Finding the right manufacturer for a supplement company

[Fpm9]

Hey everyone,

I am working on designing a health supplement product. I am currently using a milligram scale and raw ingredients to find the right formula, hopefully I will have it by the end of September ( as well as enough feedback from my friends ). Maybe I'll also try to get emails from customers, to get a feedback from the market. Then I'll need to find a manufacturer, and I haven't done much research yet.

I don't know what my priorities should be, even though I found some very useful threads on the forums ( especially some progress threads that are great motivation ). Here's what I have thought of :

- Can do custom supplements ( Can't do private labeling for this type of supplement )
- Low minimum order ( I can't afford 50.000 units ).
- Responsive to emails
- Ask them if they provide insurance ?

Do you see anything else I should be aware of ? Also if you know some manufacturers in Europe that would be awesome.

Thanks a lot!

 

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[OldFaithful]

I'll admit that I don't know a thing about the supplement business, but I can do a search. No one else has responded with anything useful so I'll just refer you to the following prior work. Best wishes.
Progress Thread - Eskil's Progress Thread: Starting a Supplement Business from Scratch

Recommendations? Private Label Supplements?
Supplements Business? YES OR NO?
Supplement Entrepreneurs: Exercise Caution
Progress Thread - Axiom's Supplement Company
Digital/Web - Creating your own fitness supplement or beauty products

 

[Fpm9]

Amazing, thank you for your help!

When I was saying that some progress thread were great motivation I was thinking of Eskil's thread, as well as Sanctus Nutrition.

I haven't found some of the threads you suggested, looks like I have some reading for tonight!

 

[Puppy]

maybe try to get a focus group of your market? a group of people who would be willing to test the product before you go to market with it. not your friends, too much bias there to be a good indicator of your market. but maybe reach out on social media or in a supplement focused forum for volunteers for a beta test of your formula. make a study out of it. then you have built in testimonials, feedback, and can maybe use the proven results of your study to add value to your sale page/pitch.

 

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[Fpm9]

maybe try to get a focus group of your market? a group of people who would be willing to test the product before you go to market with it. not your friends, too much bias there to be a good indicator of your market. but maybe reach out on social media or in a supplement focused forum for volunteers for a beta test of your formula. make a study out of it. then you have built in testimonials, feedback, and can maybe use the proven results of your study to add value to your sale page/pitch.

I was thinking about testimonials recently.. but I'm not sure how I can get strangers to test my product. I can't see my self telling people "here, take those pills I made in my basement and let me know if you like the effects". Maybe friends of friends ? I'm always paranoid of that one guy who will pretend something is wrong with my product and will sue me.

To get feedback I was thinking of using a landing page and asking for emails in exchange of a free pdf about something related to my target audience ( or maybe a discount code once my product is released )