How to approve a strike-off — pre-production sample sign-off
A 7-point inspection checklist used by brand and procurement teams in Italy — exactly what to check on a strike-off sample before authorising bulk production.
What a strike-off actually is
A strike-off (also called pre-production sample or PPS) is a physical, production-line-made sample of your merch with your logo, on the real substrate, using the real print method. It is not a digital mock-up and not a generic blank with a sticker — it is the only reliable preview of what 500 or 5,000 units will look like. Cost: €35–80 per strike-off, credited against the final order if you proceed. Lead time: 5–7 working days; delivered to your Italy address via BRT / SDA / DHL Express Italia.
The 7-point sign-off checklist
1. Colour accuracy — compare against the Pantone chip in natural daylight or D50 standardised lighting. Target ΔE ≤ 2.5 on hero brand colours. Photograph alongside the Pantone chip for the record.
2. Logo placement and size — measure print position from the seam / edge with a ruler. Tolerance is ±3 mm on apparel, ±1 mm on hard goods.
3. Print quality — check for missed pixels, broken lines, ink bleed, halos, registration shifts on multi-colour prints. Flex the print 5–10 times to check for cracking.
4. Substrate quality — is the T-shirt the GSM you ordered? Does the bottle have the right finish (matt / glossy)? Does the notebook paper feel right?
5. Hardware and accessories — zippers, buttons, snaps, caps, lids, gift-box magnets — actuate each one 5–10 times.
6. Care label and compliance — fibre composition, care symbols, CE marking, REACH SVHC declaration where applicable.
7. Packaging — if you ordered branded packaging, does the inner packaging match the artwork? Does the kraft mailer fit the contents?
How to document approval
Reply to the strike-off email with one of three responses: "APPROVED" (proceed to production), "APPROVED WITH NOTES" (proceed but apply specific corrections — list them), "REJECTED — REVISION NEEDED" (a second strike-off is required, with reasons). Approval by email is binding — keep a copy in your procurement folder and CC the cost-centre owner. After approval, no further changes can be made without a new strike-off cycle.
Italy-specific notes
IVA 22% is added via SdI (Sistema di Interscambio) — the mandatory Italian B2B e-invoice channel routed through Agenzia delle Entrate under your codice destinatario or PEC address. Strike-off samples ship from Milano to Italy via BRT / SDA / DHL Express Italia in 2–3 working days. For Italy clients running multi-product strike-offs, we can ship to a single consolidation address (your HQ) or split across multiple offices for parallel review. Strike-off cost is invoiced separately from production and credited 100% if the order proceeds within 60 days.
FAQ — strike-off approval
What if the strike-off is wrong — do I pay twice?
If the error is on our side (wrong Pantone, wrong size, wrong substrate), the corrected strike-off is free and we cover the lost lead time.
Can I skip the strike-off?
For repeat orders with no changes — yes. For new artwork, new substrate or new Pantone — strongly not recommended; cost of a failed bulk run is 10–50× the strike-off fee.
How many strike-offs should I order?
One per SKU + colour combination. If you have 3 product types in 2 colour variants each, that's 6 strike-offs.
Who in my team should approve?
Brand manager (colour and logo), procurement lead (quantity and pricing) and a senior stakeholder (final sign-off). All three should see the physical sample, not photos.
How long do I have to approve?
3 working days standard. After that, production slots may be reassigned and the timeline shifts.