You don’t have to invest in product development to start selling products online. In fact, there are many ecommerce business models that allow you to sell merchandise without ever even touching the products themselves. Private labeling is one such business model. With private labeling, you work with a third-party manufacturer to create your own custom branded products. Private labeling is great for people and brands that already have established audiences and want to find a way to start generating passive income online via product sales. In this guide, we'll cover what private labeling is, as well look at some of the best private label products to sell. We'll also look at some of the best private label brands as well as share our best strategies to succeed with the private label model. What you need to know about finding and selling private label products
What is private labeling?Private labeling is when a manufacturer creates products that are sold exclusively by a third party under a different brand name. Private labeling allows the retailer to outsource the production of goods to the manufacturer and sell high quality products at scale. The private label business continues to grow increasingly popular among those looking to start an ecommerce business. How does private labeling work?To begin private labeling, you must first determine what product or you want to work in. This will determine what private label goods you're going to sell. Some types of products will have higher margins, others will need more volume to generate profit at scale. Next, you'll locate a supplier they want to work with and see if they offer private labeling. There are many high quality private label manufactures to choose from. From there, you can order samples and determine if you would like to bring that product to market. Remember, as a business owner selling private label products you're looking for a product you can put your own brand name on and sell as if it’s your own. Clothing and cosmetics are common private label products, as are condiments sold in grocery stores. Total retail sales in the US for private label products hit $5.15 trillion in 2021 and are projected to hit $5.35 trillion in 2025, according to data from Statista. That’s no surprise, considering you see private label products in most major retail stores. Target has its Archer Farms private label, for example, Walmart has Great Value, and Costco has Kirkland. Virtually all national brands in the US and globally offer some private label products. Advantages of selling private label productsPrivate labeling has a number of advantages that span beyond simplifying the product development process. Some of those advantages include:
Disadvantages of private labelingWhile there are many benefits to private labeling, it doesn’t come without its challenges, including:
Free Webinar: How to quickly start a profitable print-on-demand store In our free 40-minute video workshop, we’ll get you from product idea to setting up an online store to getting your first print-on-demand sale. Register now How to start a private label businessWhen you sell private label products, you don’t have to worry about product development—or inventory investments in many cases. But before you begin, it’s important to consider a few things: 1. Find a niche market to sell productsFind a niche market, like pet products, to sell in. UnsplashThere are lots of white label products you can sell, spanning pretty much every industry. Some of the most popular private label products are:
To figure out specifically what to sell, explore different niche markets within those categories. When you sell to a niche market, you can use highly targeted marketing and advertising strategies to get your brand and products out there. 2. Contact the private label manufacturerDavid Hahn via Unsplash Once you know what you want to sell, look for manufacturers and suppliers who have those items. Some manufacturers, like Dripshippers, may specialize in a specific product category. Get your shortlist of manufacturers and contact them to see if they offer private labeling. If so, inquire about setting up an account. Since most manufacturers carry a variety of products, this strategy will allow you to quickly source products within the niche you’re exploring. Also be sure to ask if the manufacturer has a minimum order value, as you’ll need to navigate if you want to hold the stock or set up a prepay account with the manufacturer. Learn more: How to Find Reliable Manufacturers and Suppliers for Your Next Product, Like a Pro 3. Order samplesUnsplashIt’s important to test the product yourself before you make it available for purchase. While something may look great online, and even sound great once you’ve gotten in touch with the manufacturer, the reality may be completely different. Just as it may take a few orders to find the perfect fit for clothing, the same goes for when working private label manufacturers. You’ll definitely want to do your due diligence to ensure the quality of products is up to your standards and expectations. 4. Set up an online storeYou have your manufacturer and your products—now it’s time to set up your online store. With Shopify, you can choose from and customize free and paid ecommerce templates. Once you’ve set up your online store, you can browse the Shopify App Store to find the apps you need to manage your private label business, including any of the options listed above. With the available apps, you can sell across different channels like Amazon and eBay, run marketing campaigns, and more. Ready to create your private label business? Start your free trial of Shopify—no credit card required.Email addressStart free trial 5. Add your products to your storeThe process of adding a new product on the backend of a Shopify store. ShopifyWhen adding products to your store, you’ll want to do the following:
6. Launch and market your storeGeorgia de Lotz via UnsplashWhen you’re ready to reveal your store and private label products to the public, it’s not as simple as turning on a switch. You have to build awareness and drive traffic to your site if you expect to make any sales. For new stores, paid advertising on channels like Google, Facebook, and Instagram are a great way to get your name out there. Then you can supplement those efforts with email marketing, social media, content marketing, SEO, and customer loyalty programs. Best private label manufacturers for creating a custom-branded product lineWhile many private label manufacturers may seem similar, it’s important to vet them carefully to find the one that suits your online business, now and in the future. You have to consider what types of products you want to make and sell, where you want to sell and ship them, and how high you can price them. Below is a quick overview of some of the best private label manufacturing services and product sourcing apps for all kinds of goods. Most have a Shopify app you can use to connect directly to your online store. SupplyMeDirectSupplyMeDirect is a supplier that ships from the US, the EU, and China. Features include automated order processing, local shipping when available, and a responsive and helpful customer support team. Merchants who use the private label manufacturer’s app like that it syncs with their Shopify store, is easy to use, and even helps save time and money. Note that all payments are in USD, regardless of where you or your customers are located. AOP+ Easy Print on DemandFocusing on the EU, UK, and US, AOP+ Easy Print on Demand is a platform for selling on Shopify and Etsy, specializing in organic print-on-demand products and services. Like SupplyMeDirect, the AOP+ Shopify app syncs with your Shopify store and automates order processing and fulfillment. It’s easy to use, and you can create a new product in as little as 30 seconds. AOP+ executes all the printing itself, as opposed to using a third-party supplier, and it will even work with you to create your own custom private labeled products. It specializes in apparel and accessories, including things like t-shirts, flip-flops, totes, and wall plaques. Merchants also find their live customer support team to be extremely helpful and informative. Apliiq - Print On DemandLos Angeles–based Apliiq is another private label supplier and print-on-demand company that specializes in apparel items. It focuses on trendy products like woven labels, pocket tees, liner hoodies, and patch beanies. Like SupplyMeDirect and AOP+, Apliiq automates order processing and fulfillment, and it ships every order within a week. The Shopify app also sends tracking information directly to your customers, so they can see when their order will arrive. Modalyst - DropshippingModalyst is a dropshipping supplier that works with US-based providers and is also an AliExpress Partner. This means it has one of the more extensive product catalogs on this list—you can choose from more than a million products to dropship. As far as private labeling goes, it specializes in athleticwear. Subscribing to Modalyst’s Pro plan, which costs $90 per month and has a 5% transaction fee, gets you unlimited products, custom packaging and branding, and fast shipping—typically three to eight days for US orders and under 15 business days for international shipping. Like other manufacturer apps for private labels, Modalyst automates order processing and fulfillment. If you run into any issues or have questions, you can get in touch with live chat support seven days a week. AlibabaAlibaba Group is one of the largest ecommerce companies in the world (if not the largest)—its revenue hit more than $109 billion in 2021. Alibaba offers one of the most comprehensive directories, connecting suppliers and distributors with merchants everywhere. Though Alibaba doesn’t have a Shopify app and you can’t integrate the two, there are so many private label products available that it’s worth a mention. You can find just about any product you can think of on Alibaba’s massive directory. While Shopify apps automate a lot of the process, when you work with Alibaba you purchase a large quantity of private label products directly from the manufacturer. This lowers your inventory costs and results in higher profit margins, but also requires a larger upfront investment. You need to hit the manufacturer’s minimum order quantity (MOQ), or the fewest number of units they’ll sell you at once. Manufacturers will also work with you to create custom designs and logos. We’ve put together two guides to help you navigate Alibaba and its sister site, AliExpress:
DripshipperIf you’re looking specifically to private label and sell coffee online, look no further than the Dripshipper Shopify app. You can create and customize your own branded packaging, logo, pricing, and labels. Dripshipper is based in the US, but it ships worldwide. All shipments go out within five days of when orders are placed—and the coffee is always fresh. Whole beans ship the same day they’re roasted, while ground beans are sent the next day. Pricing starts at $30 per month, and higher-priced tiers come with added support, coaching, and training. The Elite plan, at $197 per month, also gets you access to Dripshipper’s in-house design team. ThomasnetThomasnet is a supplier directory for North America, with over 500,000 suppliers and six million products. To use Thomasnet to find private label products, type “private label manufacturing” or “contract manufacturing” into the search bar. You’ll land on a results page with many product options, including:
You’ll find information about each manufacturer, like its capabilities, certifications, and contact info, as well as an option to request a quote. Best private label products to sellWorking with a private label manufacturer gives you access to millions of items to sell, from generic products like shampoo and conditioner to trending products like cleaning supplies and beauty accessories. Here are some top categories of private label goods, with the amount of searches per month (MSV) the product receives on Google. Apparel and accessories
Skin care and cosmetics
Food
Hair Care
Supplements
Launch your private label brandStarting a private label brand takes the hassle out of product development, a big challenge for many entrepreneurs. You can start your own private label and work directly with manufacturers to create products your customers will want to buy—all with your unique branding and logo on it. Private labeling is a great way to get started selling your own products online. Illustration by Till Laurer Ready to create your first business? Start your free trial of Shopify—no credit card required.Email addressStart free trial Private labeling FAQHow much does private labeling cost?At minimum, it costs at least $1,000–$1,500 to start a private labeling business. Your biggest expenses will be associated with ordering samples and setting up the logistics of your business, including your website, payment processing, and order fulfillment. Learn more about working with manufacturers above. How do I price private label products?To price your private label products, consider manufacturer costs, shipping fees, and the expenses associated with selling your products (including website, marketing, and payment processing fees). Once you have a number, compare it to your competitors to see how you stack up. You can test to find out which price your customers are willing to pay while you still net a profit. Can you make money private labeling?Yes, you can make money online by private labeling. Follow the steps in this article to find out how to make money selling white label products. How do I start with private labeling?
Topics: Find an Idea Join 446,005 entrepreneurs who already have a head start.Get free online marketing tips and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Email addressSubscribe No charge. Unsubscribe anytime. Thanks for subscribing.You’ll start receiving free tips and resources soon. In the meantime, start building your store with a free 3-day trial of Shopify. How much is one can beans?Finally, to answer the part about the can: The most common can size for beans is about 15 ounces, which, once drained, contains approximately 1.5 cups or 9 ounces of beans (this holds across all bean types I tested).
How much is a 2 can of beans?Cans used to more commonly go buy numbered size. Commercial products sometimes still do, but most items you find in the grocery store list volume or weight measures. A #2 can holds 1 pound 4 ounces, or 2 ½ cups.
How many cans of beans is 1lb?For every pound of dried beans called for... ...you'll need 58 ounces of canned beans (3 or 4 cans, depending on size).
How much is in a #10 can of beans?This #10 can contains 102 ounces of green beans, making it ideal for foodservice operators and large gatherings.
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