26 messages · last: Eshan Sett, 2026-09-29 16:42
Only one substantive update this week, from Eshan (CPO) on the dye-origin question blocking the Monarch blunt cone program. He confirmed that SWM will not issue a written declaration that the dyes are naturally derived, but will put in writing that all materials and dyes used are food-grade — and explicitly flagged that food-grade is not the same as natural-origin. If Monarch strictly needs a natural-origin claim, it would require a different substrate or supplier, and he notes most European suppliers won't disclose that due to trade secrets. He also positioned tea leaf wrap as an established, low-risk format already used by several leading brands, so the real decision is claim language, not material. No new pricing, samples, or documentation arrived; the promised hemp wrap (Brown + Green) and tea leaf documentation is still outstanding, as is our answer to Michelle on ~900k annual volume and which product the sub-50k PO covers. Ball is firmly in our court to get Monarch's position on food-grade vs. natural-origin.
All movement this week came from Cones Factory's side; we haven't replied yet. Michelle locked the sub-50k tier: $0.07/ea for unbranded 84/26 cones, ~45k cones at the $3,000 PO minimum, same price white (bleached) or brown (unbleached), shipping included. She also gave packing specs (109/26 = 800/carton, 84/26 = 900/carton, 6 boxes per master case), pointed us to theconesfactory.com for product photos, and asked again whether this is still the ~900k/year client. On coloring she clarified that tea leaf cones use food-grade coloring but undyed (brown, no dyes/colorants) versions are available, noted tea leaf is much more expensive so a $3,000 PO would be well under 50k pcs, and said the samples we already received were the undyed brown tea leaf cones. Eshan then contradicted that on 9/18: the tea leaf samples and ingredient details we were sent DO contain food colorants, and the dye-free product Michelle meant is the Brown Hemp Wrap (hemp, not tea) — available in Brown and Green. He committed to sending full documentation for both variants, but needs until next week (originally offered Monday). Net: pricing is settled for standard unbranded cones, but the dye-free product identity and what was actually in the sample box are now unresolved, and Michelle is still waiting on us for volume confirmation and which product the PO is for.
Only one substantive exchange this week: Michelle (CEO, Cones Factory) answered our open pricing/spec questions. Color is not available on the paper Monarch is looking at — they'll have to pick an uncolored paper. On volume, at 30–50k units/year we would sit in the highest (most expensive) price tier, and Cones Factory does not offer separate reseller pricing, so any distributor margin has to come from our own markup. Michelle came back with a question of her own — whether the cones we're quoting are branded or unbranded — and that is now unanswered and blocking a firm quote. Everything else (ACH sample-run payment, sample feedback, Monarch's spec/wrap decisions, the formal spec sheet from Eshan) is unchanged from last week.
Quiet week — the only real movement was on the ingredient/spec front. Michelle looped in Cones Factory's CPO Eshan Sett on Sep 2, and on Sep 5 Eshan sent the full ingredient breakdown for the blunt cones: 56.68% raw material (chamomile, cacao), 31.40% cellulose/natural binder/food coloring, and 11.92% humectants (water, vanilla, glycerin, potassium sorbate), offering a formal spec sheet if we want one. Nothing moved on the paid 300 pc sample run — the ACH payment is still outstanding — and Monarch still owes decisions on volume, specs, wrap type (brown hemp vs. tea leaf with its 250k minimum) and colors, plus feedback on the sample shipments already sent.
Quiet week — one email from Michelle at Cones Factory. She shipped the sample set via FedEx Express (tracking 383279365536) and attached photos of the samples. No pricing, spec, or volume discussion moved; everything else on the Monarch blunt cones project is still sitting on our side — the ACH payment for the 300 pc paid sample run (100x 109/26, 200x 84/26), the Monarch volume/spec/branding inputs, the brown hemp wrap look confirmation, the tea leaf wrap pricing with its 250k minimum, and the color selection for the sample run. Next step is receiving and reviewing the physical samples plus giving Michelle feedback on the photos.
Quiet week — the only movement was Michelle sending the invoice for the 300 pc paid sample run (100x 109/26, 200x 84/26) via QuickBooks, noting Cones Factory accepts ACH payments only. No confirmation yet that our color selections were captured, and the free sample set (FedEx #382918151031) has not been reported as arrived. All Monarch-side inputs — volume/specs/branding, annual volume for the distribution program, hemp wrap acceptability, and the tea leaf 250k minimum decision — remain owed from us.
Two short exchanges moved the Cones Factory sample track forward. Michelle sent FedEx Express tracking #382918151031 for the free sample set on Aug 3, so those samples are now in transit. On Aug 6 she confirmed pricing is uniform across materials and colors and said she'll issue an invoice for the paid sample run — 100 pcs of the 109/26 format and 200 pcs of the 84/26 format (300 pcs total), effectively confirming we're proceeding with that order. She's waiting on us to specify which color options to include (or whether to take all). Still outstanding from our side: Monarch volume/spec/branding inputs, the annual volume figure for the distribution program, feedback on the brown hemp wrap look, and a decision on the tea leaf 250k minimum commitment.
Michelle sent comparative pricing screenshots for tea leaf wraps vs. their regular hemp wraps — tea leaf is significantly more expensive, but Cones Factory will bring it in against a minimum commitment of 250k units. Sample logistics were settled: we gave a ship-to address and Michelle's team is prepping tea leaf wrap samples, including both sizes. She pushed back on our 300 pcs request (tea leaf is costly; their norm is 10–20 pcs per spec format) and proposed sending the standard quantity first, then invoicing for 300 pcs if we like them — which we accepted. Tracking is promised shortly. Still outstanding on our side: Monarch's volume, specs and branding, which quoting depends on.
Michelle at The Cones Factory clarified spec details for the Monarch blunt cones project: their specs match Futurola's except the hemp wrap, which is a smooth natural brown (no lines) unlike the photo we sent — she linked their brown hemp wrap collection. The tobacco-style/original paper we asked about was discontinued because clients migrated to hemp wraps that run better in automated filling machines, but she'll bring it back for our order depending on quantity, and is checking with her procurement team to confirm. Everything is still gated on us: no quote can be issued until we send final volumes, specs, and branding. No pricing, samples, or documents moved this week.
Michelle Wong (CEO, The Cones Factory) replied to our intro about sourcing blunt cone alternatives for client Monarch. She confirmed they can match Futurola's blunts and will provide pricing plus review samples once we share the client's volume, spec requirements, and branding needs. She also outlined their distribution program: pricing is based on a committed annual quantity that can be mixed and matched across SKUs, with the possibility of domestic storage. No pricing, samples, or specs have been exchanged yet — the ball is entirely on our side to supply volume and spec details.