How to Develop a Product

Brief

This step usually starts with an enquiry, you get in touch about your new idea. Tell us about the product you would like to create - share as many of your plans and ideas as possible, fill in a brief form. Then we will be in touch to talk about your product, review your brief and make sure we understand what you are looking for. We can do this in person, or online if you prefer.  

‍

Formulate

We take your brief and turn it into a sample. This involves our expert lab team doing some research into the product, reviewing formulas, and sourcing new ingredients to match the actives, effect, and texture you are looking for. This can take anywhere from 3-6 weeks (usually around 4) depending on how complicated the product is and how unique the ingredients required are.

Once we make the sample, you can take it away and try it and let us know what you think. We take your feedback on board and begin making tweaks. These steps are repeated until you are happy with the formula. Then we provide you with a quote for the product and the final ingredient list. During this stage, we recommend you start looking for the packaging you would like to put the product in, that way we can check the packaging is suitable for your formulation, quote more accurately, and we can progress to the next step right away. We love to be involved when you select your packaging options, so we can see the packaging and make sure our equipment can fill it. Our team have been doing this a long time, so we can also give advice to avoid common packaging issues further down the line.

‍

Test

Once the formula is finalised, the stability test phase begins. We also recommend that you get a few samples of the final packaging so that we can also run compatibility testing alongside. This is to ensure that the formula and the material that the packaging is made of don’t react to each other. This would also be the stage where you get any additional testing that you may require, if you are planning on selling internationally, some markets require additional tests. We can recommend labs for these tests and make samples as needed.

Once the testing is completed, we can provide you with the final details needed for your labels. Then you can finalise your label or printing design and order your packaging if you haven’t already done so. This is also when you place your purchase order with us.

‍

Make

Once we receive your order, and know the timeline for the final packaging, we begin ordering all the ingredients we need for your product. Once all your final packaging is received, and all the ingredients are here, our excellent compounders begin measuring out the batch and mixing it up to create a bulk mix on a commercial scale. A micro test is then performed on the bulk, to make sure it is good for filling. After the first micro test comes back, your packaging is filled. Then another micro test is done on the finished products. When that test comes back, we release the goods to you, ready for you to launch to your customers.

The timeline for this process varies widely depending on the complexity of the product, the ingredients used and the packaging. For example, off the shelf packaging that is kept in stock by a supplier may be available in just 2 weeks, but custom printed packaging can take 12 to 24 weeks if coming by sea. We usually say the whole process from start to finish can take anywhere from 6 – 12 months.

Get in touch with us today to tell us about your idea and begin the process of turning it into a reality – Let’s make something beautiful together!