Launching a Private Label CBD Product

Given how competitive the CBD industry has become in recent years, it’s easy for entrepreneurs to feel as though they’ve missed the boat. However, in spite of the market’s saturation, there’s still plenty of opportunity for new brands to get in on the action. Time is certainly of the essence, but with a little research, persistence and creativity, you’ve got a fair shot at cashing in on the expanding cannabinoid boom.

The first thing to understand if you’re considering launching your own CBD product line is that the industry is no longer a Wild West of retail. Gone are the days when companies could get CBD products on the shelves with little or no laboratory testing. Due to increasingly stringent FDA regulations, you have to be extremely vigilant in the production, labeling and marketing of your CBD; otherwise you could wind up on the wrong end of a class action lawsuit.

The next thing to understand is that, unless you have really deep pockets and significant botanical expertise, you’re probably not going to be manufacturing your own CBD. Few individuals have the means to set up their own private production facility and laboratory. For the vast majority of cannabinoid start-ups, the best option is to sell private label CBD products, also known as white label CBD products.

What is a private label CBD product?

If you start a private label CBD brand, you’ll be getting your products from a supplier rather than manufacturing them yourself. Taking this route enables you to access a sophisticated independent lab without paying through the nose. Suppliers have all the necessary knowledge, experience and equipment to develop first-rate products that are both natural and safe—the top two qualities consumers have in mind when shopping for CBD.

Using a CBD supplier doesn’t mean surrendering control over your product. On the contrary, a good supplier will manufacture the product with your input and specifications in mind. In addition to saving you money, this also saves you time, allowing you to concentrate more of your energy on marketing your CBD so that it stands out from the competition.

These days there’s no shortage of private label CBD suppliers to choose from. Cope Online is an example of a trusted and reliable company. Of course, not all suppliers are created equal and you need to exercise care when choosing one to develop your company’s product line.

Finding a supplier

The first point to consider is transparency. A good supplier won’t keep anything a secret from you; that includes detailed information on their production facilities, harvesting and manufacturing processes, and testing procedures. If a supplier is reluctant to provide these particulars, or if they aren’t readily available to address your questions and concerns, you should look elsewhere.

Don’t settle for a supplier that manufactures a limited assortment of products. You want your supplier to be versatile and have the capacity to develop an array of products for you to experiment with. Additionally, they should have the flexibility to tailor products specifically for your brand.

Moreover, a good supplier will be able to tell you exactly why they deserve to be entrusted with the work of developing your product. What sets them apart from their competitors? How successful are their other clients? These are critical questions to which the right supplier will have the answers.

Building your brand and complying with requirements

Once you decide on a supplier, the next step is designing your brand in a way that appeals to consumers. This is easier said than done, of course, particularly when you’re dealing with a market crowded with high-quality products as the CBD market currently is. Success here depends on creativity and originality, plus an ability to maximize the potential benefits of social media and SEO. That’s for you to figure out.

As we alluded to above, CBD products are strictly regulated by the FDA. You are required, for example, to include certain information on all of your product labels. It’s crucial that you understand and comply fully with these requirements, as the FDA has demonstrated that it has no qualms about imposing harsh penalties “non-compliant” brands. The last thing you want is for your private label CBD company to go under before it even gets off the ground.

For information on how to label your CBD products, please contact Century Label today for all your custom printed CBD labeling and packaging needs.

Article written for Century Label by Eric Van Buskirk

Why Private Labeling is a Great Investment in Your Products

Private labeling offers your company an opportunity to outperform your competitors, increase sales revenue, and offer your customers lower prices on the products they purchase every day. “Private labeling”, however, is a somewhat misleading term.

Private labels are also known as “generic” labels that act as lower-cost alternatives to popular brand names. Retailers that develop private labels generally offer their own products alongside their brand-name counterparts at lower prices. For example, Great Value is the Walmart private label, and Kirkland Signature is the Costco private label.

Private Labeling Increases Profits

One of the biggest benefits to investing in private labels is increased profit margins. Building a personality around your brand can increase your dedicated customer base. Once you show your customers that your private label products offer lower-cost alternatives to brand-name products, this will encourage loyalty to your private brand and drive your sales numbers.

Modern consumers have a dizzying level of choice when it comes to purchasing some of the most commonly sought products at major retailers; you can leverage the power of your private label to attract more people to your private label instead of overpriced brand name products.

Private Labels Can Cut Your Overhead

When you purchase brand name goods, you need to sell them at an acceptable markup that balances profit margins with marketability. Some of the products that you should focus your attention on include those that generally sell themselves without much advertisement, such as basic household items, over-the-counter medicines, food products, and cleaning supplies.

Some of the brand-name versions of such products may sell at five or six times the manufacturing cost. Your private label alternatives have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to setting attractive prices, and you will likely wind up with larger orders for your private label items than brand-name products.

Your Private Label Can Build Authority Behind Your Brand

Having your own private label instantly builds credibility with your customers. They will notice that you have your own line of attractively priced products with a unique private label and brand message. This inherently builds your authority as a manufacturer and as a retailer. Invest in a private labeling partner that can help you devise a strong brand image through your private label.

A labeling partner with experience designing and producing custom product labels and other brand imagery for a variety of clients is ideal – just be sure the labeling vendor has the experience necessary to make your private label vision a reality at an acceptable cost.

If you’re interested in the potential a private label could offer your company, we can help. With more than 40 years of experience in the custom label printing industry, our team has the skills and experience to help you craft a brand image and a private label to drive sales and lower your overhead. A private label can provide you with long-term flexibility and dependable sales figures, outshining more expensive brand name products.

Contact Century Label today to find out more about our private labeling services and how we can help you achieve your vision for a successful private label.

Generic Brands, Premium Label Upgrades

When most people think of the term “generic,” other, less-pleasant terms come to mind. “Off-brand,” “second-tier,” and “cheap” are hardly the words most retailers want potential consumers to use when they think of store brand products. Still, these terms have long been used to describe generic products across many sectors of retail, from food and beverage to personal hygiene, and more.

Some Generic History

Historically, in every industry except perhaps pharmaceuticals, generics have been viewed as products that are similar to the national brand, just a little bit less. Only in times of economic downturn have consumers turned to generics en masse, then to abandon them again for national brands once times were better. However, today’s retailers are broadening the selection offered by their in-house brand labels and experiencing unprecedented growth in the process.

Today’s generics are no longer so generic; now promoted as “private label,” these products are no longer recognizable as a store brand. Grocery retailers in particular have found success with creating an in-house brand with premium ingredients and a premium feel – and sharing that label among a variety of products. It follows, then, that if these products are seen as “not your father’s store brand,” neither is their packaging.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to Choose the Right Private Label Manufacturing Partner

Premium Products with Premium Labels

Gone are the days of generic, inexpensive-looking packaging; today’s private label brands are giving consumers a reason to make the trip to their respective retailers. With good reason – one in every four products purchased within the US is now a private label product, so competition for the share of inexpensive, quality market share is fierce.

Recent trends in private label packaging include several premium upgrades, such as:

• Elegant simplicity. While generics have traditionally relied on simplicity in packaging, modern private label brands do it much better. Simple elegant designs provide a direct contrast to the stark, cheap-looking labels of the past.

• Category-specific. Retailers are giving products within the same category a unique, cohesive labeling scheme that serves to unite the category while introducing a more premium feel. In this way, private brands feel specific to the category, lending an air of expertise and quality.

• Artsy vibes. Packaging as art is a trend that has infiltrated a number of different brand types, but, in 2019, it is providing private label brands with a fun, premium-looking aesthetic. Private label products with these artsy labels now have the personality needed to attract a consumer searching for a new brand.

Upgrade Your In-House Brand

While it’s true every brand can benefit from employing beautiful, trendy, modern labeling, private label brands need to pay extra attention to packaging to stand out among the sea of national and competing house brands.

Ready to explore the variety of custom labeling options available to upgrade your in-house brand? Call us at 800.537.9429 or request a quote today!

4 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Label and Packaging Partner

The nature of a product’s packaging will make a first impression—and it is important to make it a good one. The relationship between brand owner and packaging partner can have an effect on customers. If a design is not sized properly or packaging is not received in a timely fashion, customer relations could suffer.

Not all label and packaging companies will be a good fit for every brand. Here are a few important questions to ask when finding a partner for labeling and packaging:

What Industries Do You Specialize In?

Some labeling companies cater to a specific niche. One of the first things to determine is if a potential partner has the capability to produce a particular packaging or label.

What Are Your Printing Processes Like?

A good specialty printing company should have modern printing equipment that is continuously updated to reflect shifts in technology. Ideally, a printing company will have the capability to handle a wide variety of projects. Century Label, for example, has 40 years of custom label printing experience and serves brands both large and small with its award-winning digital and HD Flexo printing technology.

What Type of Color Do You Use?

Not all color technology is the same, and older processes can lead to color that bleeds or does not translate well from schematic to actual printing. Century Label is capable of producing vivid colors in the exact shade of the brand owner’s vision, thanks to a state of the art color management system.

Can You Share Samples of Your Previous Work?

In the printing business, flexibility and reliability are essential. Companies should ask for references and scan the website for testimonials to ensure that the labels will arrive on time and within budget. It’s also important to make sure that labels will match the brand’s artistic style, vision, and standards for quality. Looking through samples of a company’s previous work can help make more informed decisions. Check out some examples of Century Label’s past work.

RELATED ARTICLE: A Few of Our Favorite Labels

The right packaging and labeling company for your brand will feature flexible and reliable service and the ability to bring your vision to life using the latest color and printing technology. Century Label has been producing labels and packaging for a variety of industries for four decades. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact us.

5 Tips for Retailers Starting a Private Label Product Line

Retail companies introducing their own lines of private label products often face an uphill battle: they are dependent on other manufacturers for their products, and they must establish their private line against major brands.

While “generic” brands once gave off the impression of low quality, this is no longer the case. Private label brands are giving major brands a run for their money on store shelves, but this is only possible if they're positioned correctly. Here are five success tips for retailers that want to start a private label product line.

1. Fill a Unique Need in the Market

Private labels perform best when they bring something different and unique to the market. In other words, retailers should take a close look at the major national brands in the same category and see if there is a need in that space that remains unfulfilled. If there is, this could be a ticket to success.

Some examples are private label foods that have branched into the organic and gluten-free niches. While price is still a differentiator, it's essential to find something unique that will appeal to consumers.

2. Support or Align with a Master Brand

While a product should file a unique need in the market, there's no reason that retailers shouldn't be able to take advantage of strategic partnerships and alliances. Take a look at what Target accomplishes with private label designer brands like Michael Graves, Isaac Mizrahi, and now Vineyard Vines—these brands are consistent with Target's promise of affordability and quality while offering something exclusive to the store's shoppers.

While it may not be easy to get a brand into a store like Target (maybe you can), it doesn't hurt to think along these lines. Is there a retailer in the area that can be approached with a private label and message?

3. Offer High Quality at a Lower Price

In the past, there has been the perception that private labels were of lower quality than national brands. In other words, private label diapers would be less absorbent, and tissues less soft than a national brand.

Fortunately, many of these quality gaps have either narrowed or no longer exist. One of the goals should be to provide the highest quality product possible that will also beat out brand names in a price comparison.

4. Spending Time on Branding

No matter what approach is chosen, it's vital that a good deal of time is spent defining and then positioning a brand. A unique logo and catchy name aren't going to be enough to sustain a business long-term.

It’s important to develop a story that appeals to the target audience and creates effective campaigns to get the message across. Getting a brand in front of its target market is an ongoing process.

5. Using Labeling That Makes an Impression

The look and feel of a product is not something to be left to chance. Partnering with a company that specializes in branding, packaging, and custom labels is critical.

Brand owners only have one chance to make a powerful first impression. How a product is packaged and labeled can make or break a business, particularly in the beginning.

The partnership formed with a custom label provider will play a significant role in the success or failure of the private label product. Even though many will claim to be the best and promise to deliver what is needed, it will come down to due diligence to make the right choice.

Taking special care with labeling choices is key. Retailers should ensure that they are being truthful on the label and complying with all applicable regulations. Beyond this, custom labels should be unique, impactful and memorable so that they stand out from the crowd.

Private labeling is one of the hottest trends in retail, but it's not something that should be approached without a plan. Creating a new product that is exclusive can be profitable, and a business stands the best chance of success by taking a deliberate approach to this process and paying particular attention to branding and labeling.

If your company would like to learn more about the benefits of private labeling, the team at Century Label is happy to help. Contact us now to set up a free quote or answers to any of your questions about private labeling.

How to Choose the Right Private Label Manufacturing Partner

Going the private label route for food and beverage items is an excellent way to increase margins and expand reach. According to Nielsen and the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), sales of these products hit $128.6 billion last year, a 4.4% increase over the prior year and a 22.3% increase in unit share.

Choosing a private label manufacturer to create and sell these products with can be difficult. There are plenty of choices, and care must be taken to select the right partner to work with to guarantee mutual success.

Vetting different manufacturers for a private label product can be a tedious and difficult process, but here are some items to keep in mind:

Create a Unique Product

The first step should be to create a unique product. It would be a mistake to send something to market that isn't going to fill a need or create a positive customer experience.

A significant amount of time should be spent on market and product research on the front end so that adjustments don’t need to be made later. Even so, finding a manufacturer that is amenable when changes to the product are needed is key.

Consider Protecting The Design

If the design is truly unique, some steps should be taken to protect it before a private label product launch. This might involve securing a patent.

Something else that can be done to protect a brand is to set clear policies and procedures that define the right priorities. Once manufacturers have these in hand, there won't be excuses for falling short.

Ensure Quality and Timely Delivery

There is a common misconception that private labeling translates to lower quality. This doesn't have to be the case, and companies can help smash these mistaken beliefs by choosing a manufacturer that is going to deliver a quality product and promise timely delivery.

Some of the questions that should be asked of any prospective manufacturer include:

• What is your average delivery time? 

• Are there any hidden charges? 

• How do you ensure ingredient and final product quality? 

• Does your company offer product storage? 

• What is your minimum order quantity? 

• Can you produce a custom formula? 

• Is someone available for support?

Who to contact to ask these questions depends on the brand owner’s goals. For a domestic manufacturer, directories like MFG, ThomasNet, and Makers Row are an excellent place to start. For overseas manufacturing, check out sites like AliExpress, Alibaba, and IndiaMart.

Secure Graphic Design and Custom Label Services

The look and feel of a product is not something to be left to chance. Partnering with a company that specializes in branding, packaging, and custom labels is critical.

The partnership formed with a custom label provider will play a significant role in the success or failure of the private label product. Even though many will claim to be the best and promise to deliver what is needed, it will come down to due diligence to make the right choice.

If your company would like to learn more about the benefits of private labeling, the team at Century Label is happy to help. Contact us now to set up a free quote or answers to any of your questions about private labeling.

4 Benefits of Private Labeling for Your Brand

Private labeling occurs in many different industries, from cosmetics and household cleaners to foods. As a product manufacturer, private labeling could be an excellent opportunity for increased profits, decreased competition, and many other advantages.

Commonly referred to as “generic”, they are anything but: private labels compete with brand-name products and are typically sold at lower prices. Private labeling is a common form of merchandising that can generate positive returns on investment for store owners and manufacturers.

What Are Private Labels?

Private labels—or store labels—are exclusive labels that a particular store owns. They are the packaging and brand names specific to a particular store. Examples include Walmart’s “Great Value” Costco’s “Kirkland” brand, and “Private Selection”, available from Kroger.

Manufacturers of goods can sell their items for private labeling in addition to creating their own brands. Kraft, for example, manufactures its products for sale under the Planters Peanuts brand name as well as under private label names. This carries the benefit of marketing a product to larger retailers to sell the product in the retailer’s brand packaging, expanding reach and sales potential.

By selling to private labels, a manufacturer can eliminate the cumbersome branding process that requires creation, testing, implementation, and distribution. When you have a business to run, these actions can be time consuming and costly. Selling to a private label can bypass much of the branding process to save time and money. For companies that choose to produce their products under both their own brand and that of a private label, Century Label can handle the packaging needs for both.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Importance of Packaging: Why it’s Necessary to Take Branding Seriously

Higher Profit Margins

Brand personality is incredibly important for building a customer base, creating product designs, and establishing marketing campaigns. If you run a business, however, you know how expensive and time-consuming branding can be. Private label products use the retailer’s private label brand. It is up to the end retailer to design the manufacturing, packaging, and marketing – not up to you as the creator of the good, eliminating added costs. You only pay the product cost without a premium for brand name or expensive marketing campaigns.

Lower Operating Costs

Private label products have to sell themselves; they are typically items that do not necessarily need advertising campaigns to fly off the shelves. Products chosen should regularly sell at five or six times the manufacturing price. This will leave the manufacturer room to provide the price discounts required of private-label goods. Therefore, most items chosen are cheaper to manufacture and produce in high volume. Since most private label products end up receiving large orders from major retailers, manufacturers yield the benefit of creating and shipping all products to a single customer. Both factors result in reduced operating costs.

Better Brand Loyalty

In the past, consumers largely saw brand-name goods as superior to private labels. Today, however, store brand or private label goods have made a name for themselves in the world of high-quality goods. Private label products have attained higher quality levels and consistency, thanks to better product innovations and improved manufacturing processes. They have transformed into “premium” private label goods. A better reputation surrounding private label products has led to better brand loyalty, with consumers staying loyal to one store because they know that is the only place they can find the private label item.

Greater Market Stability

Today’s consumers choose private label products for quality, consistency, and affordability. Even in economic downturns, private label goods enjoy steady sales thanks to lower price points. The overall stability and inelasticity of the market can benefit manufacturers, as there is less of a chance of retailers freezing their orders during tough times. In fact, most retailers will increase their order quantities during economic downfalls because private label goods become more popular when times are tough.

Private Label Printing

If you would like to enjoy the myriad benefits of private labeling at your manufacturing company, contact Century Label to receive a free quote. We can provide high-quality labels and packaging for a manufacturer’s own brand as well as private labels.