Separate the receiving date from the shipping date
Record the required receiving location and date, the planned sales launch and any retailer intake window. Ask the relevant logistics parties to establish transport and receiving allowances for the intended route. The factory dispatch milestone and the buyer's receiving milestone are different events.
Share the destination, quantity by item and planned delivery arrangement with DAK at the start. Production and development timing should be assessed against that specific program rather than a generic seasonal calendar.
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Receiving milestone
Name the required destination and the date that goods need to be available there. Distinguish warehouse receipt from store availability or the consumer launch date.
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Dispatch milestone
Define when packed goods must be ready for the agreed handover and what documents or inspections need to precede that event.
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Decision milestones
Assign dates and owners to the design, sample, packaging and artwork decisions needed before production can proceed.
Use clear outputs at each development stage
Build the schedule around agreed deliverables. The order and overlap of activities depend on the item, so confirm dependencies with the project team before treating dates as fixed.
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Brief and feasibility
Complete the item list, dimensions, intended use, visual direction and quantity breakdown. Record the proposed manufacturing route and unresolved decisions.
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Design and sample review
Review the agreed sample scope, consolidate feedback and identify revisions by item and version. Reserve time for the buyer to receive and assess physical samples where required.
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Product and pack approval
Align the approved appearance and construction with the specification, packaging structure, artwork and agreed evaluation requirements.
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Production and dispatch preparation
Track production against the agreed plan, complete the specified checks and coordinate packing, documents and shipment handover.
Protect the schedule with a clear change process
Keep one decision log with the item reference, open issue, owner, required response date and impact on the next stage. Consolidate comments before sending them to the manufacturer. Conflicting feedback can create repeated sample revisions.
When dimensions, finish, features, quantity or packaging change, ask for the effect on cost, development work and timing before accepting the change. Update the approved specification and schedule together.
Avoid treating unconfirmed dates as commitments. DAK can discuss the development and manufacturing plan for your seasonal program once the project scope is defined; the schedule is agreed for the actual products and order.