Timing — Portugal corporate merch
Production lead times in Portugal: standard 5–8 working days, rush 3–5 days with +35% surcharge, strike-offs and proofing inside 48 hours.
Timing — quick answer
Standard production runs 5–8 working days from artwork approval to the loading dock. Rush production at 3–5 working days carries a +35% surcharge. Pre-production strike-offs ship in 2–4 working days. Design proofing is 24–48 hours after artwork is received. Once the 50% deposit is paid, the order goes on the production line within one working day.
Detailed FAQ — timing
What does standard 5–8 working days cover?
From signed digital proof + deposit received, through screen burning / file ripping, blank pulling, printing, drying / curing, QC, polybag and palletising. Portuguese public holidays are excluded from the count.
How does the +35% rush work?
We push the order to the front of the queue and run overtime shifts. Maximum two days saved on most orders; less on embroidery or sublimation. We confirm rush feasibility before applying the surcharge.
What is a strike-off?
A pre-production printed sample on the actual blank with your final artwork. Used to approve colour, position and feel before committing the full run. Ships in 2–4 working days.
How fast for a digital proof?
24 hours for vector-clean artwork, 48 hours when we need to redraw or colour-separate. Includes mock-ups on the chosen blank and Pantone callouts.
What is the fastest shipment?
For stock-blank, single-position, single-colour orders ≤300 pcs in Lisboa/Porto, 48–72 hours is feasible at +35% rush. For Web Summit deadlines we have done express on pre-stocked SKUs.
When does the deposit unlock the line?
SEPA bank transfers usually settle next morning; card payments authorise the line same day. Once funds are visible, scheduling assigns a slot within one working day.
August closures?
Many Portuguese factories observe a 2–3 week summer break in August. Plan late-August deliveries against that window; we publish the exact dates each spring.
Are lead times longer for embroidery?
Slightly: embroidery digitisation adds 24 hours, then standard 5–8 working days production.
Portugal-specific notes
Lead-time clocks pause for Portuguese public holidays. Invoices are issued from AT-certified software on the delivery date with IVA 23%, reported to Portal das Finanças with ATCUD code and QR — recurring clients on Net 30 / Net 45 receive a payment-due date inside the invoice. SEPA settles the deposit overnight, unlocking the production line in our Portuguese hub.