Your brand, as a Gloopies plushie
From staff gifts and event giveaways to branded mascots and resale ranges, we design and handcraft custom plushies for businesses across South Africa. Here is how it works.
Not sure about quantity or budget? Send your idea anyway. We confirm capacity before you pay anything.
From idea to plushie in 6 steps
A simple, milestone-based process so you always know what happens next.
1
Send your brief
Share your idea, artwork, quantity and deadline. We confirm capacity and a rough timeline before you pay anything.
2
Pay the design fee
Your project starts. The fee is a once-off charge per project and includes a physical prototype shipped to you anywhere in South Africa.
3
Get your timeline
We send a draft timeline within 48 hours of the design fee reflecting in our account. This is subject to certain milestones being reached and might be extended if revisions are required.
4
Approve your prototype
One revision is included. Once signed off, the deposit is due: 50%, or 100% for orders under R5,000. Final timeline is communicated.
5
We make it
Your plushies are handcrafted to the approved prototype.
6
Final invoice and delivery
Any balance is invoiced on completion. We quote shipping and arrange delivery once everything is paid.
Repeat order?
No new contract or design fee needed. We simply send you a new quote.
Start your brief
Tell us about your project and we will come back to you by email.
Terms and FAQs
The important bits in plain language. The full detail is in your Bulk Manufacturing Agreement.
Terms
Minimum order and design fee
- Minimum order: Our median order is 50 units. The minimum depends on the value per item, our capacity and the number of variations, so it can be lower for high-value products. We confirm it per design.
- Design fee: Payable per project and credited towards your final payment. It includes shipping a physical prototype to you anywhere in South Africa. It is non-refundable once design work starts. If you pay before we confirm capacity and we cannot take your order, we refund it in full.
- Revisions: One revision is included, provided it relates to your original brief and comes from our interpretation of it, or from a small adjustment to reduce cost. Changes to the brief itself may incur additional charges.
Payment, timelines and shipping
- Payment: 50% deposit on prototype approval, or 100% for orders under R5,000. Any balance is due on completion and before delivery.
- Timelines: A draft timeline follows within 48 hours of the design fee. Delays in prototype sign-off can extend the agreed timeline.
- Shipping: Not usually included in the unit cost. We quote it once the prototype is complete.
Your brief, our designs
- Your design brief is confidential and is never shared with other clients. That part remains yours.
- Anything we develop during the design process remains Gloopies intellectual property, and your rights to the brief do not transfer to us.
- You receive an exclusive licence to promote and sell the final product, which carries the Gloopies brand.
Warranty and returns
- Every order is highly customised and matches the prototype you approved, so we do not accept returns.
- Our 6-month stitching warranty applies. Email info@gloopies.co.za with photos.
- A Bulk Manufacturing Agreement is signed once per new project. Full terms, including cancellation, are set out in the agreement.
FAQs
1. Who are custom plushies for?
Businesses, schools, clubs, events and brands: staff gifts, giveaways, mascots, merchandise or resale. If you’re unsure whether your idea suits a plushie, send us your brief anyway.
2. What is the minimum order?
Usually about 50 units, but the minimum depends on the value per item, our capacity and the number of variations. It can be lower for high-value products. We confirm it per design.
3. What do I need to send in my brief?
Your idea, any artwork or logo you have, the quantity you need and your deadline. Rough ideas are fine, and we can help refine them.
4. What does the design fee include?
Your design work, a virtual inspection, one revision and a physical prototype shipped to you anywhere in South Africa. It is credited towards your final payment.
5. How long does production take?
We send a draft timeline within 48 hours of your design fee reflecting in our account. Production time depends on quantity and design intricacy, and is confirmed with your timeline.
Depending on batch quantities and capacity, we usually need 10-15 business days for the first 100 units, and then 5 business days for every 50 units thereafter.
6. Can I see the plushie before I commit to the full order?
Yes. You approve a physical prototype before production starts, and the deposit is only due once you’ve signed it off.
The virtual assessment is also a good opportunity to gain an understanding of where we are heading before the final prototype is sent to you.
7. Can I return my order if I change my mind?
No. Every order is highly customised and matches the prototype you approved, so we don’t accept returns. Our 6-month stitching warranty covers manufacturing faults.
8. Can I reorder later?
Yes. No new contract is needed for additional items. We simply send you a new quote.
9. Do you deliver?
No, but we can arrange shipping on your behalf and add it to your quote. This is, however, only possible after the prototype is completed and the number of units finalised (so that we can determine the dimensions). We make use of Pargo and The Courier Guy.
10. If I have my own artwork, do I still need to pay a design fee?
Yes. The design fee is to take your design / idea into a plushie. The biggest portion of the design process is the pattern design.