INTRO TO CUSTOM OR SEMI-CUSTOM PRIVATE LABEL
Private Label
Know your offering.
It's very important that you do your own industry research. The more you know about what you want to bring to market, the better/faster we can help you and the better chance you have of success.
Consider your deadline.
The fastest way to a finished product is to stick with our stock products. They're tried, true, and ready to go.
Order samples!
We highly recommend ordering samples if you're interested in working with stock formulas. The reason being that even though we are more than happy to provide product recommendations, the end decision is up to you and everyone has their own taste and preferences. By actually trying each and every formula you're interested in, you'll be able to make an informed decision for your brand.
Be flexible.
Stock products can be customized but there are limitations as to what we can do without impacting texture. If you would like to customize a stock product, remember to be flexible as our lab works with you to create the product you want without compromising the texture of the product.
Choose your fragrance.
Picking a fragrance/scent is a very personal process. We can advise from our own experience but we can't smell what you perceive so it is up to you to choose in the end. Because of this, it's wise to pick a scent prior to beginning the lab sample process (we provide sniffing samples for exactly this reason!).
Send the right amount.
If you're interested in reverse engineering or replicating an existing product, be it your own or someone else's, 2 oz. of product is the recommended amount you send us. We can work with less, but for best results 2 oz. is the way to go.
Don't create your formula around a preservative.
Preservative systems are not easy to adjust. Changing them will have a significant impact on the rest of the ingredients in the formula as the preservative is chosen to best support those ingredients. If we start the customization process by choosing the preservative, the entire supporting cast of ingredients needs to be reviewed and usually changed.
Remember, efficacy is King!
The most common issue we see customers bump up against is wanting to put the ingredient list above everything. Many customers design an ingredient deck before we begin to mix the product and get so caught up with the idea of that exact ingredient deck that they won't adjust it. This lack of flexibility can result in a lower quality product as the lab works to choose ingredients that work well together. Remember, the results produced by your product are more important that having a particular ingredient deck.
Have patience.
Bringing a new product to market can sometimes take up to a year when everything is taken into account. Some customers want to have their brand launched from zero to one hundred in a matter of a few months. If you are working from square one, that's very likely not going to happen. What's important is that your launch is successful, your customers are happy, and your chosen formula(s) are stable, effective and the best representation of your brand.
Educate yourself.
You will have to learn what claims you are and are not allowed to make. We are not allowed to officially advise when it comes to the marketing claims our customers make (though we make sure to regularly put out educational materials). The FDA website is a great resource to help you along with this.
Packaging/Fill
Don't let it leak!
Make sure your packaging will prevent leakage (this might sound redundant but trust us, it needs to be said!).
Know the requirements of your retailer.
You'll need to make sure your packaging aligns with your retailer. For example, some retailers, like Amazon, require tamper proof evidence seals.
Less steps = lower price.
The fewer steps required to assemble your packaging, the lower your fill cost; more steps require more labor.
Order samples!
Have samples of your packaging sent to you first before you proceed with the development process for filled product. This way you'll have your own experience with the packaging you've chosen. And you'll know for sure that you like it.
Do a review.
Review your packaging material to make sure it's compatible with the texture of your formula.
Know your fill level.
The level that we fill your container doesn't always match the volume that your packaging vendor states. For example, an 8oz bottle may actually require 9.5 fl. oz of material to look completely full.
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Keith West