couple of weeks. Browse Princess Dress and Daily Dress. RTS is for these two lines only, not for smocked designs.
When is a 30-piece smocked boutique trial order best?
Choose this when smocking is your hero product and you know your season. A hand smocked design has more perceived value and a stronger margin. Place a first lot of 30 pieces per design and allow about 20 days of production. See low MOQ smocked dresses for the full terms.
How do you choose a boutique trial order?
| Your question | Best test |
|---|---|
| Do my customers like this style or price? | 10 RTS pieces |
| Will my holiday customers buy this smocked design? | 30 pieces in a group order |
| I sold out and need stock now | RTS re-order |
| I want a collection for a season 2 months away | 30 smocked pieces, ordered in time |
Measure the test: one number
Sell-through = pieces sold ÷ pieces received. Look at it after two to three weeks. As a guideline (not a rule), a design that sells about half of its first lot in that time is a candidate for re-order, and a design that sells almost nothing is a signal to change price, photos or style before buying more.
Write the numbers down. In the free planner’s Stock tab, add each design and tap Sold every time you sell one. It shows how many days of stock you have left and when to re-order.
Once the test shows a winner, the next question is timing. Read days of cover: when to restock. If cash is your main worry, also read how to start a kids boutique with $1,000.
A 3-design test plan
- Pick three designs: one safe, one trendy, one stretch in price.
- Order the same quantity of each, so the comparison is fair.
- Photograph and list them together in the same week.
- Review on day 14 and day 21: sell-through, returns and customer questions.
- Re-order the winner, retire the loser, and test one new design.
What the numbers tell you
If all three designs sell slowly, the problem is probably price, photos or audience, not the product. If one sells much faster, check your stock cover immediately: inventory turnover is highest on the design customers want most, so that is where a stock-out costs you most. Our guide on days of cover shows how to time the re-order.
Boutique trial order: the short version
A boutique trial order does not need to be big. Test fast with 10 ready-to-ship pieces or commit to 30 smocked pieces for a hero design, track sell-through, and let the numbers decide what you order next.
Factory insight: A trial only teaches you something if it is measured. Write down the date the stock goes live and count how many pieces sold after 21 days; a design that sold half or more is a reorder, and one that sold under a quarter tells you to move on.
Boutique trial order: key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ready-to-ship minimum | Ready-to-ship styles start from 10 pieces per design. |
| Ready-to-ship dispatch | In-stock styles ship in 5 to 7 days. |
| Group orders | A group order lets several boutiques share one hand-smocked design; it starts from 30 pieces per design and takes about 20 days. |
| Custom designs | A custom design takes about 30 to 35 days and comes with a free 2D mock-up before production. |
| Payment terms | Orders under $1,000 are paid 100% upfront; orders of $1,000 to $5,000 use a 70% deposit and 30% before shipping; orders over $5,000 use 50% and 50%. |
| Transit time | Delivery after dispatch takes about 3 to 4 days to the US or Canada and 4 to 5 days to the UK or Europe. |
| Volume discount | Orders of 500 to 1,000 pieces get 2% off, 1,000 to 5,000 pieces get 5% off, and over 5,000 pieces get 7% off. |
Frequently asked questions about boutique trial order
How many pieces should I test with?
Use 10 ready-to-ship pieces for a fast test of a style or price, or 30 smocked pieces when you are building a season around a hero design.
When should I re-order after a test?
As a guideline, if a design sells about half of its first lot in two to three weeks, it is a candidate for re-order. Check your days of cover against the lead time.
Which trial order is cheaper?
The 10-piece ready-to-ship lot uses less cash and arrives faster, in 5 to 7 days plus shipping. The 30-piece smocked lot costs more but tests your hero product.
How long should a trial order run?
Give it three to four weeks of selling, then compare sell-through by design before you reorder.
Free gift: the Cherrysmock Boutique Planner – landed-cost and pricing formula, days-of-cover stock tracker, season order calendar and 11 short lessons. Get the free planner
Want stock, prices or an order plan for your store? Talk to Jessi and the Cherrysmock team or message us on WhatsApp – we reply within one business day.
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Compare a 10-piece and a 30-piece first order, free
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