Private label means a factory makes a product that already exists, and it ships with your brand on it instead of theirs. You are not inventing a product, so there is no tooling bill and far less risk than custom development.
The five steps
- Pick a proven product. Start from something the factory already makes well, like a rolling grill basket or a set of flat skewers.
- Decide how far the branding goes. A logo laser etched on the handle, a branded hang tag, a printed sleeve, or a full colour retail box.
- Get a written spec and a quote. Material grade, dimensions, wire or plate thickness, packaging, minimum order and lead time, all in writing.
- Approve a physical sample. You hold the product, check the welds, the finish and the packaging, and sign off artwork.
- Pay a deposit, production runs, it is checked before shipping, and it is freighted to you.
Where buyers get caught out
- Comparing unit prices that are not like for like. A 430 steel basket in a poly bag is a different product from a 304 basket in a printed box.
- Forgetting packaging minimums. Printed boxes often have their own minimum, separate from the product.
- Quoting ex works and forgetting freight, duty and tax. Always ask for a landed estimate.
- Skipping the sample. It is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy.
What to send with an enquiry
- The product (a link or reference is fine) and the quantity range you are thinking about.
- How you want it branded, and what packaging you sell in today.
- Where it ships to, and when you need it on the shelf.
That is enough to get a real answer on minimums, sample timing and a ballpark landed cost.