Distinguish a wiping towel from decorative kitchen linen
CBI’s product overview groups kitchen linen with table textiles and describes uses including tea towels. Begin the procurement brief with the intended function: drying dishes, wiping hands or providing a decorative kitchen accessory. State whether the order is for individual towels or a coordinated retail pack. These choices affect construction, finishing and packing priorities. The following checklist is original buyer-side analysis based on public product context, not a completed customer case or a performance test report.
Make fabric and weight quotations comparable
Request the fibre composition, weave or construction, fabric weight basis and finished dimensions. Clarify whether the seller quotes weight per square metre, weight per towel or weight per retail pack. Include edge finishing, hanging loop placement and any embroidery or print. Ask whether the quoted sample uses the same fabric as planned production. A low-price alternative may change thickness, composition or size; list these changes beside the price rather than describing the options as equivalent. Claims about recycled or certified fibres require evidence applicable to the actual item.
Review function before approving decorative details
Ask for representative samples and record the review conditions. Compare handling, surface feel, loose lint, seam workmanship and loop attachment. If absorbency matters, agree an appropriate assessment procedure and acceptance criteria before testing. Appearance does not establish drying performance. A demonstration video is useful supporting material but is not a substitute for a documented test where a claim depends on measured performance. Compare samples after the agreed preparation or wash condition, so differences in finishing do not silently change the basis of approval.
Specify wash review and dimensional records
Record sample dimensions at agreed points before and after any agreed washing review. Ask the supplier to propose appropriate care instructions and substantiate performance claims for the selected construction. If a label states a care or durability claim, confirm the responsible testing and approval process with a qualified provider. Do not copy another brand’s care label onto a different fabric. Document how shrinkage, colour change or distortion will be evaluated; an identified procedure is more useful than an unsupported promise of no shrinkage.
Align the artwork, labels and retail set
Approve the design orientation relative to the loop and hem, the print scale and the physical colour reference. For multipacks, specify the count and assortment by design or colour. Record the barcode, label placement and whether packaging needs to show the fibre and care information for the destination. Have the responsible buyer verify applicable labelling requirements. Ask for a packed sample to confirm that labels do not conceal the intended design or damage the item. Identify cartons by SKU and assortment, so the receiving team can check counts without unpacking every retail set.
RFQ template and supplier comparison
RFQ: [intended use]; [fibre composition and construction]; [weight basis]; [finished dimensions]; [hem and hanging loop]; [print/embroidery artwork]; [sample and wash-review requirements]; [quantity by design]; [retail pack and labels]; [destination]. Ask for product, sample, setup and packing costs separately, along with production timing and shipment scope. Compare quotations using the same approved fabric and pack definition. Before releasing production, keep the agreed review method, sample reference and artwork revision together. That record helps resolve differences without relying on a generic catalogue description.