Choose the garment experience.
Then choose the NFC label.

U50 PRICING AND SAMPLE SELECTION UPDATE
October 2, 2026 | Prepared for Brett Thomas, JD Hendley, and Matt Werthe

This update supersedes the earlier absence of pricing and narrows the sample plan to the actual quote. The original link-by-link technical research follows for reference.

Source: Matt Werthe, October 1, 2026, forwarding Lisa Keil's September 30 email, subject "United50 Trims", with "U50 NFC label pricing.xlsx".
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/?authuser=don%40kaizenailab.com#all/1a0f9ec7a12a21be

Lisa describes pricing as preliminary, excludes the Mem-re experience, and says Circus can meet October/November production dates and quantities. Midas is a future option. These are supplier statements, not independently verified delivery guarantees.

Price per unit, in the dollar format used by the workbook; confirm USD and commercial terms:
Label / option                 1,000       10,000      30,000
Label 1 / Circus IL-609809      2.574       2.394       2.375
Label 1 / Midas IL-611630       2.469       2.288       2.269
Label 2 / Circus IL-609809      1.209       1.131       1.126
Label 2 / Midas IL-611630       1.104       1.026       1.020
Label 3 / Circus IL-609809      1.019       0.957       0.953
Label 3 / Midas IL-611630       0.913       0.852       0.847

At 10,000 units, Circus Label 1 costs $23,940; Label 2 costs $11,310; Label 3 costs $9,570. Label 1 adds $14,370 versus Label 3, while Label 2 adds $1,740. Midas Label 3 costs $8,520, saving $1,050 against Circus Label 3. These are label-only extensions of quoted unit prices, before unconfirmed additions.

The workbook does not identify the exact IC, finished materials, installation method, wash specification, platform fees, or what explains the three label-design prices. Do not interpret Label 3 as equivalent in quality or function until the designs are reviewed. The quote's two product codes do not match the standard public product codes reviewed. Confirm their datasheets with Avery before assigning a chip or durability rating.

Four options for the present decision:
1. Quoted Circus IL-609809: first production candidate. Request 10 finished samples in each of Labels 1, 2, and 3. Evaluate Labels 3 and 2 first, retaining Label 1 as a design comparison.
2. Quoted Midas IL-611630: future smaller-format comparison. Request 10 samples in Labels 3 and 2 when available. Its savings alone do not justify delaying the current production plan.
3. Circus NTAG213 Dura 2.0: durability comparison if Avery lacks adequate wash evidence for the quoted Circus. Public SKU 3009547 / IL-609923; 20 mm antenna; 22 mm die-cut; 60 cycles of 60 C home wash and tumble dry testing under the named protocol. Request a finished-label sample and a new quote. Heat Seal LoG is another garment construction to ask about, not a fourth chip IC or a direct equivalent to Dura 2.0.
4. Circus Pro Flex with NTAG424 DNA: conditional authentication comparison. Request samples and a working server verification demonstration only if counterfeit protection or verified resale is a launch requirement. Unquoted; requires protected keys, provisioning, and ongoing verification. The chip authenticates a tag response; secure physical attachment is still necessary to tie it to the garment.

Dura source:
https://rfid.averydennison.com/content/dam/rfid/en/products/rfid-products/data-sheets/datasheet-AD-Circus-NTAG213-Dura-2-0.pdf
Circus source:
https://rfid.averydennison.com/en/home/product-finder/circus-nfc.html
Midas source:
https://rfid.averydennison.com/en/home/product-finder/midas-nfc.html

Proposed next action: Matt requests finished samples, exact specifications, artwork, application instructions, wash evidence, and full commercial terms by October 5. Brett selects the desired customer benefit and whether authentication is essential. Before production selection, Matt consolidates reads, washing, stretch, comfort, appearance, installed cost, and digital-service cost into a pass/fail comparison for Brett and Don. This sample screening does not prove lifetime performance.

No additional vendor message or sample order has been sent as part of this report.

ORIGINAL TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT AND LINK-BY-LINK FINDINGS
The October 1 research below is retained as background. Its statement that no pricing was established by the original links is superseded by the pricing update above.

U50 NFC CLOTHING ASSESSMENT
Research checked October 1, 2026

DECISION

NFC is worth testing as a permanent connection between a U50 garment and a useful digital experience. The supplied links do not identify one exact chip or finished garment label. They combine the Circus Mini, Circus Pro, Circus Pro Flex, and Circus Tamper Loop families. Production approval should depend on the exact part number, finished construction, tested garment durability, customer experience, and total cost.

For care instructions, product information, community access, and support, a washable NTAG213 construction is a sensible pilot candidate. For meaningful counterfeit protection or verified resale, assess Circus Pro Flex with NTAG424 DNA, or an EM4332 implementation supported by the chosen verification provider. Neither security nor washability follows from the Circus name alone.

WHAT THE SUPPLIED LINKS ACTUALLY ESTABLISH

1. Circus Mini product page
   NXP NTAG213; 13.56 MHz; 16 mm antenna; 18 mm die-cut outline; 144 bytes of user memory; UID mirror support. The page describes a small inlay for constrained spaces. It does not publish a garment wash-cycle qualification. The final protective patch may be larger than the inlay.
   https://rfid.averydennison.com/en/home/product-finder/circus-mini.html

2. Compact-inlay press release
   The February 23, 2021 release covers two products: Circus Mini NTAG213 and Microblock ICODE SLIX. Its Type 2 / Type 5 language describes those different products. It does not establish that Circus Mini comes in both types or that either is a finished washable garment label.
   https://rfid.averydennison.com/en/home/news-insights/press-releases/when-size-matters-avery-dennison-launches-compact-nfc-inlays-for-retail-packaging.html

3. Circus Pro Flex product page
   Lists NTAG424 DNA and EM4332 options and targets apparel and secure authentication. The listed NTAG424 DNA version has a 20 mm antenna, 22 mm die-cut outline, and product code 3007191 / IL-603486. Confirm current availability and construction with Avery; public documentation is not a quote.
   https://rfid.averydennison.com/en/home/product-finder/circus-pro-flex.html

4. Circus Pro NTAG424 DNA PDF
   Describes a separate Pro wet inlay, code 3007218 / IL-603513, with 20 mm antenna and 22 mm die-cut dimensions. Its 416-byte figure is total file-based chip memory, not space for a rich customer experience. NXP describes a 256-byte NDEF file, a 128-byte protected file, and a 32-byte capability container.
   This PDF is not the Pro Flex datasheet. The distinction matters when specifying a factory order.
   https://rfid.averydennison.com/content/dam/rfid/en/products/rfid-products/data-sheets/datasheet-Circus-Pro-NTAG424-DNA.pdf

5. Circus Pro EM4332 PDF
   The supplied URL could not be read by Exa, and a second retrieval returned 404. Therefore the exact Avery inlay specifications in that PDF are unverified. EM Microelectronic's own product page independently verifies that EM4332 is an ISO 14443-A / NFC Forum Type 2 chip with dynamic URL authentication based on HOTP / HMAC-SHA-1 and a 256-bit secret key. This is a different security system from NTAG424 DNA's AES-128 implementation. Request the current Avery datasheet and exact variant, including whether authentication is enabled.
   https://rfid.averydennison.com/content/dam/rfid/en/products/rfid-products/data-sheets/datasheet-Circus-Pro-EM4332.pdf
   Replacement manufacturer evidence: https://www.emmicroelectronic.com/product/nfc-high-frequency-ics/em-linq-em4332

6. Circus Tamper Loop PDF
   Uses NTAG213 TT. The antenna measures 20 x 50 mm; the finished die-cut measures 24 x 54 mm. Its principal application is detecting an opened packaging seal. An open loop remains readable and can report an opened condition. This is not an established solution to clothing stretch or laundry, and it does not automatically deliver NTAG424 DNA's cryptographic security. I would exclude it from the first clothing pilot unless U50 has a specific seal or tamper use case.
   https://rfid.averydennison.com/content/dam/rfid/en/products/rfid-products/data-sheets/datasheet-Circus-Tamper-Loop.pdf

7. Both Google Shopping search URLs
   Each retrieval returned only a generic Google Search page, with no usable product identity or specifications. They cannot substantiate an exact SKU, current price, or durability claim. All conclusions here use manufacturer evidence instead.
   https://www.google.com/search?q=product&prds=pvt:hg,productid:13323446224463044419&ibp=oshop
   https://www.google.com/search?q=product&prds=pvt:hg,productid:11151293542293882162&ibp=oshop

CORRECTIONS TO THE ORIGINAL SPECIFICATION SUMMARY

All of the evaluated Circus NFC options operate at 13.56 MHz. NTAG213 and NTAG213 TT are Type 2; NTAG424 DNA is Type 4; EM4332 is Type 2. The linked Type 5 reference relates to Microblock ICODE SLIX in the press release.

The antenna diameter is not the final garment-label footprint. Protective materials, adhesive, sewing margins, and branding can add size and stiffness. A wet inlay means an adhesive-backed inlay; it is not a statement of waterproofing or wash qualification.

UID mirroring places the tag identifier in a URL. It enables item identification, but the URL can be copied. An originality signature supports checking the chip's origin; it does not, by itself, establish that a U50 garment is authentic or that an authentic tag has never been moved to another garment.

PROS FOR U50

Useful product connection. A customer could tap a clearly marked location for the exact garment's care instructions, material details, support, or product information. These are proposed U50 uses, not capabilities already implemented.

Potential ongoing engagement. U50 could update a web destination with training content, community experiences, or member benefits without rewriting every tag. This requires a durable U50-controlled URL and maintained content. The chip supplies the connection, not the content or customer account system.

No charging requirement. These are passive tags powered by the nearby reader field. They suit garments better than an electronic module requiring a battery or charger. NFC alone adds no motion, heart-rate, sweat, GPS, or workout sensing.

Convenient phone access. A properly encoded HTTPS NDEF record can open a website on supported NFC phones without a dedicated U50 app. Apple uses a notification that the customer must tap; Android behavior depends on device capabilities, settings, and software. This is a close-range, deliberate interaction.

Small embedded form factor. The 16-20 mm antenna options create placement choices, provided the finished label meets comfort and attachment requirements.

Stronger authentication available. NTAG424 DNA generates a cryptographically authenticated message on reading. EM4332 has a different dynamic authentication mechanism. With provisioning, protected keys, server verification, and replay controls, either can support stronger evidence of tag authenticity than a static item URL. Actual garment authenticity still depends on how securely the tag is bound to the garment.

Item-level records. A unique identity can connect a garment to support, resale, and product-history records. Those records need a database and appropriate account/ownership workflows. A tap by itself does not identify the wearer or establish rightful ownership.

CONS AND LIMITS FOR ATHLEISURE

Wash and wear qualification is the largest physical gap. The supplied Pro/Pro Flex sheets do not publish a U50-relevant wash-cycle qualification. Their operating-temperature ranges do not qualify heat pressing, dryer exposure, sweat, detergent, repeated stretch, abrasion, or seam construction. These need testing on finished garments.

Comfort can erase the benefit. A protective patch or rigid chip area can rub skin, show through thin fabric, or affect stretch and drape. Placement near a fold, waistband, pocket, or metal zipper needs read and wear testing. Engineering judgment: favor a visible, accessible, lower-stretch location that avoids direct friction, then validate it on U50's actual fabrics.

Customers need a reason to tap. A hidden chip that opens U50's homepage provides limited additional value over a QR code. Repeated use depends on a clear benefit, reliable access, and fresh content. No reviewed source proves increased U50 sales, loyalty, or willingness to pay.

Phone friction remains. Some phones lack NFC; Android users may have it disabled; positioning and case thickness can affect reads. Apple background reading is unavailable in some situations, including camera or Apple Pay use. Reading the tag does not require internet, but loading the website and online authentication do. Provide printed instructions and QR fallback for basic information.

Security requires operating work. Static NTAG213 links should not be marketed as strong counterfeit protection. Secure chips require correct configuration, factory key provisioning, per-item enrollment, server-side verification, and policies for replay, damaged tags, returns, and replacement garments. An authentic tag transplanted to a counterfeit garment remains a physical-binding problem.

QR fallback needs separate treatment. It can provide care and support access, but a static QR code cannot reproduce a secure NFC chip's changing cryptographic response. The fallback must not receive the same authentication status automatically.

Ongoing service obligation. If the encoded domain expires or a vendor platform is discontinued, garments can retain working chips with broken experiences. U50 should control the public endpoint, retain exportable item records, and define maintenance responsibility and vendor exit arrangements.

Privacy and access design. Keep customer names and contact details off the tag. A readable garment ID should not grant access to private order records, returns approvals, or an owner's account. Customer analytics and membership features require deliberate account and consent design. NFC has no independent GPS or continuous location-reporting capability, although a connected website can record visits and account activity.

Total cost exceeds the chip price. Obtain separate pricing for finished label conversion, branding, encoding, security provisioning, installation, factory quality checks, waste, platform/setup fees, annual service, support, and replacements. No usable U50 price, MOQ, lead time, or commercial commitment was established by these links. Commercial comparison should use fully installed cost and ongoing cost per garment, rather than a bare-chip quote.

NFC is not a bulk inventory system. The linked HF tags are intended for nearby interactions. If U50 wants warehouse stock counting or supply-chain bulk reads, assess UHF or a separate dual-frequency solution. Do not transfer UHF benefits from an apparel marketing page to this NFC-only chip.

Additional garment materials. Protective plastics, adhesives, and electronics may complicate recycling or separation. A digital product-information record can support circularity, but does not itself make the garment more recyclable.

A RELEVANT APPAREL CONSTRUCTION TO ASK ABOUT

Avery's September 2026 AD Heat Seal LoG sheet lists an NTAG213-based Circus NFC construction with a 30 mm finished footprint and reports 100+ home wash/dry cycle testing. The protocol uses Durawash accelerated equivalence, a 49 C wash setting, and 52 C dryer exhaust temperature; Avery defines durability as RF performance passing the stated cycles.

This is useful evidence for a garment-oriented candidate. It is not a guarantee for every Circus variant, secure-chip construction, fabric, dryer program, or adhesive application. The cycle claim also does not establish cosmetic durability or wearer comfort. Request the exact label and test report for U50's chosen chip and finish.

https://rfid.averydennison.com/content/dam/rfid/en/products/textrace/info-sheets/AD-TexTrace-Heat-Seal-LoG-Product-Information-Sheet.pdf

RECOMMENDED PILOT AND DECISION RULE

Proposed single owner: Matt, subject to U50 confirming his responsibility.
Next action, within 72 hours: obtain Avery's exact recommended SKU, current datasheet, finished-label drawing, application instructions, samples, durability report, and fully installed quote. Ask for a washable NTAG213 option and a secure-chip option if authentication is important. This produces evidence without committing to production.

Then conduct a suggested 20-30 garment pilot across U50's real fabrics and candidate placements. Treat this as exploratory screening, not statistical proof of full production reliability. Test iPhone and Android access, dry and damp garments, on-body and off-body reads, repeated stretch and abrasion, skin comfort, and label appearance. Use U50's published care instructions and define the desired service life before setting wash-test acceptance requirements.

Create one useful mobile experience before evaluating customer adoption. Suggested first experience: exact-product care and materials information, support access, and one meaningful community or training benefit. Use a U50-controlled HTTPS endpoint; protect or lock tag writing after validation while retaining the ability to update the web content.

Suggested screening definition of done: at least 95% of first-time users reach the intended page within two attempts; every pilot garment passes the agreed durability/read tests; no material rubbing, delamination, print-through, or stretch restriction; item records remain correctly assigned; installed and ongoing costs fit an agreed U50 budget. These are proposed acceptance criteria, not industry standards or a lifetime warranty.

Feedback loop: Matt consolidates a pass/fail table, customer-use findings, exact cost, and unresolved risks for Brett and Don before a production decision. If authentication is included, verify successful legitimate reads, rejection of reused captured authentication messages under the agreed policy, key custody, and accurate treatment of unavailable or damaged tags. Avoid describing an unreadable tag as proof of a counterfeit garment.

Recommendation: approve research samples and a defined pilot in principle. Defer a production order and any authenticity, washability, or performance claims until the precise construction and U50 garment testing support them.

ADDITIONAL PRIMARY SOURCES

NXP NTAG213: https://www.nxp.com/products/NTAG213_215_216
NXP NTAG213 datasheet: https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/data-sheet/NTAG213_215_216.pdf
NXP NTAG424 DNA datasheet: https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/data-sheet/NT4H2421Gx.pdf
NXP secure messaging implementation: https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/application-note/AN12196.pdf
Avery Pro Flex datasheet: https://rfid.averydennison.com/content/dam/rfid/en/products/rfid-products/data-sheets/datasheet-Circus-Pro-Flex-NTAG424-DNA.pdf
Apple background NFC reading: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/corenfc/adding-support-for-background-tag-reading
Android NFC handling: https://developer.android.com/develop/connectivity/nfc/nfc

Research method: all eight unique supplied URLs were attempted. Five Avery sources were readable; the EM4332 PDF failed; the two Google links produced no usable product information. Supplemental primary sources were reviewed for standards, security, phone behavior, and garment construction. Earlier U50 research informed the apparel-validation approach; current technical findings above were checked against current source retrievals. No vendor outreach, purchase, or live implementation occurred.