1. Understand What Product You Want to Launch
The first step to launching a supplement brand is to understand what product you want to launch. This is the time to do product research and identify your target market. Everything under the sun is not a target market. This is where branding and pre-marketing can help you see what works and what doesn’t, and decide on your target market. Identifying your audience is a huge step in this process because they are the ones who will be making the purchases, helping with word-of-mouth marketing, and leaving the reviews you need for social proof and brand awareness.
After your due diligence on how to appeal to your audience, detail which products you like, what you want to replicate, and what you want to improve. A benchmark product with notes on what you want to improve will help you align your final product with your manufacturer.
2. Have a Go-to Market Plan for Your Target Customer
In 2024, the global vitamins and supplements market was valued at $127.2 billion. This figure is projected to increase to $139.9 billion by the end of 2025, reflecting the growing consumer interest in health and wellness products (VogueBusiness).
The supplement industry generates over $60 billion in annual sales in the United States. This substantial market underscores the significant role of e-commerce in the distribution of vitamins and supplements (WSJ).
Because of the uptick in online vitamin and supplement sales, designing a website to present your product to the world is the next step. Remember, your website is the storefront of your product, so you want to ensure that it presents your product accurately and that the website excels in customer experience.
Designing your website and exploring the market through generating interest in your product is sometimes called pre-marketing work. This is where you can generate buzz about what is coming. During this phase, you can consider crowdfunding, which requires a marketing strategy.
Many brands do pre-marketing campaigns to build a fan base and email list for a successful launch. Advertising campaigns help by reaching out to the community and taking advantage of influencers (nano and micro influencers are helpful for grassroots engagement). Doing this early in the campaign can help you gain trust before the launch.
When your business is registered and you’ve accrued trademarks, ensure they are all listed on the website so your customers are confident that they’re purchasing high-quality products backed by reputable sources.
3. Choosing a Manufacturer
Choosing a manufacturer is critical after you have a benchmark product for your target market. Finding the right contract manufacturer for your business can be challenging. Ensure that you can find a company with:
- the capabilities to handle your project today and tomorrow;
- who invests in quality and can dissect what that means;
- communicates honestly and specifically with you;
- can help you design your formulation;
- speaks candidly about on-time delivery;
- and has an impressive set of certifications…
Feel free to download our white paper to learn more about how the right partner can help you grow and protect your brand.
4. Manufacture Your Product
Manufacturing your product in tablet, capsule, or powder form involves meticulous steps to ensure quality, efficacy, and compliance. At Paragon Labs, we integrate over 50 years of industry experience with advanced technology to deliver custom supplement formulations tailored to your needs.
Custom Tablet Manufacturing
Tablets offer a versatile and convenient dosage form for various supplements. Our state-of-the-art technology enables us to customize tablets to your specifications, including:
- Enteric-coated formulations: Protects active ingredients from stomach acid, ensuring release in the intestines.
- Color-coated formulations: Enhances visual appeal and brand recognition.
- Quick-release formulas: Allow for rapid dissolution and absorption.
- Chewable and flavored tablets: Improves palatability for consumers.
Our rigorous quality assurance protocols involve over 200 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure each tablet meets potency, purity, and consistency standards.
Custom Capsule Manufacturing
Capsules are popular for encapsulating powders, offering precise dosing and easy consumption. We provide a range of customization options, such as:
- Vegetarian and gelatin capsules: Catering to diverse dietary preferences.
- Delayed-release and enteric-coated capsules: Ensuring targeted delivery of active ingredients.
- Various colors and sizes: Aligning with your branding and dosage requirements.
Utilizing high-speed encapsulation equipment and an in-house analytical laboratory, Paragon Labs maintains stringent quality control throughout the production process.
Custom Powder Manufacturing
Power supplements require precise formulations for optimal solubility, taste, and uniformity. Our capabilities include manufacturing:
- Protein powders
- Energy drinks
- Herbal blends
- Smoothies and green drink mixes
We offer various packaging options to suit your distribution needs, including pails, bags, jars, and pouches. Our advanced equipment and controlled production environments ensure the highest quality powder supplements.
Our Proven Process
Bringing your supplement idea to market involves several critical steps:
- Testing: Incoming raw materials undergo rigorous testing for identity, purity, and potency.
- Blending: Ingredients are precisely weighed and blended, with additional processing like granulation or milling.
- Compression/Encapsulation: The blended material is compressed into tablets or filled into capsules.
- Inspection: Products are inspected to meet all quality parameters and label claims.
- Packaging: Final products are packaged, tested, and prepared for shipment.
This comprehensive approach guarantees that your dietary supplement is market-ready and meets all regulatory standards.
6. Develop Your Strategy to Scale
Your manufacturer is a partner for the long haul because you are launching a business for the long haul. No business became an overnight success on day one. After developing credibility and a customer base in the community you have been working on before manufacturing your product, businesses can sometimes have an inflection point that accelerates sales overnight. However, most see a gradual customer acceleration over several months because trust builds on trust. This is what is referred to as the “Product Adoption Curve.”
Partnering with Paragon Laboratories
Choosing Paragon Laboratories means collaborating with a team dedicated to excellence in supplement manufacturing. Our commitment to quality, advanced technology, and industry expertise positions us to bring your product vision to life, effectively and efficiently.
For more information or to request a quote, please contact us today!