1. Prepare for a possible struggle upfront and act on it
First of all, you need to know that the entire process of finding a tailored cosmetics manufacturer is a very complex one. Typically, a private label cosmetics project consists of several stages:
- Searching for manufacturer
- Sending several initial inquiries
- Product idea overview
- Reply and Price Offer Inquiry
- Sending details about products according to manufacturers needs
- Receiving further questions about packaging and raw ingredients
- Waiting for a price offer
This takes even 30 days and it is before you see any prices. Yes, it is overwhelming for some.
Then you need to dig into details, ingredients, laboratory tests, lead times, packaging, printing, another quote. Not to mention some manufacturers will be able to offer only part of your planned products.
It can make you dizzy and this is totally fine. You are mentally prepared, so keep on reading to find how to deal with it.
2. Ask good questions
Once you find some cosmetics manufacturers, start with good questions included in your initial inquiry. Ask about:
- MOQs, which stands for Minimal Order Quantities, therefore the quantity of each product you will be obliged to order in the first batch
- Certificates, especially GMP ISO22716, which is a must-have certificate
- Timeline of each step of the process
- Packaging possibilities (try "What's your most interesting packaging?")
- Sustainability solutions in the manufacturing process (CO2 emissions, solar powering etc)
- Product portfolio
Do you still remember the 2/13 question from the beginning?
We've run a test lately and emailed 13 new manufacturers for initial terms and possibilities. After a 10 days only 2 replied back. None of them were doing our products. This might be depressing but this is how the industry looks like.
Let's see how to find one.
3. Don't overestimate the experience of a cosmetics manufacturer
Experience is one thing but using experience to bring you benefit is a whole different story. We have witnessed this several times already. Cosmetics manufacturers tend to be rather an old school in most cases.
Of course, this is not a standard, just a rule of thumb.
You will know who is just talking about the experience and who is using it to your benefit and acts on it.
Make sure to also get to know the people behind the company - the ones you will be talking about your products for the next 12-24 months - pick the nice ones, as this will be influential to your mood.
4. Think about your products portfolio and match manufacturers accordingly
In most cases, a single cosmetics manufacturer will not be able to offer you a solution for your growing product portfolio. This is because each manufacturer is specializing in certain kinds of products, which is fine. But if you really grow your categories and start to talk with dozens of suppliers it is not fine. And certainly not fun.
5. Relationships with the cosmetics manufacturers
Relationships over the business. As you are just starting out it is hard to have any kind of relationship in the industry. However, sometimes this is a vital part of great projects. Make sure to cultivate it from the start with anyone you talk to in the cosmetics manufacturing industry.
You may know or not, but in DTC or B2C world, the relationship between the brand and customers is very important but it is whole another world of depth if we compare that in B2B it is more likely a human to human relationship. B2B is like a marriage. You should pick it very carefully. Here in Cleansery, we decided to share our small marriages with suppliers with you - use it, it's not cheating! :)
6. Backup. Wait, what?
Ok, let's assume you have found your small marriage with the manufacturer. This is not over 😑 Think about your backup supplier. Or five.
We’ve been in this game for over 10 years combined and we will not be surprised by anything. Imagine, your supplier stops replying and taking your calls for no reason and you never hear from them again.
Imagine, after a successful year of manufacturing your supplier thinks it is fine to stop manufacturing private label brands from tomorrow onwards.
Well, this happens. Make sure you will partner up with verified suppliers only, whether it's by recommendation or great opinions.
We have developed a process to verify the credibility of cosmetics manufacturers. We help to mitigate the risk.
We tested them all, and all of them are bound by agreements. We don't recommend fighting with Cleansery Law Department, as they are like small Avengers.
7. The Good Way
Our job at Cleansery is not only to take all the stress away from the product creation process but also to build your strong muscles for brand development.
We've combined cosmetics industry knowledge with a new platform where we host over 60 manufacturers ready to take your ideas, projects and product developments.
We overcome everything mentioned above that is staying between your idea and bringing it to life.
Get to know more about how Cleansery might reduce your stress and find you a suitable manufacturer here or contact us already.
