The strategic partnership you form with your manufacturer can make or break the success of not only your product line, but your company as a whole. Many factors play a role in producing private label supplements, skin care and pet nutrition products and it is not one you should take lightly.
Many private label manufacturers claim they’re the best, but how do YOU (the “OLD” Own Label Distributor as defined by the FDA) determine which company is best for your specific needs? Just like in any other relationship, a solid foundation of trust, understanding and honesty is critical to success and a long term relationship.
This article provides you with ten important questions you should ask your potential manufacturer before even thinking about placing your first order. The first order is often times the most critical as you are learning the process, putting your label(s) into place and getting down the timing of manufacturing as well as inputting your formulas and information into the manufacturer’s systems for the first time; it is an investment on both ends. Once you successfully process first order, subsequent orders are much easier as the angst of the unknown are gone. The extra work from a creative aspect are in place and both parties know the process and it is often times a shorter process.
10. What Is Your Average Delivery Time?
Many factors affect the delivery time of your products. However, a reputable manufacturer will be able to give you a ballpark estimate based on such variables as the quantity, availability and testing that may or may not be required for your products.
At Private Label Supplement, we don’t over promise on delivery times, but we will get your order out on time. We estimate our turn times based on necessary GMP testing and production times so you receive safe and effective products to sell to your consumers. Due to our volume, our contract manufacturer partners respond when we call. This is essential for all of our Clients to know as a single buyer may not receive this type of treatment when out on their own, and we know this is especially important for our Amazon FBA Clients so that they are able to maintain the Amazon product rankings that they have worked so diligently to achieve.
9. Are There Any Hidden Charges?
Don’t be shy to ask your potential manufacturer about what additional costs may be involved in the production of your products. Remember, the private label dietary supplement contract manufacturer works for you, not the other way around.
Ask about any additional production costs that may be associated with bringing your product to market. This is especially important if you are ordering a custom formula. If a specific blend needs testing, this may incur additional costs.
8. Do You Offer Label Product Guidelines or Graphic Design Services?
Creating a brand can be an expensive, time-consuming process, and not all manufacturer’s offer label product guidelines or graphic design services for your products. However, finding a manufacturer who can not only fulfill your product order, but provide the necessary creative services for label and logo creation and label printing will save you time, money and headaches of coordinating the logistics of getting all those pieces where they need to be so as not to slow down the production process.
Ask your manufacturer what they offer in terms of assisting with the label creation and package design for your products. This is especially important if you are new to the world of private label products and are unaware of the FDA labeling guidelines as your label is the first piece the FDA looks for in regard to compliance when your brand appears on their radar and it sparks the need for an inspection at your facility. And that is the number one objective Private Label Supplement is ultimately trying to help you avoid.
At Private Label Supplement, we offer superior Supplement & Skincare label creation service options in addition to logo creation and product photography for Amazon listings or for your website.
7. How Do You Ensure Ingredient Quality?
Not all ingredients are created equally, and a good manufacturer knows this. Don’t be afraid to ask your potential manufacturer about the origin of their ingredients. A good manufacturer will easily be able to tell you from where and when they get their raw materials.
Private Label Supplement, Contract Vendor Liaison to GMP manufacturing providers in the Dietary Supplement, Private Label Skincare industries, and leading supplement marketing firm, has selected Ingredient Identity, a distinguished regulatory management consulting firm, to provide comprehensive QA/QC, and regulatory support for its prestige clientele. Clients seeking rapid time-to-market for their products with minimal overhead investment will have immediate access to a ready-qualified supply chain and documentation required by the FDA per the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) while safeguarding dietary supplement compliance.
In fact, regulatory issues affect all companies in the Dietary Supplement and Skincare industries, including well-known or “name brands”, regardless of their size and sales channels. The partnership between Private Label Supplement and Ingredient Identity bridges the gap in devoted resources, allowing our smaller brands to compete with our more established ones.
When you work with Private Label Supplement, we offer a one-of-a kind service that saves you $7,000-$10,000 per year per manufacturer when we make product for you. We do that simply by going out and complete two of the GMP’s for YOU. We audit our contract manufacturers via our 3rd party auditor, Ingredient Identity, and put in place Quality Agreements for you as well.
Upon placing your first order, we have you sign on to the program at no added cost to you and we do the rest. If you are inspected by the FDA, then we will supply you with all the needed documents for the product’s we make for you. There are additional GMP’s that apply to you and we detail those for you as well. We suggest reaching out to Ingredient Identity to have them help you implement the remaining GMP’s that apply based on your business model since they know what you have in place with us, but you are certainly welcome to implement those through whatever means you feel most comfortable.
6. Will Your Company Store My Products For Me?
Private Label Supplement is not authorized to house and act as a Fulfillment House as it would conflict with our GMP Protection Program. So, we have established numerous relationships with neighboring fulfillment houses near our contract manufacturers in an effort to cut down on shipping cost for our Clients. And of course, our Amazon FBA Clients ship direct to Amazon on the Amazon UPS account per the Amazon guidelines.
5. Can You Formulate A Custom Formula?
If you’ve ever dreamed of creating a custom product unique to you and you alone, you should do your research and present us with the formula you think will provide a difference in the market. Our only advice is don’t try to over pack your formula.
Allow the ingredients to do what the studies show and not over stimulate, which may cause the materials to negatively interact, or negate each other completely. A custom formula gives you a unique advantage in the marketplace and a manufacturer’s ability to create one should be a question at the top of your list.
At Private Label Supplement we offer every possible option to meet and exceed our Clients’ needs. Our Clients have collaborated with us on countless capsule, powder, liquid and tablet Custom Formulations. This is all about you. Present your own creative concept or combine ingredients from your favorite supplements into one. Perhaps you have seen a product that you love and want your name on it. Allow Private Label Supplement to make it yours. Our company strives to create products that are healthy and of the highest quality and unique in the private label market place. We are sure that the product we have produced for you will meet your expectations in every way as well as exceed the GMP Guidelines set forth by the FDA.
4. What Is Your Minimum Order Quantity?
This question is one beneficial to ask whether you are a start-up or an established company. Different seasons yield to different product demands, and if you ever need to adjust your order, you may find yourself getting penalized if you never asked this question.
Minimum Order Quantities or MOQ’s vary on delivery system (capsules, powders, tablets, softgels etc.) as it takes time, documentation and process to properly manufacture these products. So, there is not a concrete answer as we work with up to 12 different suppliers at a time and they all vary on their requirements; which is also another benefit with working with us as we never reach our maximum potential output. We have a waiting list of suppliers that would like to be added to our roster and Private Label Supplements chooses to add only the amount of suppliers we can properly manage to ensure our Client’s orders are being managed.
At Private Label Supplement, we offer realistic minimum order quantities in comparison to the current industry average due to the volume we offer our suppliers. We have sources for any FDA approved raw material on the market. We can make high-quality private label supplements and vitamins, capsules, softgels, powders, tablets, liquids, skincare and pet products. We can also package in any FDA approved container for the area in which you are wanting to private label. Remember, supplement containers and approved skin care containers are very different.
3. Who Can I Speak To About My Orders?
Communication is the key to any successful relationship, and private label manufacturing is no different. In addition to your own piece of mind, your relationship with your manufacturer plays an undeniable role in the success of your products. Consider a new regulatory matter you may have a question about, or even worse, be unaware of. Will your manufacturer pick up the phone and walk you through the steps necessary to fulfill those regulations? Do they have your best interest at heart, or do they look at you as merely a number in a long line of many others like you.
At Private Label Supplement, our services are personalized and response times are extremely fast. You deserve this level of service and should expect this in the Nutraceutical industry. We provide a Customer Relations department in addition to your assigned Sales Manager. We have a Creative team who works on all creative projects with the client, an Accounting department who handles billing questions, a shipping department who handles shipping at the completion of the order and finally there is always a direct line of communication to our President and CEO. Stefani’s personal line is 415-795-2422. She always makes good on speaking to five Client’s a week.
2. What Kind of Training Does Your Staff Have?
As times change, regulations evolve and science impacts the world of supplements, skin care and pet products, knowing your manufacturer stays up to date with these changes is crucial. But it’s really more than just staying up to date. Ask your potential manufacturer about the type of training they provide to their team members.
Private Label Supplement consists of an internal team of formulators and chemists who participate in ongoing education to maintain our achieved level of excellence in supplement manufacturing. We are very lucky to interact with some of the industry’s top professionals in keeping up with the trends and staying on top of the basics of the private label manufacturing world as it continues to grow at an accelerated rate.
1. Is Your Company Compliant with the FDA GMPs for Dietary Supplements or Skincare?
Most contract manufacturers don’t tell you there are GMP Requirements that fall on YOU- the “OLD” Own Label Distributor as the FDA puts it. And, the FDA has zero tolerance for ignorance regarding meeting the GMP requirements. Failure to meet these requirements could push you back months, or even years, and in some cases they comes with hefty fines and shuts you down after having your name all over the internet with the requirements you failed to meet.
You can ask your potential manufacturer what safeguards are put in place to ensure you will stay up-to-date with guidelines and requirements. However, this is a serious business and you should have an attorney you have on retainer just as you would use an accountant for your taxes.
This is much more serious than selling bottles of diet pills and making extra money after you get home from your day job. This is a serious business where you have the health of consumers in your hands and you must be educated on the laws and expectations of the industry.
Think twice about starting a business if you have only a small amount of capital and you are only worried about what the minimum number of bottles are that you can order, what the cheapest price is and what the fastest timeframe you can get them in your hands. Those are not the type of businesses that last in our industry and not the type of business-minded individuals that will help the private label contract manufacturing business grow in dietary supplements, skin care or dog products.
—
In closing, at Private Label Supplement, we believe your choice will boil down to trust, reliability and consistent quality. We are extremely flexible and make our Clients’ visions come true, assisting them in creating a successful supplement company.
We walk you through the process providing support, expertise and consistency. If you are interested in learning more about how Private Label Supplement can support your product needs, complete this form and we will get back to you within 48-72 hours or less.
Our President and Owner firmly believes “If we are lucky enough to fill one order but haven’t earned your repeat business, we haven’t done our job.” Stefani Thionnet
All my best,
Stefani Thionnet
Stay focused and never give up!
