Private labeling is a common practice in the modern production environment. This well-established practice enables brands to outsource product manufacturing to third-party manufacturers. In this production and sales strategy, the brand’s name is only applied during product’s packaging. The Private Label Manufacturers Association confirmed that the industry’s market share has increased. In fact, it has reached almost 25% of sales units in the United States.
Private labeling enables companies to sell products without going through costly manufacturing processes. Brands that want to add private label manufacturers to their sales channel must ask the right questions.
What is a Private Label Manufacturer?
A private label manufacturer works under contract to manufacture products for brands. The leading customers of private label manufacturers are retailers and wholesalers. The manufactured products don’t have branding. The retailers and wholesalers often add their unique branding to the products before selling them to the client.
A reputable private label manufacturer will have the resources, talents, and tools needed for product manufacturing. In addition, a private label supplement manufacturer will have high-quality inventory and storage solutions. They can fulfill your product orders and personalize your formation.
Brands and small businesses use private label manufacturers for various reasons. It enables them to concentrate on other important business growth needs. The private label manufacturer will handle the order fulfillment and inventory management tasks.
When working with a private label manufacturer, you can reduce overhead and costs. You won’t need to pay staff to handle the product shipping or handling.
Outsourcing manufacturing enables brands to leverage the manufacturer’s knowledge and expertise. The manufacturer may connect you with leading distributors. They can also help you label your products more appropriately. Some private label manufacturers offer brand marketing services to expand your market reach.
Questions to Ask Private Label Manufacturers
When outsourcing manufacturing, it is always wise to ask your private label manufacturer the right questions. You want to know what they can do, their industry experience, and their credibility. You must make sure you’re outsourcing to a suitable manufacturer. These are six important questions to ask private label manufacturers.
1. How Much Private Labeling Experience Does the Manufacturer Have?
The credibility of a private label nutritional supplement manufacturer is only proven over time. The private label manufacturer is the center of interest for your brand. When they’re good at what they do, they help you attract more clients to your brand. Brands only opt for a private label company with proven years of experience.
Before contracting a private label manufacturer, ask them about the years they have served in the industry. This information is readily available on the manufacturer’s official website. However, asking them to confirm the accuracy of the info won’t be a bad idea. A private label manufacturer with over five years of experience should be a requirement. They understand the compliance regulations and the manufacturing processes.
If you’re not convinced the manufacturer has the claimed experience, check what other customers say. A good manufacturer with years of experience will have a large following and dozens of loyal clients. If a manufacturer claims to have decades of experience but lacks a loyal following, then beware. Check the manufacturer’s customer reviews and testimonials, as well.
2. Can the Manufacturer Offer You Exactly What You Need?
Ask your private label manufacturer if they have what it takes to give you exactly what you need. Inquire about ingredient sourcing, manufacturing standards, and packaging. You want to work with manufacturing that is good at what they do. Ask the manufacturer about their production volumes and the quality of their products.
Help build your brand by opting for a manufacturer with a reputation for delivering beyond client expectations. You wouldn’t want a case where you introduce new products to the market only to get rejections and criticisms. Your brand is growing, and you might need to order more over time. Inquire from your manufacturer to know if they have what it takes to meet your growing business’s needs.Find out if the manufacturer has a qualified logistics team capable of easily moving your products out of the door. Find out if the company has a competent and committed account representative. The representative will guide you through the production and buying processes. Make sure you build lasting relationships with a manufacturer that does an excellent production job. Pick a private labeling vitamins and supplements manufacturer that creates exactly what you sell.
3. Is the Manufacturing Facility Certified?
Producing products that can help your clients isn’t a straightforward process. It requires following strict compliance regulations and industry standards. Ask your manufacturer if they have recent licensing and certifications. Certifications are often given to manufacturers with plants conforming to set industry standards. Only private label manufacturers meeting the latest Good Manufacturing processes get such certificates.
There are multiple certifications and regulations that every manufacturer must meet. Make sure your private label manufacturer has the ISO certificate. They need the ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 14001 certifications. Make sure the private label manufacturer has the right product certifications. They need to prove that they manufacture products that meet industry safety and quality standards.Get a manufacturer with plants that meet all quality and safety standards. The best manufacturers will have USDA organic, non-GMO, and vegan certifications. Ensure former customers can verify the quality and safety of the manufacturer’s products.
4. Conducting Lab Tests on Your Products
Product quality is the number one concern for most looking for contract manufacturing and private label services. A good private label manufacturer implements the right measures to test and confirm the quality of products. They have implemented the right technology and tools to make sure every product meets desired quality. Most private label manufacturers boast of offering high-quality products. The problem is not all companies actualize their promises.
Look for a private labeling company with in-house quality control (QC) equipment and services. Ask your manufacturer if they have high-end in-house labs. Ask them if they outsource the product testing to renowned third-party laboratories. Ask your manufacturer about the tests the labs conduct. Make sure the testing complies with the latest industry standards. Whether quality and safety standards, they should match the latest the current industry standards. Standard testing standards include ISO, AOAC, ASTM, and AATCC.
5. Where and How Does the Manufacturer Source Materials?
Product quality largely depends on the materials used. If a private label manufacturer doesn’t have a reliable source of high-quality materials, then you should find another private label supplier.
Get your manufacturer to clarify the safety, quality, and type of ingredients they use. It won’t be a bad idea to ask your manufacturer to share documents where they source their raw materials. You want to hire a private labeling manufacturer that sources ingredients from known producers.
You must have an in-depth understanding of your industry. Know what safety and quality regulations manufacturers must meet. Know the ingredient production safety regulations the manufacturers follow. It would be good if you checked the quality of the ingredients the manufacturer uses. It is possible they have manufactured products for other brands. Connect with such brands to know their feelings about the quality of the products delivered.
6. Do You Conduct any Audits on Your Products?
UX audits enable a manufacturer to determine the user experience and usability of a product. It allows manufacturers to determine if a product meets the intended purpose. Do not work with a private label manufacturer that doesn’t conduct audits on their products. Such a manufacturer does not care about the value they deliver to the client. They are simply concerned about meeting production rates. They do not pay attention to what their clients want.
Hire a private label manufacturer known for maintaining a qualified internal audit. Ask your manufacturer if they are consistent in conducting scheduled and unscheduled audits. Product audits are essential to verify if a product complies with the relevant regulations. They let you know if your manufacturer commits to manufacturing products that meet your specs. The best manufacturers conduct thorough and exclusive audits. They check the quality assurance, label control, production, and packaging. It is also good to ask if your manufacturer conducts audits on raw materials.To select the best private label supplement, pick a credible manufacturer. Make sure the manufacturer meets product quality and safety expectations. Choose a private label manufacturer that has a vision and a goal. They need to commit to completing the quantity and quality needs of different clients. Ask the right questions to pick a private label manufacturer that delivers to the expectations of different clients. For more information about private label supplement manufacturers, call us on 800-215-0210 or contact us on our website.