The Pros & Cons Of Working With Cosmetic Labs Near Me
Every new beauty brand faces a big decision during the early stages: should I look for cosmetic labs near me? Or should I explore options abroad instead?
Struggling to find the right path for your brand?
Genie Supply is here to help!
Our guide below outlines the biggest pros and cons of working with cosmetics labs closer to home.
From the legal implications to the financial impact, and even how your manufacturing choices influence consumer perceptions, we cover the biggest effects of cosmetics supplier location on your business.
The Upsides Of Working with Cosmetic Labs Near Me
Domestic Manufacturing Facilitates Easier Compliance With Regulation & IP Laws
It's relatively easy to formulate a quality moisturizer or lip balm at home. However, when it comes to bringing your products to market, handmade cosmetics all too often fail to reach the legally required standards.
Cosmetics must be formulated and sold in compliance with the law in the country of manufacture and sale. These laws vary from country to country, and with recent legislation like MoCRA, US regulations are becoming stricter over time. Learn more about MoCRA in our full blog post here.
Although compliance is your responsibility as the brand owner, partnering with the right lab can provide guidance and reassurance that your cosmetics follow the law.
US-based labs are typically more informed than suppliers abroad about the cosmetic legal requirements for both the brand and the manufacturer in the US. Therefore, choosing a domestic manufacturer can simplify the compliance process for your brand.
Plus, be aware that intellectual property (IP) laws vary across the globe, and you can't always count on protection overseas. Hiring a domestic lab is a safer bet to retain legal ownership of your custom-formulated cosmetics.
At Genie Supply, we take legal compliance seriously and provide consulting services to help you comply with the law in every region you sell your cosmetics.
Our in-house, US-based manufacturing business is FDA registered, GMP compliant, and has an A+ BBB rating. Learn more about moving from home to domestic lab formulating here.
Helps Build Closer Relationships & Resolve Issues More Quickly
Sourcing locally helps to build a closer relationship with your cosmetic manufacturer. Good working relationships save time and money while also minimizing any disruptions to production.
Choosing a nearby lab results in fewer hours lost in translation - both literally and figuratively.
Local suppliers share your time zone and language, plus they also operate under a similar workplace culture as your business. These key commonalities reduce miscommunication issues and make problem resolution easier.
This saves time, reduces costs, and allows you to address formulation issues quickly and make the necessary tweaks for your product vision to come to life as you intended.
At Genie Supply, our US-based business is rooted in Midwestern values. We prioritize sincerity and warmth and provide authentic, transparent communication, and personalized attention to our clients.
We utilize flexible, scalable, and adaptable manufacturing strategies and treat your product vision as our own. Learn more about all of our US-based manufacturing services at Genie Supply here.
‘Made in the USA’ Is More Important Than Quality Or Price For 43% Of Consumers
We might live in a globalized economy, but domestic consumers still see the benefit of products created closer to home.
Although many quality brands choose to manufacture abroad (some in countries renowned for their cosmetics), the ‘made in the USA’ label instantly builds trust and provides a selling point that rivals even the finest Italian eyeshadows or Korean skin care formulas.
Morning Consult’s survey found that 65% of American consumers purposefully buy products ‘made in America’, while 43% consider American-made as a more important purchasing consideration than quality, sustainability, or price.
With rising concerns over the safety of goods manufactured abroad, ‘made in the USA’ reassures US consumers that their makeup or skin care meets a strict legal standard, supports fairer labor practices, produces a smaller carbon footprint, and adheres to local environmental standards.
At Genie Supply, we’re proud to conduct all of our manufacturing and R&D here in the USA, with a strong focus on sustainability, conscious sourcing, and ethical manufacturing. Learn more about our ethical values on our website here.
Domestic Sourcing Makes It Easier To Respond To Trends
In an age where TikTok beauty reviews make or break products overnight, the industry is more focused on trends than ever – placing real pressure on brands of all sizes to release a version of the latest viral unconventional formula or beauty tool.
If you plan to capitalize on beauty trends, sourcing from cosmetic manufacturers close by is the way to go. Domestic labs are not only more aware of emerging trends and evolving consumer preferences, but they also offer quicker turnaround times from formulation to shipping, allowing small brands like yours to jump on trends before the momentum fades.
At Genie Supply, we offer multiple manufacturing methods to cater to a range of budgets and formulating goals.
Our custom product creation service is particularly effective for quickly capitalizing on new trending ingredients, and we also pair this process with trending manufacturing processes like ingredient upcycling. Learn more about what’s new and now at Genie Supply here.
The Downsides Of Working With Cosmetic Labs Near Me
Domestic Manufacturing Is Typically More Expensive
While the shipping costs associated with domestic suppliers are usually lower, the overall cost of production often increases when manufacturing closer to home.
Factors that make ‘Made in the USA’ appealing – like labor costs, compliance expenses, and the higher cost of living – contribute to these increased production costs and therefore the formulation price for your brand.
That said, it’s worth noting that manufacturing is becoming increasingly expensive in key manufacturing hubs across the world.
For example, while many associate manufacturing in China with basement-level ‘Alibaba’ pricing, the reality on the ground is cosmetic production in China is becoming more costly. Learn more about moving your manufacturing out of China in our full blog post here.
If competing on cost is crucial for your business, invest the time and energy in shopping around globally to find the right mix of affordability and quality for your brand.
At Genie Supply, we understand that budgets can be tight at the early stages of your business. That’s why we offer three different manufacturing processes (private label, custom product creation, and custom formulating) to suit different customization needs and different budgets.
Plus, our preformulated range includes four separate tiers and includes everything from budget-friendly products to a super luxury range. Learn more about our preformulated product pricing in our product catalog here.
Many International Labs Excel In The Area Of Innovation
While some US-based manufacturers are producing incredible innovations (Genie Supply of course included), it’s important to recognize the cosmetics labs that are pushing the envelope and revolutionizing the industry abroad.
K Beauty and J Beauty owe much of their global popularity to the Korean and Japanese manufacturers who combine truly innovative formulas, advanced novel chemical research, and one-of-a-kind packaging to create winning products.
It is typically easier to find a manufacturer abroad that both specializes in your cosmetics of choice and can help your brand bring something truly unique to the US market.
There are comparatively fewer US-based labs that can bring the same level of originality to the US market – staying local limits your options and requires more vetting to match international innovation.
At Genie Supply, we pride ourselves on the innovative products that we create for the US market.
Not only do we use innovative (and sustainable) ingredient sourcing techniques like upcycling, but our extensive R&D process specializes in novel chemical research and their application, new-to-market product concepts and formats, hybrid products, and clean beauty. Learn more about our innovative custom formulating capabilities here.
In sum, there are four big upsides and two main downsides to sourcing from cosmetic labs near me:
Pros:
Facilitates easier compliance with regulations and IP laws
Enables closer working relationships and helps resolve issues quicker
Consumers favor products ‘Made in the USA’
Domestic sourcing makes it easier to respond to trends
Cons:
Domestic manufacturing is typically more expensive
International labs are more likely to provide specific forms of innovation
Ready to source your cosmetics from a lab closer to home? Genie Supply is 100% US-based and would love to work with your brand! Learn more by getting in touch through email: customerservice@geniesupply.com or by calling: (812) 329-1105.
