A big order (a wholesale account, a corporate gift run, a bulk custom request) is a great problem to have. It's also where makers get caught: you say yes to the quantity without checking whether you have the materials to make it, and then you're scrambling to source supplies with a deadline bearing down. The fix is to turn the order into a materials plan before you commit.
Translate the order into materials
Every product has a recipe: the materials and amounts it uses. Multiply that by the order quantity and you have exactly what the order needs. A 200-unit order isn't "200 units" to plan; it's the wax, wicks, jars, and labels to make 200, each with its own supplier and lead time.
Check stock, then fill the gap
- Multiply each product's recipe by the order quantity.
- Compare that to what you have on hand.
- Order the shortfall early, with lead time to spare.
- Confirm the order's deadline is realistic given production and supply.
Don't promise a quantity you haven't checked the materials for. A big order you can't fill on time is worse than one you turned down.
Mind your cash and your other orders
A big material order is a big up-front spend, so mind your cash flow; a deposit on the order helps. And don't let one large job eat the materials your regular customers need; plan for both.
Plan big orders on real recipes
Forecasting materials by hand for a large order is exactly where mistakes hide. From the Maker plan, ask Suli whether you can make the order: it works out the materials from your recipes, checks them against stock, and says what you're short of, so you can say yes to a big order knowing you can fill it.