Minimum Order Quantities for Custom Brass Manufacturing: How to Plan Your First Run

By Bhavini Khullar | Founder, Byaas | Adjunct Professor, Montclair State University

Short answer: Byaas has a $250 minimum order for wholesale and custom projects. This guide explains what drives minimums in custom brass and how to plan a first run you can sell through.

In 2018, Americans threw away 12.1 million tons of furniture and furnishings, and more than 80 percent of it went to landfill (EPA). Some of that was worn out. A lot of it was simply made in quantities nobody needed, sold at a discount and discarded.

I think about that every time a new brand asks us about minimum order quantities. The right first run is not the biggest one you can afford. It is the one you can sell through, at full price, to people who will keep what they buy. This post explains how MOQs work in custom brass, what drives them, and how to plan a run that is right for your brand and responsible for the planet.

What an MOQ is, and why it exists

A minimum order quantity is the smallest number of units a manufacturer will produce in one run. In custom metalwork, every new product involves set-up work, and that work has to be spread across enough pieces to make sense.

What drives the MOQ

• Set-up: patterns, jigs and tooling for a new shape take the same time whether you order fifty or five hundred.

• Material: brass is bought in sheet, rod or castings, and sensible quantities keep offcut waste down.

• Finishing batches: plating, polishing, lacquering and powder coating run in batches, so tiny runs are inefficient.

• Hand work: detailed hand finishing takes skilled time on every unit.

• Packaging: custom boxes and inserts carry their own minimums.

Hundreds of small brass parts laid out together before assembly in the workshop.

How to lower your MOQ

Adapt an existing form rather than starting from scratch. Launch in one or two finishes. Limit variants, because every size and color splits your quantity. Simplify details that add set-up but little visual value. Our own range shows the idea: the brass and chrome Thread of Togetherness holders share one form in two finishes.

Plan for sell-through, not shelf space

Start with the number you can realistically sell in a season, not the number you hope to sell. A first run should prove demand without tying up cash or creating dead stock. Many brands start modestly and reorder once they see sell-through. Treat each product as a small business case: unit cost at the quoted quantity, achievable retail price and expected sales.

This is also where a timeless design pays off. Emily Henderson's team noted that swans are this year's owls in decor shops everywhere (Emily Henderson), which is a neat reminder of how fast a motif can come and go. A brass candle holder that can be restyled every season with a new taper color or a ribbon does not go out of date after one holiday. Stock that stays relevant is stock you never have to mark down.

A worked example

A brand wants a custom taper holder. The set-up cost of the pattern and finish samples is the same at fifty pieces or five hundred. At fifty, each unit carries a large share of it. At five hundred, each carries far less. So the brand might choose a larger first run for a proven shape and a smaller test run for a riskier design. Ask for quotes at several quantities and compare the unit costs before you decide.

Splitting across finishes and sizes

It is tempting to order a little of everything, but every extra finish or size splits your quantity and can push each one under the minimum. Concentrate your first run on a hero product in one finish, then add variations once it sells. If you need variants, choose ones that share a form.

Price breaks and reorders

Unit cost usually falls as quantity rises. Ask for prices at two or three quantities to see where the breaks are. Ask about reorders too: once tooling exists, repeat runs are usually simpler and faster.

Plan around lead times

Larger runs take longer to produce and finish. Work back from your launch date, leaving time for samples, approval and shipping. At Byaas, a first sample takes about 4 to 6 weeks and production about 6 to 8 weeks. Our guides to product development and samples cover the earlier stages.

What Byaas offers

Our minimum order is $250, for wholesale and custom projects alike. Tell us the piece and the quantity you have in mind, and we will say honestly what works.

Send your brief through the contact page, or read our overview of custom brass manufacturing.

If the MOQ is too high

Adapt an existing design. Reduce finishes or sizes. Simplify details. Or test demand with our wholesale products first and move to custom once you know what sells. Our guide to private label, wholesale and custom explains that path, and a trade account is a low-risk start.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MOQ for custom brass products?

Our minimum order is $250.

Can I order a very small batch?

Yes. With a $250 minimum order, small brands can start small. Adapting an existing form or finish helps keep the unit cost down.

Why do hand-finished pieces have higher minimums?

Across the industry, hand work takes skilled time on every unit, and set-up is spread across fewer pieces in a small run, so many makers set higher minimums. At Byaas the minimum order is $250.

Do price breaks apply?

Usually. Ask for prices at several quantities.

Is the MOQ the same for reorders?

Reorders are often easier because patterns and tooling already exist. Confirm with your manufacturer.

Pieces mentioned in this article

About the author

Bhavini Khullar is the founder and creative director of Byaas and an adjunct professor of Advertising Media Strategies at Montclair State University. She grew up in her family's metal workshop and has spent more than a decade studying audiences and how people decide what to buy. Byaas is where those two worlds meet.

Made mindfully, lasts forever

Every Byaas piece is shaped by hand to be lived with, restyled and handed down. Explore the collection.

For retailers, designers and brands: we supply boutiques through our trade program and make custom pieces for brands. Open a trade account or start a custom project.