Before You Accept a Large Order

A message asking for several items at once, or a bigger custom than you usually take on, is one of the best things that can land in your inbox. It is also the kind of order most likely to go wrong, simply because there is more of it. A few minutes of thought before you say yes protects both you and the buyer.

Start with whether you can actually deliver it. A large order often means more items to prepare, more wear time, more photographs or more editing, all on top of your usual orders. Be honest about how long that will take alongside everything else, and give the buyer a timescale you can comfortably beat rather than one you will struggle to meet. A buyer who is told two weeks and receives it in ten days is delighted. The same buyer told one week and receiving it in ten days is not.

Next, make sure you both mean the same thing. The bigger the order, the more room there is for two people to picture different results. Write back with a short summary of exactly what you will send, in what sizes, colours or lengths, and ask the buyer to confirm it. That one message settles most disagreements before they can start.

Think about your regular buyers too. If a single order will take up most of your week, the people who buy from you every month may find you slower to respond or out of stock. It can be worth splitting a large order into stages, or being clear with your regulars that you are busy for a few days, rather than letting everyone else quietly wait.

Finally, check your own terms still fit. Postage for a heavier parcel, the time a custom takes and anything you would not normally include all deserve a clear answer before work begins, not after.

A large order handled carefully often turns into a buyer who comes back. Handled in a rush, it can cost you more than it earns.