Combs OEM/ODM Handbook for Dollar Stores: 2026 Guide No.980

For Switzerland, combs are a steady, replenishable line, and getting the sourcing right decides whether the category is profitable or a returns headache. This guide for Dollar Stores sets out what to check, what to ask and what to document before you place an order.

What Goes Into the Product

A good comb starts with the PP, acetate or wooden teeth, so agree the material grade before you discuss price. Specify composition, weight and tolerance in numbers, not adjectives. Ask to see how the product looks after it has been used for a week, not only on the day it leaves the factory.

Why This Category Sells

Switzerland is a demanding market for combs because buyers there compare quality, compliance and price in the same conversation. Order volume for combs typically peaks ahead of the main selling season, so capacity at the better factories is booked out well in advance. A single failed batch can disrupt a whole retail programme, so combs are bought on evidence rather than on price alone. Because combs usually sit inside a larger assortment, a late delivery is more expensive than a slightly higher unit price.

Compliance and Certification

Products with a safety function carry their own documentation, so keep the certificates on file for the programme. Chemical and packaging rules differ by market, so confirm the destination requirements before you finalise the packing spec. Confirm that the test house is accredited and that the report names your product, not a generic specimen. Ask for social compliance documentation such as a BSCI, Sedex or WRAP audit dated within the last twelve months.

Quality Control That Prevents Returns

Insist on a pre-shipment inspection against an AQL plan, with the report sent to you before the goods leave. Keep an approved golden sample sealed at the factory and a matching one in your office. Book an in-line inspection at 30 percent completion: that is the cheapest moment to fix a problem.

Planning the Production Calendar

Build a buffer of seven to ten days between the ex-factory date and the sailing date for the unexpected. Keep a second qualified factory on file, because a single-source season carries avoidable risk. Book capacity in advance for peak months; a factory that is full in August cannot rescue a late October order. Split large programmes into two or three deliveries so that early stores are fed and later stores are not overstocked.

Getting the Goods to Market Intact

Insist on moisture protection in transit, because damp cartons are a common cause of mould and corrosion claims. Photograph the packed pallet before it leaves the factory; it settles most damage arguments before they start. Retail-ready packing removes a handling step at destination and reduces damage claims. Bulky items cost more to ship than to make, so agree the packing format and the flat-pack design early.

Final Checklist

Agree the spec, approve the sample, book the inspection, lock the packing and prepare the paperwork. Five steps, and the season runs smoothly.