A practical decision guide for founders who want to launch new products without blowing the budget, missing launch dates, or overcomplicating operations.
SKU Launch Map
Built for founders and brand teams who want to launch with less guesswork and clearer timelines.
Founders often jump from idea to quote without checking if a new SKU deserves time and budget. A simple pre-check can save months of work.
Does this SKU have a clear customer and use case?
Can you describe who buys this and why in one sentence?
Does it strengthen or distract your core brand?
Will this add value or dilute focus?
Do you have a rough idea of price point and margin?
Can you hit target margins after all costs?
Can you support inventory, marketing, and fulfilment?
Do you have the ops capacity for this SKU?
Each stage has a simple branch: move forward, adjust and retry, or park for later.
Unclear fit → Refine or park
Clear demand, strategic fit, describable customer → Move to Stage 2
Numbers don't work → Adjust spec or delay
Landed cost, MOQ, and marketing fit cashflow → Move to Stage 3
Too expensive/slow → Simplify or push timing
Can sample from 2-3 suppliers in budget/time → Move to Stage 4
Doesn't fit → Change date or simplify
Full lead time fits launch window → Move to Stage 5
High risk to business → Adjust scope or park
Meaningful upside, survivable downside → Launch or pilot
Before you invest in samples, do a quick feasibility pass.
Will this SKU sell through your current channels, or do you need new ones?
Is the product simple, or does it require special materials, moulds, or certification?
Does your expected landed cost leave enough margin after shipping, duties, and fees?
If typical MOQs are 500–1,000 units, can your budget and sales volume support that?
Feasibility Complexity Meter
Low
Basic accessories, simple apparel
Medium
Custom packaging, specialty fabrics
High
Electronics, cosmetics with testing
Sampling is where your SKU becomes real. Set boundaries to avoid overspending.
$50–200/supplier
Including shipping
$200–800/supplier
Including tests and packaging
Sampling Intensity Scale
Light
1 supplier, tight specs
Balanced
2-3 suppliers, 1-2 rounds
Deep
More iterations, higher budget
Rule of thumb: If sampling is 15-20% of your launch budget, you're healthy. If it crosses 30-40%, simplify the SKU or push timing.
Many founders underestimate how long it takes from sample approval to inventory. This is often the difference between a smooth launch and a mess.
Sample Approval
1–4 weeks
Materials Sourcing
1–3 weeks
Manufacturing
2–10 weeks
QC & Rework
1–2 weeks
Shipping
1–8 weeks
Best Case
~3 months from final sample to sellable stock
Realistic Case
4-6 months is common for many founders
Think of manufacturing lead time as "approved sample to inventory" rather than just "production days."
Now that lead time is clear, decide if this SKU fits your calendar.
| SKU Importance | Tight Timeline | Normal Timeline | Relaxed Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nice to Have | Park | Pilot only | Safe to launch |
| Important | Simplify or delay | Pilot first | Full launch |
| Critical | High risk - reconsider | Add buffer time | Launch with QC focus |
Based on the earlier stages, you have three clear options.
Launch Fully
Smaller Test Run
Document & Revisit
You're still launching new product ideas—but in a controlled way that respects your cash, time, and team capacity.
Follow this decision tree yourself, or let Sourcy handle the heavy lifting while you focus on product, brand, and customers.
You
Brief & launch goals
Sourcy
Feasibility → Suppliers → Sampling → QC → Logistics
Result
New SKU on shelf / live on platforms
Quickly understand if your idea is realistic at your budget, using our network of factories that already make similar products.
Learn about supplier reliability →Manage sampling across multiple factories, consolidate feedback, and compare quality, cost, and communication. Get up to USD $100 free sample credit when you sample with us.
Map out the full lead time including QC steps, keeping your launch plan grounded in real production timelines.
Learn about our QC process →From supplier selection to shipping and customs, we handle operations so you can focus on growing your brand.
Share your product idea, budget, and target launch window. Sourcy will help you apply this decision tree, plan for sample costs and manufacturing timelines, and turn your next SKU from idea to inventory.
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