A useful RFQ does not need to be a finished technical pack, but it does need to explain the job the bag must do. When the first message only says “send your best price,” the supplier has to guess at materials, dimensions, performance and packing. Those guesses make quotations difficult to compare and usually create changes later.
Start with the use case
Describe who will carry the bag, what it holds, how long it is used and the environment it faces. A fishing cooler exposed to salt spray has a different risk profile from a meal-kit tote that must be cleaned and circulated every day.
Define the starting specification
- Product type and reference photos or links
- Dimensions, capacity and target load
- Preferred outer material, lining and insulation
- Closure, seam and waterproof expectations
- Pockets, straps, hardware and branding
- Packaging and labeling requirements
Add the commercial boundaries
Include target market, estimated quantity, launch timing and any target cost position. These are not promises; they help the supplier choose a realistic construction and production route.
State how approval will work
List the tests, measurements and appearance points that matter most. Ask the supplier to identify missing decisions before sampling. The goal of the first review is not a perfect quotation—it is a shared understanding of what still needs to be confirmed.