How To Get the Most Out of Your Inquiry
Tips for Start-ups
What can I prepare before sending an enquiry?
- RHave you written a business plan?
- RHave you defined your target market?
- RDo you have a USP which differentiates you from the competition?
- RWhat volumes constitute a viable business for you?
- RDo you have the financial backing in place to support growth?
- RMinimum Order Quantities (MOQs) are key because they determine the initial cost of the services provided or the unit price per item, to get the project into production. In addition the packaging materials, ingredients or components will all have MOQs.
- RFor manufacturing/filling projects there will be set-up and clean-down charges. These will apply whether there are 100 or a million units, so that cost needs to be factored in.
- RFor some products, laboratory or stability testing may have to be conducted, so these will need to be accounted for too.
- RFor food projects, ascertaining shelf life is critical. You don’t want to commit to an MOQ of say 5000 units, to find that they haven’t been sold by the sell-by date. Be aware that organic recipes may have a shorter shelf life (preservatives are there for a reason).
- RIt is important to appreciate that new product development and trial runs may be expensive and that they form part of your investment programme in the business. Bear in mind that volumes need to be sufficient to make it worthwhile for the contractor.
- RPart of the value of using an outsourcing partner is that they will have experience of the quality issues surrounding a type of product. Sometimes aesthetics will be important, for example using the best packaging format and labelling to create a desire for customers to buy your product. In other cases such as food or personal care, there may be specific regulations that need to be complied with in the manufacture, performance or labelling of the product.
- RWhere applicable, it is advisable to use a contractor who holds the necessary Certifications for your product.
Ready to send your enquiry?
If you have ticked al boxes you’re ready for your enquiry to go out to all relevant members. Just push the button:
Collaboration with USA’s CPA
CPA, The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers, is the national, not-for-profit trade organization for the contract packaging and manufacturing industry in the United States of America.
CPA was formed in July 1992 for contract packaging firms and those businesses related to them in order to promote the growth and welfare of member firms. Members are comprised of the nation’s leading contract packagers and manufacturers, as well as suppliers to the industry, performing all packaging functions: from the glamorous to the hazardous and the simplest to the most complex. CPA members offer their services to an extremely wide variety of consumer goods companies and brand owners.
To learn more, visit www.contractpackaging.org.
