Some people have joked on Instagram that we must be "crazy for money" because we're launching presale. We understand the reaction, so we want to take the opportunity to explain why we made this decision.
Since the launch of our REAPER tactical shooting gloves, we received countless messages from customer on social media. Many riders asked for an XXL size, saying the XL felt too tight. Others requested new colorways, like green skeleton gloves, telling us they would buy immediately if we made them.
The variety of feedback has been both encouraging and overwhelming. As a young brand, we're grateful for the enthusiasm -- but meeting every demand while maintaining our quality standards presents real challenges. Between production complexity and higher than expected demand, we decided that that a pre-sale model was the best solution.
Demand Exceeded Expectations
When we first launched the REAPER tactical shooting gloves, we produced around 1,500-2,000 pairs per color. For a new brand, we believed this inventory would last two to three months.
Instead, the gloves sold out much faster than expected. In some cases, customers noticed that only a few pairs remained in their size and purchased multiple pairs at once. As stock ran out, interest actually increased.
Many customers began messaging us directly asking if we could open a pre-sale, so they wouldn't have to constantly wait for restock notification.
The pre-sale allows customers to secure their pair in advance instead of competing for limited inventory during restocks.
The Complexity Behind the REAPER Design
If you own a pair of REAPER gloves, you already know that the skeleton print on the back of the glove is extremely detailed.
Unlike many brands that use a single print layer, our design requires:
- Four gradient colors (except for single-color versions)
- A layered design that creates a 3D visual effect
- 40 individual printing passes per pair
This entire process can take up to 10 hours per pair to complete.
Because of the complexity, color alignment errors can occasionally occur during production, which adds additional time to ensure every pair meets our standards. However, this level of detail is also why so many riders appreciate the gloves.
Rather than offering a cheaper $20 glove with minimal design, we chose to focus on detail, texture, and craftsmanship -- even if it takes longer to produce.
Craftsmanship and Production Challenges
The REAPER tactical shooting gloves are not only difficult to print -- they are also complex to construct.
The gloves use 3D tailoring and curved stitching, rather than simple straight seams along the fingers. This type of construction requires experienced technicians, and it takes significantly longer to assemble.
Because of this complexity, the defect rate can be higher during production. To maintain quality, we created a specialized production team made up of our most skilled workers.
This is one of the reasons we continue to manufacture in China, even with current tariffs. The experience and precision required for this product are difficult to replace.
However, starting new year, we plan to gradually expand production of the REAPER tactical shooting gloves to Indonesia as we scale our operations.
Why Pre-Sales Help
The purpose of launching a pre-sale is not to rush customers or create artificial demand. Instead, it allows us to:
- Butter forecast production quantities
- Reduce out-of-stock situations
- Continue maintaining the quality standards our customers expect
If we had unlimited inventory, we would much rather focus on expanding advertising and bringing more riders into the TacLab community.
Pre-sales are simply a temporary solution while we scale our production.
Looking Ahead
These challenges are part of building a new brand. Our goal is not to ask for sympathy, but to be transparent with our community.
As production improves and our supply chain grows stronger, we expect many of these limitations to ease.
Thank you to everyone who has supported TACLAB so far -- we truly appreciate it.
