Launch Yourself Part 2 - Production, Equipment, Ingredients, Manufacturing Space

This is Part 2 of a series of 4 Parts
by Joan Morais, Natural Cosmetic Formulator, Instructor, Aromatherapist, Herbalist  www.JoanMorais.com

In Part 1 we talked about "How To Start" and to create clarity on your business and products you want to make and sell. Now that you have focused and figured out the products you want to produce, what’s next?

Production
1. Have a precise formula for the product which includes the production steps. You want to deliver a consistent product to the consumer that is similar in texture, feel, scent and looks. This is why Starbucks is so successful. When you go into Starbucks, you know what you are going to get. Consumers trust Starbucks to be consistent and deliver the same product they enjoy. This is the main reason consumers return.
2. How much product are you making? This is crucial and determines the equipment you will need.
3. Have a system in place that includes GMP (good manufacturing practices); sanitizing, logs that include production steps, ingredients with their batch numbers and giving the product a batch number. Follow this system every time you make the product.

Equipment
The equipment you need depends on the amount of product you are making, the type of product and your budget for equipment. There is no need to buy expensive and large equipment when you first start out. It is key to learn the basics and make an exceptional product before advancing to large batch production.
My recommendation is to start with basic kitchen equipment and grow from there. Some things to think about:
1. How much do you want to spend on equipment?
2. What type of space do you have for equipment?
3. Do you need a bottling and labeling machine or are you going to do this by hand?

Ingredients
It is crucial to source ingredients from a reliable supplier. The supplier should know about these ingredients and answer your questions, including the proper storage of the ingredient and  ingredients that are compatible or not compatible with it. You should also know if these ingredients readily available and available from several sources (just in case one supplier runs out or stops carrying it). There is nothing worse than having a great formulation and the one supplier carrying the unique ingredient goes out of business (ask me, I know from experience). Not only will you have to re-do your formula, you will also have to re-do the labels.

Manufacturing Space
Have you checked the regulations for manufacturing cosmetics for the state/country you live in?
Can you produce cosmetic products in your home or is this prohibited?
Other options to manufacture other than your home: rent a commercial kitchen, set up your space in a warehouse-the rent is usually a lot less than retail space. A warehouse is a great option if you are not going to have a shop open to the public.
Do you need retail space for customers to come into your shop? If so, how big of a space do you need to manufacture the products and display products for sale?

Part 3 Launch Yourself - Retail and Wholesale: Pricing Products

Part 4 Launch Yourself - Launching Your Products and Business