8 Steps to Starting Your Own Private Label Brand
When most people think of their favorite brands, it evokes a strong emotional connection. From brands like Coca-Cola to Nike, many products have an incredible level of loyalty among consumers. But you don’t have to be a huge company or spend thousands formulating your own products to have the same impact on your customers. With private label products, all you need is a strong understanding of your target audience and a brand that directly appeals to their needs and wants.
So if you’re considering starting your own private label brand, keep reading for eight steps you need to take.
1. Get to Know Your Target Audience
Before starting anything else, you need to develop a deep understanding of who your customers are. This research will allow you to gain valuable insights into how you should brand your product.
Spend some time researching your potential customers and find out the following:
• What do they want and need from your product?
• What interests them?
• Where do they spend their time online?
• What other products do they currently use?
• What key terms do they use to search for them?
You may also want to conduct customer surveys and interviews and analyze industry forums and websites.
2. Develop Your Brand Identity
Once you’ve gotten to know your target audience, it’s time to start developing your brand. Your visual identity is essential for helping customers recognize and recall your name.
Think about the colors, shapes, typography, and imagery you want to use for your brand. What message do you want customers to take away when they see your product? How will you bring them value, and why should they buy your product?
If you’re unsure where to start, a branding and design agency can help you get your message across.
3. Conduct Product Research
Since private labeling involves using existing products, you’ll need to do your due diligence to ensure you’re using reliable suppliers. You should also guarantee that they can apply your branding to the product and check that they meet safety standards.
Check out the manufacturer’s website, read customer reviews, and see what other people say about their experience. Also, contact a representative from the supplier and ask questions about things like production time and delivery.
Since you will be putting your name on the product, check for quality control. For your customers to trust you, you have to prove that you’re providing them with something reliable and not ripping them off. This is crucial for brand positioning, and without it, your product will get lost in a sea of competition.
4. Establish a Budget
Branding your product requires an investment. So before you place your first order, decide how much you are willing to spend and create a budget. Remember that the cost of branding isn’t just about the products themselves.
It can also include the cost of the following and more:
• Shipping
• Packaging
• Marketing
• Website design
• Advertising
With a clear budget, you’ll be able to manage your costs better, so you have enough money to invest in your new venture.
5. Order Your Products and Packaging
Once your design and budget are ready, it’s time to place your order. Consider how many units you need, as well as how you can save money on production and shipping. Typically, larger wholesale orders receive better discounts, but that doesn’t mean you should order more than needed. If it’s not selling well, you may need to make changes to your branding or the product itself.
When it comes to packaging, don’t skimp on quality. The packaging of your product is just as important and should match the look and feel of your brand. It’s also a great opportunity to further connect with your audience and continue promoting yourself.
Consider what type of packaging you want to use based on the information you have about your target audience. For example, if your customer base is eco-conscious or prefers sustainable materials, you may want to use recycled materials for your packaging.
6. Take High-Quality Photos of Your Product
The quality of your images will have a massive impact on the perception of your product. Customers will want to see high-quality photographs that accurately depict what they’re buying. Show the product from different angles to give customers a better idea of how the product looks and works.
These images should match the feel of your brand and your visual identity. For example, if you have a playful brand, use colors and props to bring out your product’s fun side. Or, if your brand is more sophisticated, stick to a more minimalistic look.
Creating professional images of your product will help you better convey your brand message and make a lasting impression.
7. Start Selling Your Products
Now that you have all the pieces in place, it’s time to start selling your product. Based on the information you’ve gathered about your target audience, you should have a good idea of which channels you need to use. Amazon and eBay are popular options for online sales, but if your product caters to a specific audience, you may need to look into other options, like creating your own website.
Eventually, you may want to expand into other sales channels, such as local stores or trade shows. However, this can be a costly endeavor without a solid online presence or a steady stream of customers.
8. Promote Your Brand
Once you have your product ready to go, it’s time to start promoting it. Using the same channels you used for market research, create targeted campaigns to reach your potential customers.
Some places you can promote your product include:
• Social media
• Google Ads
• Blogs and forums
• Influencers
The way you market yourself needs to match the identity of your brand. If your marketing materials don’t reflect the values or aesthetics of your brand, then you won’t be able to create a strong connection with potential customers.
Final Thoughts
