A private label cosmetic manufacturer allows brands to add their own packaging and labeling to existing or modified formulations before bringing the product to market as their own. Brands use such partnerships to reduce overhead by mitigating the need to own specialized facilities, limiting their employees, and eliminating the need to secure their ingredients.
But how do you choose a private label manufacturer for your cosmetic brand? Many private labels cater to this niche, and it can be hard to distinguish between them without extensive research. However, services and quality will vary between each label, and if you outsource your product manufacturing to them, their work could come to define your brand, for better or worse.
In this piece, we've outlined the most important factors you should look for when choosing a private label manufacturer for your cosmetics brand. Taking the time to examine your options thoroughly can make the difference between success and failure for your brand.
Areas of Experience
Just because a manufacturer has the means to make your product doesn't mean they can do so efficiently. Even if the manufacturer produces aloe vera in bulk, this doesn't mean they have a streamlined process to integrate it in shelf-ready beauty or health products. If your brand's niche doesn't overlap with a manufacturer's areas of expertise, production may not run smoothly.
You must ask for evidence of a private label manufacturer's past production experience to ensure it will serve you. If you're looking to launch a product on a small scale, you may feel comfortable working with a partner new to your niche. Just be certain that you understand the risks before committing.
Formula Ownership
When a brand partners with a private label manufacturer, they gain easy access to ready-made products, raw materials, and packaging. However, problems can occur when it's time to determine ownership of the formulas used to make your products. You might assume that you'll naturally own the recipe, but that isn't always the case.
If ensuring your cosmetics remain yours is essential to your business’ success and longevity. Make sure to bring up ownership rights when talking with potential private label partners. It's not uncommon for private labels to stipulate that they retain the rights to any formulas they have to manufacture. Doing so allows them to sell the product themselves under a different brand (or to other brands entirely).
Ingredients Used
If you don't have your formulas already, private labels could manufacture products for you. Such an approach can save you time and money in developing products yourself. However, you're still responsible for the ingredients used to some degree, even if you're only selling the final product.
Knowing the ingredients a private label uses isn't just a matter of quality control. Countries worldwide regulate cosmetics and healthcare products. Brands face different requirements depending on where they choose to sell their products. So ingredients that are okay to use in beauty items in North America, for example, may not be considered safe for use in Europe or Asia.
If you're relying on a private label's formula, you need to ask for a complete list of the ingredients they intend to use. Then, you need to research those ingredients to see if they run afoul of regulations in any of your current or future markets. If your product doesn't meet regulatory standards, you'll be the one who takes the loss, not the private label.
Quality Control
When you start talking to private labels about your needs, a good partner will be eager to demonstrate why they're a good fit. There are multiple ways to do this, ranging from sales figures and history to samples and demonstrations. However, you need to dive deeper into the specifics of how they guarantee quality.
A private label will be happy to show you the entirety of their production process and tell you where they source ingredients. A reputable business won't hide such details from you because they understand how important they are and what they say about their practices. Treat any manufacturer that obscures or hides quality-related information with suspicion.
Certifications
Suppose part of your brand strategy is offering products with specific certifications (vegan, non-GMO, etc.), but you aren't formulating your products. In that case, it falls on your manufacturing partner to meet those standards. However, not every partner can accommodate your needs. Instead, they're able to mass-produce as private label manufacturers because they have streamlined production processes.
Why does this matter? If you aim to sell products with set certifications, your partner needs to prove that they can meet those certifications. Doing so goes beyond looking at the ingredients they use in their formulas: they should have a third-party certification illustrating that they meet certification standards. Without these certifications, there's nothing for you to go on but trust.
Suppose you label your product as having non-GMO or other certification without evidence. In that case, you could be opening yourself up to liability issues in the future if the formula doesn't meet those standards. Taking the time to check certifications can save you a tremendous headache and potential legal woes in the future.
Partner with Aloe Labs
Have you sourced high-quality aloe for your next product launch? Are you struggling to find a private label manufacturer that lives up to your ideal standards?
Let Aloe Laboratories help.
The best way to ensure that you're getting the highest quality cosmetic-grade aloe possible is to choose a company with complete control over the manufacturing process, from growing to harvesting and processing.
At Aloe Laboratories, we maintain our own aloe vera farm and production site, allowing us to craft the most desirable products possible while keeping bulk and wholesale prices low. We pride ourselves on producing aloe vera gel, juice, and powder specific to each customer's needs for their food-grade and cosmetic-grade products.
If you'd like to learn more about how aloe vera gel can enhance your products, or if you have some ideas of your own, reach out to us to learn more about our private labeling options and how we can help you make your product a reality.