Private labeling can help promote the growth of your brand, expand your market, and even increase your profit margin. However, the challenges and costs that come with sourcing private label products can be a significant obstacle.
Well, before you give up on private labeling, here is some good news; you do not have to pay exorbitant fees to access private label manufacturers or suppliers. Yes, there are plenty of ways to find them on your own.
Read on to discover all the tips and tricks on how to source private label products.
目录
What Are Private Label Manufacturers?
Private label manufacturers are manufacturers that produce and brand goods for companies at a fee.
After production and payment, you can collect the goods from the manufacturer and sell them under your brand name. The manufacturers do not claim any ownership of the goods they produce because they are only a partner in the production process.
Further, private label manufacturers only work based on the instructions that they agree on with their clients. This can work in one of 2 ways:
- You provide the private label manufacturer with a custom product design or formulation for them to manufacture.
You identify one of the products manufactured by a private label factory and work with them to customize it in a way that is unique to your brand.
Qualities to Look For in a Private Label Manufacturer
Choosing the right private label manufacturer will be integral to the success of your venture. So, as you make that crucial decision, consider:
- Product Quality
Customers are drawn to quality products that serve them well and give them value for their money. Subsequently, aim for a manufacturing partner that pays attention to detail and puts out outstanding products. Ask private label manufacturers for samples of other products that they have produced to better gauge the quality of their work.
- Manufacturing Capabilities
An ideal private label manufacturer should have the right equipment to manufacture the kind of products you need. They should also have enough manufacturing capacity to churn out the quantity of products that you need; both now and in the future when demand for your products grows.
- Pricing
Look out for manufacturers that offer a fair production price that is within or close to your budget. Their fees should also be commensurate with the value of the services that they provide.
For example, if one manufacturer charges $5,000 for production only while another charges $5,000 for production and branding, the latter may be a better choice because they offer more value.
- Minimum Order Quantity
If you are just launching your private label brand, it is advisable to start with small to medium orders and adjust as you get to understand the demand patterns of your market. In light of this, prioritize private label manufacturers that can offer you wholesale prices at reasonable minimum order quantities.
- Reliability
Look out for manufacturers that can provide you with a consistent supply of goods and are dedicated to completing orders on time. This is crucial because their reliability will determine whether you have a consistent supply of goods for your customers.
- The Range of Services
It takes more than just manufacturing to get a private label product on store shelves. You will likely require other services such as custom packaging and branding. It would thus be convenient and possibly cheaper to partner with a manufacturer that can offer package deals for such essential services.
- Certifications
Make an effort to vet each private label manufacturer on your shortlist to ensure that they are certified to manufacture the goods you require. The manufacturer you choose should also be able to provide you with certificates ascertaining that the goods they produce meet industry regulations or the regulations in your country.
How to Find Private Label Manufacturers
Now that you know what to look for in private label manufacturers, let us delve into how to find them, shall we?
Figure Out What You Are Going to Sell
Take time to research different goods and identify which of them you would like to sell. It is best to choose a product or a line of products that:
- You are interested in or have some expertise in.
- Are in high demand among your target customers.
- Have affordable production costs and a fair profit margin.
- Fulfill specific needs for customers that other brands may not; this will entice customers to buy your brand.
Browse Through Online Forums
Online forums host diverse participants from across the world with different insights and business expertise. This makes them a great place to crowdsource information at no cost and find informative answers.
Some examples of worthwhile online forums include:
- Salehoo Forum
The Salehoo Forum hosts a wide range of discussions about e-commerce. Most topics are easily accessible on the forum’s landing page. However, you can also search a keyword or a specific topic on the search bar at the top of the page.
Access to this platform is free but you may have to register as a member to ask questions, participate in discussions, or view some helpful links.
Alternatively, the main Salehoo platform also lists over 8,000 suppliers at a fee.
- Warrior Forum
The Warrior Forum is highlighted as a platform focused on digital marketing but it offers much more than that. You can, for example, find lots of information about private labeling manufacturers under the e-commerce topic or the ‘Beginner’s Area’. You may also be able to find some leads on private label suppliers in the ‘Marketplaces’ section.
Most of the resources on the Warrior Forum are free and fully accessible to members. Only a few sections of the platform like ebooks and coaching sessions require paid access.
Reddit is a general online forum where members discuss everything from hobbies to business tips.
The trick to finding what you need on Reddit is to run a search using keywords related to your private labeling sourcing requirements. When the results come up, you can sort them based on relevance for better precision.
As with all other forums, you will have much better access to content on the platform if you sign up to become a Reddit member.
Look Through Online E-commerce Platforms
E-commerce platforms list millions of products but more importantly, they are a gateway to millions of suppliers. However, each e-commerce platform has a different layout, so let’s look into a few of them and how you can use them to find suppliers.
- Alibaba or AliExpress
Alibaba is particularly ideal for finding suppliers because it is a wholesale website. Manufacturers on Alibaba are also well-acquainted with handling custom orders and offer favorable terms for wholesale purchases.
However, both Alibaba and AliExpress are optimized to connect buyers and manufacturers. You only need to:
- Access the AliExpress or Alibaba website.
- On the search bar set your filter preference as ‘suppliers’ or ‘Manufacturers’
- Enter the name of the product you would like to private label in the search bar.
- Click on the search button.
This process will bring up search results of product manufacturers instead of only listing products. You can then evaluate the results to shortlist private label manufacturers.
- Amazon or Etsy
Amazon offers a wide range of products in almost every category while Etsy specializes in original, arts, crafts, vintage, and handmade products.
Finding suppliers on both of these platforms works as follows:
- Search the product you would like to private label in the search bar at the top of the page.
Tip: consider adding the word ‘custom’ to your keywords. For example, ‘custom earrings’. This is more likely to bring up search results of products from manufacturers that can customize products instead of just sellers.
- Skim through the search results and identify products that resemble what you want.
- Click on the product and find the manufacturer’s name.
- You will be redirected to the manufacturer’s page where you can explore options on how to contact them.
Visit Websites With Manufacturer Listings
There are specific websites that list manufacturers based on their specialties and location. They include:
- ThomasNet
This is a super easy platform to use. You only need to run a search for the kind of manufacturers you need and the website will provide you with relevant results. It also offers a short bio of each company and has filters that you can use to fine-tune your results.
Access to search results and supplier information is free.
- Maker’s Row
Maker’s Row is a bountiful resource if you are looking for American manufacturers. A simple search will provide you with a detailed profile of factories that can fulfill your production needs as well as ratings and stats on the projects that they have worked on.
Search results are only accessible to members. Membership comes with an annual fee based on the membership package that you prefer.
- MFG
MFG is an online marketplace that connects buyers with suppliers and manufacturers of parts and machinery used in processing plastic, rubber, and metal.
Buyers can sign up for free and create a request for a quote. You will receive quotes based on your request from different manufacturers. Filters on the website allow you to cut down your results based on manufacturer certifications, production processes, and other factors.
Google allows you to look up any type of private label manufacturer. Be sure to use relevant and specific keywords to keep your search results concise.
- Other Supplier Directories
Supplier directories like Jungle Scout have vast databases of private label manufacturers and are quite user-friendly. The suppliers are also vetted before listing. The only catch is that you will have to pay to access the supplier listings.
Visit Wholesale Buyers’ Markets and Trade Shows
The upside to this approach is that it gives you a one-on-one audience with lots of different manufacturers. You can also evaluate their samples, pitch ideas to them, and negotiate costs.
Wholesale buyers’ markets are common with local manufacturers and may not require lots of planning. You simply need to find out when they will be held. Trade shows, on the other hand, can be local or international. International ones present a wider variety of suppliers but be sure to:
- Find out the dates for such trade shows early enough.
- Make travel and accommodation arrangements.
- Set aside enough financial resources.
How to Contact a Private Label Supplier or Manufacturer
If you are contacting a private label manufacturer on an e-commerce platform like Alibaba or AliExpress, it is crucial that you use the provided messaging channels like AliExpress Messaging. If you break this rule, you may not be able to seek assistance from the platform in the event that you get scammed.
Other websites like Etsy, ThomasNet, or MFG provide contact details and allow you to reach out to suppliers that way. It is entirely up to you to choose what contact channel would be ideal for you.
Lastly, it is important to:
- Always do your due diligence before contacting suppliers. It will save you lots of time and might save you from scammers.
- Send concise messages to make it easy for manufacturers to respond with the exact information you require.
- Be specific when outlining product details. ‘Custom women’s running shoes’, for example, is a better description than just ‘custom shoes’.
- Keep a record of all correspondence with manufacturers. Follow up voice or in-person communications with written reminders.
Conclusion
As promised, most of the private label sourcing options in this guide only require time and effort. They also allow you to remain in full control of the sourcing process and work within your budget.
Still, if vetting multiple private label manufacturers sounds exhausting, you can always delegate it to professional sourcing companies like Bestfulfill. We understand private label services, are well-experienced in evaluating suppliers, and can negotiate the best rates on your behalf.
Moreover, partnering with us only takes a few clicks. Simply send us your private labeling sourcing details and request a free quote.
Pingback: Top 5 High-Quality Streetwear Dropshipping Suppliers to Boost Customer Satisfaction - Bestfulfill -Professional Dropshipping Sourcing and Fulfillment Agent