Sourcing custom plush toys usually comes with the same core questions, whether you’re a first-time brand testing a design or a retailer placing a repeat bulk order. Below we’ve answered the ones we hear most from our USA and Europe B2B clients, covering ordering, customization, safety compliance, production, and shipping. If your question isn’t here, reach out directly and we’ll get back to you within 12 hours
Getting Started & Ordering
What's the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for custom plush toys?
Our MOQ starts at 100 pieces per design. That’s low enough for a startup brand to test a new character in the market without committing to a massive production run, and it’s the same quality process we use for larger retail orders. If you’re ordering multiple designs or colorways, we can usually split the 100-piece minimum across variations – just tell us what you’re planning when you request a quote.
How do I get a quote for a custom plush toy?
Send us your design — a sketch, reference image, or even a rough description — through our contact form or by email. We reply within 12 hours with pricing based on size, materials, complexity, and order quantity. There’s no cost or obligation to request a quote.
How long does production take once I approve the sample?
From sample approval to finished, shipped goods, our standard guarantee is 30 days. That covers incoming material inspection, cutting, embroidery, stitching, stuffing, finishing, and final inspection. Highly complex designs – multiple attachments, electronics like squeakers, unusual materials – may run slightly longer, and we’ll flag that at the quoting stage, not after you’ve already paid a deposit.
Do you work with first-time or small brands, or only established retailers?
Both. A lot of our long-term clients started as small startups placing test orders – several have grown into established importers and brands we still work with today. Our 100-piece MOQ exists specifically so newer brands can get into production without the risk of a huge minimum.
Customization, OEM & ODM
Customization, OEM & ODM
Can you make a fully custom plush toy from my own design?
Yes – this is our main business. Send us a sketch, digital design, or even a written concept, and our in-house design team develops it into a production-ready pattern. We handle material selection, prototyping, and sampling before moving to bulk manufacturing, so you’re not managing separate vendors for each stage.
What's the difference between OEM and ODM plush toy manufacturing?
OEM means you bring us a finished design and we manufacture it to your exact specs. ODM means you bring us a concept or reference, and our design team develops the pattern, proportions, and technical details for you. We support both – a lot of clients start with ODM for their first character and shift to OEM once the design is locked.
Can I add my own branding, tags, or packaging?
Yes. Custom woven or printed hang tags, care labels, poly bag or box packaging, and branded inserts can all be built into your order. Let us know your packaging requirements when you request a quote so we can price it accurately from the start – packaging complexity does affect lead time and cost.
Can you match a specific color from my brand guidelines?
Yes, every order includes Pantone color matching at no extra charge. Give us your Pantone codes, or a physical swatch, and we’ll match the fabric as closely as the material allows. Some fabrics take dye differently than others, and we’ll tell you upfront if a particular color is hard to hit in a given material.
Do you make plush keychains as well as full-size stuffed animals?
Yes. Our keychain line uses the same materials and safety standards as our full-size plush – soft-touch fabric, hypoallergenic stuffing, and secure metal hardware – just scaled down. It’s popular for retail add-on sales, promotional giveaways, and event merchandise where a full-size plush isn’t practical.
Materials, Safety & Compliance
Are your plush toys safe for children?
Yes. Every plush toy is tested against ASTM F963, the US toy safety standard, and EN71, the European equivalent. We also comply with CPSIA and Oeko-Tex requirements depending on your target market. Testing covers small-part choking hazards, sharp edges, stuffing material safety, and stitching strength before any order ships.
What certifications do you provide for retail compliance?
Depending on your market and product, we can supply ASTM F963, EN71, CPSIA, and CE test documentation, along with inspection reports for your specific production batch. If your retailer or country requires a specific third-party lab test, tell us during quoting – we regularly coordinate third-party inspections on request.
What materials do you use for stuffing and fabric?
We use hypoallergenic polyester fiberfill for stuffing and a range of soft-touch fabrics – minky, plush velboa, cotton blends, and others – depending on the design’s texture and durability needs. Material choice affects both feel and price, and we’ll recommend options based on your product’s use case: retail shelf item, promotional giveaway, or infant-safe design.
Can you make plush toys safe for babies and infants?
Yes, we can manufacture to infant-safety specifications, which typically means smaller-part restrictions, reinforced stitching, and specific stuffing and fabric requirements beyond standard toy safety. Tell us the intended age range when you request a quote – it changes some construction choices, and we’ll build the sample to match.
What happens if a batch fails your quality inspection?
It doesn’t ship. Our internal inspection happens before goods leave the factory – if a batch doesn’t meet the standard, it goes back for rework and re-inspection rather than going out the door. This is separate from any third-party inspection you may want to arrange independently, which we’re always open to.
Production & Quality Control
Production & Quality Control
What does your production process actually look like?
It’s a 12-step in-house workflow: sampling, material inspection, cutting, embroidery and printing, stitching, stuffing, hand-finishing, full inspection, metal detection, sampling inspection, packing, and shipment. Everything happens under one roof – we don’t outsource stages to third-party workshops, which is part of how we keep quality consistent across an order.
What is AQL 2.5, and why does it matter?
AQL, or Acceptable Quality Limit, 2.5 is an internationally recognized sampling inspection standard that sets how many defects are tolerable in a batch before it’s rejected. We apply it as the final check before every order ships. It’s the same standard many US and European retailers require as a condition of purchase, so working with a factory that already applies it internally reduces the chance of a failed inspection on your end.
Do you use metal detection or other safety checks during packing?
Yes, metal detection is a mandatory step before any toy is packed, catching broken needles or other metal fragments that could pose a safety risk. This happens after final assembly and before goods go into poly bags for shipment, as part of our standard quality control process.
Can I request a third-party inspection instead of relying on your internal QC?
Absolutely – third-party inspections are always welcome and don’t replace our own process, they add to it. Many of our retail clients arrange their own inspector, or use ours as a starting point, before final payment and shipment, and we coordinate factory access for that inspection as part of the order.
Will my order look exactly like the approved sample?
That’s the goal, and it’s why we treat the sample as the production reference for the entire order. Our internal standard is to match the client-approved sample throughout the run — any deviation in materials, color, or stitching gets flagged and corrected before shipment, not discovered afterward.
Pricing, Shipping & Logistics
How is pricing calculated for a custom plush toy order?
Price depends on size, material, design complexity – embroidery, printing, attachments, sound modules — and order quantity, with larger orders bringing the per-unit cost down. We give transparent, itemized quotes with no hidden fees, so you can see exactly what’s driving the cost before you commit to a sample.
Do you ship internationally, and who handles customs documentation?
Yes, we ship worldwide by air or sea freight and handle full export documentation on our end. Air freight is faster and better for smaller or time-sensitive orders; sea freight is more cost-effective for larger bulk shipments. We’ll recommend the right option based on your order size and timeline.
How long does shipping take after production is finished?
Air freight typically takes days, and sea freight typically takes weeks – the exact timeline depends on your destination country and current freight schedules, which we confirm at the time of shipment. We factor shipping into your overall project timeline when we quote the 30-day production guarantee, so you know your full door-to-door estimate upfront, not just the factory portion.
Do you offer drop-shipping directly to my customers, or only bulk shipment to me?
Our standard model is bulk shipment to your warehouse or distribution center, which is what most of our retail, distributor, and promotional agency clients need. If you have a specific fulfillment requirement outside of that, raise it during quoting and we’ll tell you honestly whether it’s something we can support.
What payment terms do you offer?
Reach out with your order details and we’ll walk you through current payment terms and deposit structure for your specific order size — this can vary by order value and whether it’s a first order or a repeat client relationship. There are no hidden fees; you’ll see the full cost breakdown in your quote.
Working With Us
Where is your factory located?
We’re based in Liaobu Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China, a region known for plush and soft toy manufacturing, which means easier access to specialized fabric suppliers, trims, and skilled labor than a general-purpose factory would have.
How long has the Ziyee Family been manufacturing plush toys?
Since 2013. We started by serving a wholesale children’s plush client in Bristol, England, and grew from there into a manufacturer for USA and European retail brands, several of whom we’ve worked with for years.
Do you only manufacture for large brands, or also promotional agencies and event organizers?
Air freight typically takes days, and sea freight typically takes weeks – the exact timeline depends on your destination country and current freight schedules, which we confirm at the time of shipment. We factor shipping into your overall project timeline when we quote the 30-day production guarantee, so you know your full door-to-door estimate upfront, not just the factory portion.
What if I'm not happy with my order after it arrives?
Our standard model is bulk shipment to your warehouse or distribution center, which is what most of our retail, distributor, and promotional agency clients need. If you have a specific fulfillment requirement outside of that, raise it during quoting and we’ll tell you honestly whether it’s something we can support.
Working With Us
Where is your factory located?
We’re based in Liaobu Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China, a region known for plush and soft toy manufacturing, which means easier access to specialized fabric suppliers, trims, and skilled labor than a general-purpose factory would have.
How long has the Ziyee Family been manufacturing plush toys?
Since 2013. We started by serving a wholesale children’s plush client in Bristol, England, and grew from there into a manufacturer for USA and European retail brands, several of whom we’ve worked with for years.
Do you only manufacture for large brands, or also promotional agencies and event organizers?
We work with all of them – retail brands, distributors, promotional agencies, and event organizers ordering mascots, giveaways, or campaign merchandise. The 100-piece MOQ and flexible customization make us workable for a one-time event order as well as an ongoing retail product line.
What if I'm not happy with my order after it arrives?
Contact us directly and we’ll work through it with you. Our approach is to treat every client as a long-term partner, not a one-time transaction, and that means resolving quality or shipment issues rather than disputing them. Reach out to us first so we can look into it, and check our Refund and Returns Policy for the formal terms.
How do I start an order?
Contact us with your design idea, target quantity, and any compliance requirements for your market. We respond within 12 hours with next steps, typically a quote followed by a sample timeline. You can reach us by email or through the contact form.