- Understand different regulations and make sure claims are accurate
- Market product accordingly, avoiding false or unsubstantiated claims
- Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for safety and quality control
- Identify the target market and understand competitive products in the market
- Create unique branding and consider convenience factors for consumers.
Are you looking to get into the supplement business? If so, it can be a daunting task. There are countless regulations and different requirements that you must meet when creating and selling a supplement. To make it easier, here are five things you need to know before launching your supplement brand.
1. Regulations
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all supplements sold in the US. This means that to sell your products legally; they must meet all FDA regulatory guidelines. This includes ensuring that all ingredients in your product are safe for consumption and making sure that any claims made about the product are accurate and true.
Marketing and promotion
When marketing supplements, you must know the claims you can and cannot make about your product. The FDA does not allow companies to make false or unsubstantiated claims about the efficacy of their products. In other words, if you say that a particular ingredient or combination of ingredients has certain health benefits, then those benefits must be scientifically proven. Otherwise, you could face serious legal repercussions for misleading statements about your product’s efficacy or safety.
Good Manufacturing Practices
To ensure that your products are of high quality and safe, it is also essential to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). GMPs set out guidelines on how supplements should be manufactured and packaged to ensure their safety. This includes ensuring that all ingredients are appropriately tracked and monitored and regularly testing for contaminants. Utilizing reliable stick-pack co-packers is a great resource that can help you meet all your GMP requirements. Stick packs are a convenient way to package and distribute supplements, with some capable of producing up to 2 million stick packs daily.
Labeling
When creating your supplement brand, it is also important to be aware of labeling regulations. All labels must include each product ingredient’s type, name, quantity, or proportion and any potential health claims. Additionally, you must contact your local or state health department for additional labeling requirements that you must follow to ensure compliance.
2. Target Market
Before launching a supplement brand, it is crucial to identify who your target market is going to be. Different people have different needs when it comes to supplements, so understanding who your ideal customer is will help ensure that your product meets their needs and wants. Additionally, understanding your target market will help you tailor your marketing strategy and packaging design, so they better appeal to potential customers.
Market segments and demographics
Different supplements can also appeal to different age groups, genders, and other demographic groups. For instance, energy supplements may be more popular among younger adults or people active in sports. In comparison, joint health supplements may appeal to older adults looking for relief from aches and pains. Taking the time to understand your target audience will help you create a product that resonates with them.
3. Competing Brands
When starting your supplement brand, it is imperative to research the competition for you to create a product that stands out. Take into account the products they offer, their pricing structure, and any unique selling points they have. This will help you identify potential areas of improvement or special features that could make your product more attractive to customers. Additionally, researching competing brands can give you insights into what works and what doesn’t when marketing and promoting supplements so you can ensure that your efforts are successful.
Staying on top of your competition also allows you to see any trends and changes in the industry. This way, you can quickly pivot and change your product or marketing strategy if needed. One excellent example has been the recent uptick of vitamins for immune health due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Before this trend, many brands were not offering products specifically for immune health, but now that it has become a growing need, many brands have shifted their focus to meet the demand.
4. Branding
The name of your supplement brand and its visual identity are also key components in setting yourself apart from the competition. In addition to designing a logo and coming up with an eye-catching name, consider creating a tagline or slogan that encapsulates the essence of your product and better resonates with customers. This will help you create a unique brand identity that will serve as a memorable way for customers to recall your product.
5. Convenience
When launching a supplement brand, one also needs to consider how convenient the product is for consumers. Many people take supplements daily, so convenience is key. If it isn’t easy for someone to take their supplement at any given time during the day, then chances are they won’t use it as often as they should, which could lead to them not seeing any results from taking the supplement in question. Consider making single-serve packets or travel-friendly containers for on-the-go users, so they don’t have an excuse not to take their supplements.
In Summary
Starting a new supplement business can seem overwhelming due to the regulations of selling supplements. However, by following these five tips — being familiar with different regulations, making legitimate claims about the beneficial effects of ingredients, targeting a specific market segmentation, researching competitive products on the market already, branding, and considering convenience factors — anyone can start up their own successful supplement business!
