Overview:  

A solution-focused skincare brand with a strong customer base sought to expand its product line with a new hero product. Their goal was to introduce a results-driven formulation backed by scientific research while ensuring a smooth development process with their contract manufacturer.

Challenge:  

The client needed a precise product strategy to guide the formulation process. They wanted to incorporate a combination of active ingredients at clinically effective concentrations but lacked the internal expertise to determine the required levels for efficacy. Additionally, they required a structured approach to communicate their vision to the contract manufacturer without unnecessary formulation trials and iterations.

Our Approach:  

We provided strategic product planning to ensure the new formulation met the brand’s high standards for efficacy and innovation.

Our process included:

• Conducting in-depth research to determine the optimal concentrations of key active ingredients, aligning with published scientific findings.
• Developing a comprehensive Product Brief, outlining the required concentration of each active ingredient, product attributes, and key performance expectations.
• Ensuring that the client was well-informed on what it would take to achieve the desired product outcome, allowing them to make data-driven decisions.
• Providing the contract manufacturer with a precise formulation roadmap, eliminating guesswork and streamlining the formulation and production process.

Results:  

• The client launched a high-performance hero product aligned with their brand vision and backed by scientific research.
• The clear and detailed Product Brief minimized reformulation rounds, reducing development time and costs.
• The contract manufacturer was able to execute formulation and production seamlessly, resulting in a smooth and efficient product launch.

Conclusion:  

By taking a strategic approach to product planning, we empowered the client with the knowledge and tools needed to develop a hero product that met consumer expectations. Our methodology ensured clarity at every stage, enabling a successful and efficient collaboration between the brand and its manufacturing partner.

Overview:  

A growing skincare brand that had successfully built a loyal customer base through private label products was ready to take the next step—developing exclusive, custom formulations. They recognized the need to move beyond private labeling to differentiate their brand, secure formula ownership, and take full control of their future product offerings.

Challenge:  

The brand faced increasing competition, with close competitors offering the same private label products and even launching new products ahead of them. Without exclusive formulations, they risked losing their competitive edge and struggled to maintain brand differentiation. They needed a strategy to transition from private label reliance to owning proprietary formulas tailored to their customers’ needs.

Our Approach:  

We guided the client through a strategic shift from private label products to custom formulation ownership. 

Our process included:

• Product Line Audit & Analysis: Conducted a comprehensive review of their existing product lineup to identify best sellers and pinpoint what their core customers valued most.
• Product Strategy Development: Mapped out a new product strategy that aligned with the brand’s positioning and the needs of their loyal customer base.
• Ingredient Selection & Marketing Story: Identified key active ingredients for each new product to enhance efficacy while building a compelling and unique marketing narrative.
• Product Brief Creation: Developed detailed Product Briefs for each product, outlining formulation requirements, key ingredients, and performance expectations to provide clear directives for the contract manufacturer.
• Negotiation for Formulation Ownership: Secured favorable terms for the client to achieve full formulation ownership, providing them with a clear path and timeline to reach their ultimate goal.

Results:  

• The brand successfully transitioned from private label products to exclusive formulations, ensuring that no competitors could replicate their offerings.
• With formula ownership, they gained full control over product modifications, cost structures, and long-term scalability.
• The strategic product roadmap outlined in the Product Briefs streamlined the formulation process, reducing development time and expediting their product launch timeline.
• Negotiated formulation ownership terms empowered the brand to take full control of its intellectual property and secure its future growth.

Conclusion:  

By investing in custom formulations, this skincare brand positioned itself for long-term success, ensuring exclusivity and control over its product innovation. Our expertise in product strategy and formulation planning empowered them to scale with confidence.

Overview:  

A thriving lifestyle brand generating over $1M in revenue sought to expand into beauty products to complement its existing product offerings. With an established customer base and strong brand presence, they were ready to scale strategically by introducing a results-driven beauty collection.

Challenge:  

While the brand had successfully built a loyal following in a non-cosmetic category, they needed expert guidance to navigate the complexities of beauty product development. They required a well-structured approach to ensure their new beauty line aligned with their brand identity while meeting industry standards for efficacy, regulatory compliance, and marketing claims.

Our Approach:  

We collaborated closely with the brand’s Product Development Lead to execute a seamless expansion into beauty. Our process included:

• Product Strategy & Development: Worked alongside the brand’s internal team to define the beauty category positioning and develop a comprehensive product roadmap.
• Product Briefs & Custom Formulation: Drafted Product Briefs for the entire collection and custom formulated 14 results-driven beauty products over a two-year period, including three designated hero products. Because of our custom formulation service, the brand was able to fully own their formulas, giving them complete control over their intellectual property and long-term business strategy.
• Product Release Strategy: Developed a strategic rollout plan to maximize the impact of each product launch, ensuring sustained engagement and profitability.
• Manufacturer Selection & Production Management: Identified the ideal contract manufacturing partner, facilitated tech transfer, scale-up, and production to ensure smooth execution.
• Claims Testing & Social Proof: Coordinated efficacy and claims testing to support strong marketing claims, enhancing product credibility and driving sales.
• Regulatory Compliance & Branding Support: Collaborated with the branding and marketing team to ensure that product labels, claims, and packaging met regulatory requirements.

Throughout the entire project, our expertise and strategic partnerships allowed the brand to expand into this new category seamlessly—without having to manage all the moving parts internally. We served as the single point of contact, handling all aspects of formulation, production, and compliance to ensure a smooth transition into beauty.

Results:  

• The brand successfully entered the beauty market with an exclusive, high-performing product collection tailored to their customers’ needs.
• The launch of three hero products positioned them as a competitive player in the beauty industry, creating new revenue streams.
• Clear Product Briefs and a strategic rollout plan streamlined the development process, reducing time to market.
• Claims testing and regulatory compliance ensured that the brand’s marketing was both compelling and legally sound.
• Efficient contract manufacturing management allowed for seamless production and quality assurance.

Conclusion:  

By leveraging our expertise in beauty product development, this lifestyle brand successfully expanded into a new category with a strong, market-ready collection. Thoughtful formulation, strategic product launches, and seamless production management positioned them for long-term success—all while ensuring complete formula ownership and operational efficiency.

Overview:  

A growing beauty brand faced significant challenges with their previous manufacturer, including quality control issues and an inability to keep up with increasing demand. Seeking a reliable and scalable solution, they turned to us to take over and manage their manufacturing needs.

Challenge:  

The client owned their formulas but faced critical gaps in the tech transfer process, resulting in inaccurate written formulations. Additionally, the previous manufacturer had not conducted stability or preservative effectiveness testing (PET), leading to visibly unstable product samples. Before transitioning to a new manufacturing setup, the formulas needed to be corrected and validated.

Our Approach:  

We acted as the client’s dedicated manufacturing partner, overseeing the entire process from reformulation to production.

Our work included:

• Formula Optimization: Conducted a thorough review of the client’s existing formulas, identifying inaccuracies and making necessary adjustments to ensure product integrity.
• Stability & PET Testing: Implemented essential stability and preservative effectiveness testing to confirm long-term product safety and performance.
• Manufacturing Transition & Scale-Up: Once the formulas were optimized, we facilitated a seamless tech transfer to our trusted manufacturing partner(s), ensuring a smooth and scalable production setup.
• End-to-End Production Management: As the client’s manufacturing partner, we managed the entire production process—including sourcing, manufacturing oversight, and quality assurance—to ensure consistent, high-quality output.

Results:  

• Successfully reformulated and stabilized all product formulations, eliminating previous quality concerns.
• Conducted full stability and PET testing, providing the client with verified, market-ready formulas.
• Seamlessly transitioned manufacturing to a trusted production partner, ensuring increased production capacity and quality control.
• Established a scalable, high-quality manufacturing process that supported the brand’s continued growth.

Conclusion:  

By stepping in as the client’s dedicated manufacturing partner, we not only resolved their quality and production challenges but also set them up for long-term scalability and success. Our ability to manage the entire process—from formulation correction to full-scale production—ensured a smooth transition and positioned them for future growth.