Happy Monday! This weekend we had a lively conversation over a Facebook post: My best advice: don't create a product without creating a marketing and distribution plan first!! What good is an awesome product without a way or plan to sell it? And that post got so many people talking, I thought we better have a conversation about this. See, I have worked with some absolutely amazing people. People who have put their blood sweat and tears into developing a product. Everyone from scientist ... Read More
Super Easy Formula For Writing Your Brand’s Identity
Stuck? Not sure what to call your brand line? Or how to choose a logo that expresses what your product is and why should people should buy it? Lots of new business owners spend wasted time agonizing over their branding. Many times spending weeks and days working out names and logos of their brands. The reality is that it doesn't have to be that difficult. Distilling the foundation of your brand is a relatively simple process when you spend the time with the next 6 questions. Grab your ... Read More
Go or No Go: 3 Easy Tests To See If Your Product Will Work
Is your life long dream to have your own skin care, hair care or beauty line? Before you invest all your cash or other's cash in a project, evaluate if this project is a go or no go! Here are 3 easy tips that will help you see if your product will work or not. 1 . Whatever the product is, get clear on who your client is and what problems' they are having. Then create a product. Lots of clients start a business because they love a product but realize that there is not a market for the ... Read More
5 Crucial Lessons on How to Make a Private Label Product Your Own
Many people have the dreams and desires of starting their own line of products, either skin care, cosmetics, hair care, soaps you name it they can't wait to create it. And then reality sets in, creating your "own" line is expensive. The cost of the chemist, the minimums required by the manufacturers, the packaging minimums and artwork cost can all add up and make the dream of starting your "own" formula just that...a dream. So what's the next option? Private label. And private label is ... Read More
3 Simple Ways to Create a Product
There are 3 ways to create a product: 1. Custom or from scratch or taking a handmade product to a manufacturer 2. Re-engineering and improving on a current product on the market 3. Private label - taking a manufacturer's stock product and putting your label on it. In theory, all three of them are simple. Many times, people are wondering if creating their own custom formulations may be out of reach (often times it's not). Or taking their handmade product to a manufacturer ... Read More
7 Questions You Must Ask a Contract Manufacturer When You Get Ready to Private Label
Here 7 questions that you must be sure to ask the manufacturer when you are looking at working on a project. Whether that product is private label or custom formulation or custom product development: 1. What is the process of working together? 2. What are your minimums orders? 3. What is the time frame from the order date to the delivery? 4. What are your payment terms? 5. What is the time frame from the order date to the delivery? 6. Who owns the formula or idea if you are doing a product? 7. ... Read More
My 2 Cents on Hot Tot and Shark Tank
Just finished watching Shark Tank and the the presentation by Megan Gage. What an adorable little boy! And I love the reasons as to why she made the product. As a mom that suffers with a variety of allergies and works in the cosmetic industry I know all too well the benefits of using healthy, non toxic products. I wanted to offer a word of advise to Mark Cuban and Megan as they start this adventure: 1. Take expert advice. Lori Greiner's advice and repackage the product. Seriously. There ... Read More
Life is Too Short Not to Follow Your Dreams
Four years ago, I was diagnosed with life threatening allergies to dairy. It was a devastating diagnosis. You would not believe how many items contain dairy, that's all milk, cheeses, ice cream, wines (casein), most restaurants, but the biggest loss was chocolate. The idea of never being able to eat a chocolate bar again was a horrible feeling. After about 6 months of whining (and still occasionally when I see cheese pizza), I decided to take action. First, I googled all the dairy free ... Read More
How to Protect Yourself When You Private Label
A reader asked me this question so I thought I'd answer it for everyone. He said, "I'm wanting to start a private label project but not sure how to protect myself. Will the manufacturer steal my ideas?" That's a common concern. Many business people in the game are worried that if they share their ideas with anyone else that person will steal and they will be left with nothing. Here are 3 solid tips on how to protect yourself when starting a private label program. Tip #1: Sign an ... Read More
Yeah, But Who Owns The Formula?
This week I had a question from a reader and it goes: Hi Melody, I spent 3 years developing a formula with an ingredient list that I love. Researched all the ingredients down to the last benefit of each ingredient. I took it to a lab, they made samples, we went to market and three years later I wanted to switch labs only to find out out that they said they owned the formula and wanted ME to pay them 5K. I was shocked! The formula was all my idea and I assumed I owned the formula, ... Read More