Every day your product isn’t on the shelf is lost revenue.
Plan A exists to stop that from happening. With decades of hands-on experience in product design, sourcing, and manufacturing, we take ownership of the critical path — managing design, suppliers, production, and quality through trusted partner factories. Think of us as a highly experienced extension to your operation, giving you the expertise and capacity to get products market-ready with confidence. In short, we get sh*t done.
Product development from a to z.
At Plan A, we take your product from the spark of an idea to a fully retail-ready item. Our structured, transparent process and planet-first sourcing help you launch commercially viable products while minimising cost and environmental impact. With trusted partner factories and on-the-ground development managers and quality controllers, issues are resolved as they arise — not when it’s too late.
From concept to completion.
Our process and due diligence are the keys to our success. We work in an inclusive and collaborative way with our clients throughout the design and sourcing process.
1. Research & pre-design
Competitor trend research
We identify your competition and the newest trends to ensure your product has a unique selling point and a thriving market.
Mood boards
Visual aids to help you identify what’s on the market, your demographic, and relevant design considerations.
Initial ideas pitch
Before presenting our concepts, we’ll check in with you to make sure we’re all on the same wave-length.
Present concepts
A minimum of three concepts to help you decide which elements to take forward to the following phases.
2. Product design
We work with you to choose a direction and shape a concept design. Our approach is creative yet commercially viable. We’ll give you the insights to meet your business goals with confidence, without costing the earth — financially or environmentally.
We apply a planet-first approach to source local and sustainable materials. We always keep the end user in mind and we’ll challenge your brief if we feel something could be tweaked or changed. You’ll receive visuals for all the finer details of your product.
3. Development
Partner factory selection
We research partner factories based on the product design requirements, visiting and auditing factories before appointing the most suitable candidate.
Sample specification
We create a detailed specification with technical drawings, material and fabric selections, patterns, styles and colours. Everything the manufacturer needs to start the sampling process.
Sample review
The factory provide a first sample which we’ll share with you for review and feedback, fine-tuning and detailing. We repeating this process until the product is perfected and ready for sign-off.
4. Testing & pre-production
RTP specification
We provide the factory with a full specification: label artwork, branding detail, technical labelling artwork, retail packaging, barcodes, instruction manuals, carton labels, and barcodes.
Quality control
When RTP samples are produced we quality control at source before sending, to save time and avoid complications. Following sign-off materials are ordered and production begins.
Sample testing
For our team, compliance is at the forefront of each step, saving you time and money from the start. We have access to multiple global test houses and only use UCAS-appointed labs.
5. Production management
Tidiness inspections
Inspection of tidiness of production line, to limit component damage.
Production line
Management and examination of production line, monitoring component issues and reporting defective rates.
Pre-assembly checks
Pre-assembly checks and monitoring/reporting of any rework from initial inspection.
Assembly verification
Final product assembly inspection alongside brand compliance team.
Product development made simple.
Plan A helps premium brands bring commercially ready products to market with clarity, confidence and less stress. With a commercial, client-led background, we understand the pressures behind every decision — timelines, costs, viability and retail expectations. We manage the whole journey or support you at any stage, always with a transparent, planet-first approach.
Our roots in the nursery industry mean we’ve honed our expertise in categories that demand the highest standards of quality and safety. That experience now underpins a broader portfolio, from early-years products to furniture and fitness equipment. Whatever the category, we deliver solutions built on deep knowledge, reliability and commercial sense.
Plan A’s ability to map out a clear, practical roadmap for growth has been pivotal to our progress.
Eddie Jones
Inside Sweat, Founder & Director
I can highly recommend their management, development and commerciality.
Nick Paxton
CEO, Silver Cross
Plan A didn’t just open doors, they helped us design the pathway through them.
Eddie Jones
Inside Sweat, Founder & Director
Scott and his team expertly navigated some difficult challenges.
Nick Paxton
CEO, Silver Cross
Meet the a team.
Scott Blease
Founder & Director
The man with the plan and owner of the critical path. Scott has over 25 years experience and knows how to get everyone pulling in the same direction.
Peiling Chen
Head of Development – Travel
If you need a product with over 600 components manufactured on time and to the correct specification? Peiling is the person to ask.
Adam Zhu
Head of Development – Home
Embedded in our partner factories, Adam keeps production running smoothly, ensures compliance, and delivery based on our agenda, not theirs.
Chen Chen
Head of Development – Fitness
With a strong engineering background, Chen’s area of expertise is development around plastics and production of products via injection moulding, blow moulding, rotation moulding.
Noel Goodwin
Associate Project Manager
With a background in film and TV, Noel knows how to deliver complex projects to strict deadlines.
Will Lockwood
Finance Director
A highly experienced Chartered Accountant with a keen eye for detail, Will is in charge of all things finance, contracts and agreements.
Ready to take your next product to market?
Start a conversation with us and discover how we can simplify your journey towards a retail-ready, commercially sound product.