How To Request Samples & First RFQ | Wenzhou Factory (EU)

European wholesalers, importers, and distributors usually shortlist a Wenzhou shoe factory the same way: request samples first, then send a first wholesale RFQ. This guide covers what to send for women’s shoe samples, what belongs in a usable RFQ, how long sampling usually takes, and how many colors or lasts to open on a pilot—so you can move from interest to a quote with fewer clarifying emails.

We are YZY, a women’s shoe factory in Wenzhou focused on export wholesale (including EU and UK buyers). Browse silhouettes on wholesale women’s shoes, or go straight to request a quote once you have styles and volumes. For private-label work, see OEM / ODM women’s shoes. MOQ detail is in our MOQ guide for EU & UK buyers—this article does not invent or repeat those figures.

Women's shoe samples and size-run sheet prepared for an EU wholesale RFQ at a Wenzhou factory — Sample pairs and a size-run / RFQ sheet prepared for an EU wholesale request at a Wenzhou women’s shoe factory.

How this differs from most “China factory sample” search results: we do not promise free samples, WhatsApp-only pricing, or mixed-sample gimmicks. A usable sample request and first RFQ are written packages—photos, size run, colors, Incoterms—so both sides can compare factories on the same facts.

What to send when you ask for samples

A sample request is not “send me your best boots.” Factories answer faster when the ask is concrete—especially if you buy for DE wholesale, UK indie retail, or other EU channels.

Include what you can of:

Market and channel — e.g. Germany wholesale, UK indie retail, marketplace, or bulk distribution. That shapes lasts, shaft height, and packing notes.
Reference photos or a short tech note — side/front/sole shots; upper (leather / microfiber / PU); lining; heel height; outsole; waterproof or fur lining if needed for winter boots.
Color intent — Pantone if you have it; otherwise “black + cognac” works for a first round. Stock neutrals move faster than custom dyes.
Sample size(s) — EU 38 is a common try-on size; say if your buyers need wider lasts or EU 41.
Label intent — blank sample vs. later insole/box mark. Samples often ship blank until artwork is locked.
Parcel destination — city, country, courier preference. Confirm who pays the sample fee and courier on the RFQ—do not assume free samples.

For ready styles, pick catalog codes first (e.g. women’s boots in season), then request those codes. New lasts or full OEM samples need more rounds than a running catalog last.

What a good first RFQ includes

A price without style, size run, and Incoterms is hard to use—and hard to compare across factories. A first RFQ we can actually quote usually includes:

Styles — catalog codes or clear photos; note “same last, two colors” if that is the plan.
Lasts — existing approved last, or “open new last.” New lasts change the calendar and often the MOQ (MOQ guide).
Materials — upper, lining, sole/heel; “like sample A but PU instead of leather” helps.
Colors — how many per style for the pilot; which are core vs. optional.
Size run — e.g. EU 36–41 with a preferred ratio written into the RFQ so cartons match your sell-through, not a factory default.
Carton preference — pairs per carton if your warehouse has a rule; otherwise ask for the factory’s usual pack.
Destination + Incoterms — FOB China port is the most common first-quote base for EU factory comparisons; CIF/DDP needs freight assumptions that move weekly. Name the port or hub even on FOB so docs stay aligned.
Target delivery window — month you need goods in your warehouse, not only “ASAP.”
Estimated pairs per style–color — even a band beats silence. Exact MOQ is confirmed on the quote, not invented here.

Send that package via request a quote. Incomplete RFQs get incomplete answers.

Sampling timelines (typical ranges)

Exact calendars depend on whether the last is running, whether materials are in house, and line load (boot season fills capacity first). In typical export practice—not a YZY guarantee—buyers often see:

Catalog / running last, stock materials: sample make and ship-out in days to a small number of weeks, plus courier to the EU.
Material swap on an existing last: often a bit longer while materials are pulled or ordered.
New last or new heel/outsole mold: multiple sample rounds and a longer calendar before locking production.

Confirm the sample plan and courier ETA on the RFQ thread. Do not plan a retail launch from a blog timeline.

Colors and lasts on a first order

Fewer openings usually sell through cleaner on a pilot:

How many lasts: start with one or two you can reorder, not five unproven lasts.
How many colors per style: two strong neutrals (e.g. black + brown/cognac) beat five thin colors that each sit under a workable color MOQ.
How many sample pairs: enough for fit and construction—often one fit size plus one wear-test pair if roles are split; extra sizes only if your curve is unusual.

Color and pair MOQ rules are in the MOQ guide; bring confirmed numbers into the RFQ.

QC checks on samples (before you approve)

Approve against a written checklist, not a quick glance:

Fit — length, width, instep; note if you need a wider last.
Construction — stitching, lasting, heel attachment, sole bond.
Materials vs. brief — hand feel, lining warmth, sole hardness; photograph gaps.
Measurements — heel height, shaft height/opening for boots, platform if any.
Finishing — adhesives and finish should look repeatable in bulk, not only showroom-perfect.
Packaging draft — if private label matters on the first order, lock box/insole marks before bulk packing.

Write failures as change notes (“raise shaft 1 cm,” “warmer lining,” “widen ball girth”) so the next round does not guess.

From sample approval to first order

Approve the sample in writing with any remaining tolerances.
Lock materials, colors, size ratio, labeling, and Incoterms on the order sheet.
Confirm production lead time against your warehouse date—add buffer in peak boot season.
Agree payment terms as stated on the proforma (not from a blog).
Keep one approved pair as the golden sample for incoming QC.

For OEM packaging or a new-last path, use OEM / ODM women’s shoes so the workstream matches the ask.

Common mistakes EU buyers make on first RFQs

Price-only emails — “best price for boots” with no size run, color count, or Incoterms.
Too many colors / lasts on the pilot — thin colorways hurt sell-through and scheduling.
No written sample approval — verbal “looks fine” turns into disputes when bulk differs.
Assuming free samples and free molds — ask; sample fees and tooling are normal topics to confirm. “Free sample” ads rarely match a serious wholesale RFQ.
Mixing FOB with vague “delivered” quotes — compare like with like after freight and duty.
MOQ talk without a size curve — pairs without a 36–41 (or your) ratio is half an inventory plan; see the MOQ guide.
Launch date with no production buffer — especially winter boots when lines are full.
Trusting chat-only factories — a WhatsApp price without a written sample brief and RFQ is hard to audit later.

FAQ (sample request & first RFQ)

Can I request samples online from a China shoe factory?
Yes—send a written brief (photos, sizes, colors, destination, who pays courier) via the factory’s quote form or email. Avoid relying only on social DMs if you need a repeatable wholesale path.

Do factories always offer free samples?
No. Sample fees and courier costs are normal to confirm up front. Treat “free samples” marketing as a claim to verify, not as the default for EU wholesale.

What should a first wholesale RFQ include?
Styles or photos, lasts, materials, colors, size run, carton preference, destination + Incoterms (often FOB for first comparisons), delivery window, and estimated pairs. See the checklist above.

Why start with a Wenzhou women’s shoe factory?
Wenzhou is a major women’s footwear cluster for export. Shortlist on sample quality and a clear RFQ response—not only on the lowest chat price.