How to Get Labs to Take You Seriously

HOHCosHOHCos Member
in Starting a cosmetic line
Hello! 

I am a new small company with an idea for a foundation line. I have reached out to multiple labs and no one is getting back to me. I list the kind of product I am interested in making as well as a bit of background information. I can't get anyone to email me or call me back. How do I get a lab to want to work with me? I can't even get past the initial inquiry. I have even reached out to other small indie brands for advice and they do not respond either. I am not sure what I am doing wrong here. 
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Comments

  • BelassiBelassi Member
    When you say a "foundation line" I assume you're talking colour cosmetics.
    To begin to be taken seriously you need a brand and an influencer personality. So, first, do you have a brand?

    Cosmetic Brand Creation. Concept to name to IMPI search to logo and brand registration. In-house graphic design inc. Pantone specs. Cosmetic label and box design & graphics.
  • MarkBroussardMarkBroussard Member, Professional Chemist
    @HOHCos:

    That's probably because you are contacting labs that do not work with color cosmetics.  If you google specifically for color cosmetics, then you will find some labs appropriate to your type of product.

    I personally do not work on color cosmetics and I advise so in my contact information, yet I still get numerous requests for color cosmetic products. 

    The reason you are not getting a response is that it's a diversion of time to reply to someone just to tell them that you don't work on color cosmetics.  Also, as Belassi noted, many of the color cosmetic requests are from and pardon my language "teenage girls with no money" 
    Chemist/Microbiologist formulating in the Organic & Naturals arena under ECOCert/Natural Products Assn/Whole Foods/National Organic Program guidelines focused skincare & haircare products. 

    Provides Formulation Development and Lab-Scale Contract Manufacturing Services.  See website for details www.desertinbloomcosmeticslab.com

  • GuntherGunther Member
    A custom domain name, with an existing website instead of Gmail would be a great start.
  • MicroformulationMicroformulation Member, Professional Chemist
    Everyone is spot on. It is a minority of Formulators who do Color Cosmetics and it is also a more fiscally demanding endeavor.

    Many clients will assume that a Color Line with the same base and different pigments are "the same Formulation" and that they will not require additional manufacturing costs. One product with 5 colors is not one manufacturing run. In most cases, it is 5 runs with minimums attached to each run.

    It is for this reason that many lines will at least initially start with Private Label. That will allow you to work on Sales/Marketing, Brand Management and all the other Business functions that will really make you succeed. Fortunately, it will also allow you to get a realistic Market exposure to Cosmetics. If you ask a Marketer, many novices are as naive with the emotional aspects of the Cosmetic Market. This will give real-life data and actual exposure. 

    However, as mentioned, if you search any number of directories or peruse the advertisements in HAPPI, you will find someone who provides the service. Remember, it is a specialty, so they will charge accordingly.
    markfuller@microformulation.com Microformulation.com Microformulation Cosmetic Consulting provides Custom Formulations for both large Commercial accounts as well as smaller entrepreneurs. We can provide Naturally compliant Formulations under the NSF, NPA, Whole Foods and USDA Organic Certifications. BS.Pharm Albany College of Pharmacy, Union University.
  • gld010gld010 Member
    edited February 11
    @HOHCos:

    The reason you are not getting a response is that it's a diversion of time to reply to someone just to tell them that you don't work on color cosmetics.  Also, as Belassi noted, many of the color cosmetic requests are from and pardon my language "teenage girls with no money" 
    I worked in color cosmetics for about a year and this is spot on. there were a lot of color development requests from people who essentially wanted a vanity line of cosmetics but had no idea what goes in to something like that (both monetarily and product development wise). not just teenagers who were clueless, but adults who liked the idea of "owning" a cosmetics line. they didn't like the idea of our private label services either, because the formula wasnt "special". I didn't realize how much potential products the account reps refused/turned away because of lack of money to follow up, lack of any following to sell to, lack of knowledge about what they even want.
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