Dear Cosmetics Container Manufacturers - You're Missing Out on a Huge Market

We're going to be ranting just a little bit today.

This situation has been ongoing for a frazillion years. Yes that's number I just made up because I'm downright tired of how long it has been going on.

To date, I am unable to count how many frustrating and FRUITLESS searches I (and my European colleagues) have made for quality cosmetics containers with NO MOQ.

MOQ stands for Minimum Order Quantity, and the standard in the industry is death on a stick for artisan skincare businesses. The standard ranges between 5000 to 15.000 units.

Really, folks?

Dear Cosmetics Container Manufacturers,

Wake up and have a look around – the indie beauty business has boomed and you're missing out on a huge potential market.

No start-up or artisan company can afford to invest in 15.000 containers (of each needed size and shape).

5000 is too many too.

In many cases, even 1000 is too many.

Smaller Orders, But There Are More of Us Than You Might Imagine

I will admit I don't have exact numbers, but judging from my experiences via my contacts in the industry, there are thousands of smaller businesses making and selling small batch products in Europe alone.

They all have the same frustrating problem: sourcing quality containers at a reasonable MOQ.

Note the very important keywords here: QUALITY and REASONABLE MOQ.

And yes, we all realize manufacturing and distributing cosmetics containers in larger numbers makes for a lower price per unit.

But.

Consider this:
If every manufacturer focuses solely on selling to the major players, they are not only competing with EVERYONE ELSE for the same few clients, but cutting themselves off from a whole market of interested buyers who would in all likelihood kiss their feet in gratitude.

Hello!!

This massive group of artisan companies, aromatherapists, formulators, makers of custom cosmetics, and enthusiastic DIY'ers over here waving at you would love to buy your quality containers!

We KNOW they can't be sold at the same price per unit as if we were ordering 10.000 at a time, but as it is now, we can barely find anything at all!

Surely This Can Be Solved

Imagine for a moment a manufacturer of quality cosmetics containers making SOME of their products available in smaller amounts.

Here's a handy dandy clarification of smaller amounts: as low as ONE to TEN UNITS.

Imagine this manufacturer setting up a central distribution center in Europe and selling their quality containers via a webshop.

Would this take administration and packing/shipping know-how?

Yes, of course it would.

And just imagine this manufacturer made it possible to order from ONE UNIT up to 15.000 units with graduated pricing.

Hey, there's an idea!

Then it would be possible to service a full range of business sizes: even more customers!

First Come. First Serve.

I don't have all the answers on how to set this up or all the details of what it would take, but I'm convinced if the logistics can be solved, there is a huge market opportunity here that cosmetics container manufacturers seem to be missing out on.

And I'll bet my best boots the first company to set up a shop along these lines in Europe is going to be so busy filling orders from willing buyers, they'll wonder why they didn't do it 10 years ago.

Thanks for reading, and to the first company that takes steps to set this kind of solution up, thanks for paying attention.

Do Tell

Do you have trouble sourcing quality containers for your artisan cosmetics? Please make yourself heard and leave a comment below.

Make your own naturally balanced shampoo bars and leave the frustration of looking for containers behind