What a Paid Sample Tells You

Every WHIMS wholesale relationship starts with a paid sample. A sample is a real piece in your hands, which is the one thing photographs and registry numbers cannot give you. This guide covers how it works and what to check once it arrives.

At a glance

Every WHIMS wholesale relationship starts with a paid sample.
Samples are agreed case by case on WhatsApp, so there is no fixed format.
Bulk production begins only after you have approved the physical piece in hand.
Bulk orders start at 500 pieces and can be mixed across collections.
A GI registration tells you about the craft. A sample tells you about the piece.

How does a WHIMS sample order work?

You message us on WhatsApp and tell us which collections and pieces you want to see. We agree the sample together, case by case. There is no fixed format to choose from. Bulk production only begins once you have approved the physical piece in hand, and bulk orders start at 500 pieces, mixed across collections if you like.

What can you check on a sample?

A sample lets you judge things a screen cannot. These are worth looking at in daylight, and worth writing down so you can compare pieces later.

Finish and colour, compared with the photographs you saw.
Size and weight, measured and weighed yourself.
The craft details: carving depth on wood, glaze and painting on pottery, print clarity on textiles.
Condition on arrival, which also shows you how the parcel travelled.
How the piece looks next to what you already sell.

What does a sample not tell you?

A sample is a small number of pieces. It shows you the standard you are aiming for, but it cannot show you every piece in a 500-piece order. Handmade pieces also carry small differences from one to the next, so a sample shows you the family resemblance and not an exact copy. For a bulk order, a buyer can add checks of their own before shipping, and our guide to importing handmade decor lists the documents and steps involved.

How does a sample fit with a GI registration?

They answer different questions. A GI registration is a public record of a craft's name and origin, and you can check it yourself. A sample tells you whether a particular piece meets your standard. Used together, the registration covers what the craft is and the sample covers what you are buying.

Common questions

How do I order a sample?

Message us on WhatsApp. Every wholesale relationship starts with a paid sample.

Can I choose which pieces to sample?

Samples are agreed case by case on WhatsApp. Tell us which collections and pieces you want to see, and we agree the sample together.

Does a sample show me exactly what bulk will look like?

A sample shows you the craft, the finish and the size. Handmade pieces carry small differences from one to the next, so expect a family resemblance, not a copy.

How is a sample different from a GI registration?

A GI registration records the name and origin of a craft. A sample is a physical piece, so it is the way to judge finish and quality for yourself.

Sources

Terms on this page are those stated on whims.store and agreed with buyers on WhatsApp.

What a Paid Sample Tells You Before a Wholesale Order