Reference

Private label, from supplier to shelf

Private label means you own the brand and the customer relationship while a supplier makes the product. This reference covers the decisions that decide whether the model works: supplier, specification, packaging, identifiers and launch.

The brand is the part you own

In a private label model, the supplier makes the product and you own the brand, the listing and the customer relationship. That can mean a stock formula with your logo or a fully custom specification. The difference decides your MOQ, your tooling cost and how defensible the product is.

The model is not automatically more profitable. It adds packaging, compliance, inventory and quality risk. The calculator should show the landed unit cost before you choose a selling price.

Specification is the real product

A supplier quote without a written specification is a promise, not a product. Materials, dimensions, tolerances, packaging and test requirements should be documented before the first production run.

The specification also protects you in a dispute and makes a second supplier comparable. Without it, every quote is for a different product.

All entries

Private label — what it meansA product made by a supplier and sold under the seller's own brand, with the seller controlling the listing and customer relationship. White label vs private labelWhite label is a stock product branded by many sellers; private label implies more control over specification and brand. OEM vs ODMOEM builds to your design; ODM offers a design you can brand. The difference affects tooling, IP and control. MOQ and how to negotiate itMinimum order quantity is per SKU and often per variant; the real cost includes tooling, deposits and inventory risk. Supplier vettingCheck legal identity, capability, references, quality systems and payment terms before placing a production order. Product sampling and the golden sampleA signed sample and written specification define the product; production is checked against them. Packaging and dielinesA dieline defines the box shape, folds and print areas; packaging affects cost, protection, freight and the unboxing experience. GTIN and barcodesA GTIN is the global product identifier behind a UPC or EAN barcode; GS1 is the standard source for company prefixes. FNSKU vs ASIN vs UPCASIN identifies the catalog item, FNSKU labels the seller's inventory at Amazon, and UPC/EAN is the product's GTIN. Product labeling requirementsLabels can require origin, importer identity, warnings, language and a responsible person; the rules depend on product and market. Private label launch checklistThe operating sequence: landed cost, supplier, sample, packaging, identifiers, listing, first stock and reorder point.

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China Sourcing Cost Calculator

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