As 2022 draws to a close, many brands are evaluating their relationships and contracts with manufacturers. Increasingly, Ithos is seeing brands employ a “scorecard” system to rate factors such as responsiveness and quality.
5 Things to Consider Before Contracting a Cosmetic Manufacturer
At the same time, more manufacturers are turning to the Ithos Information Network to improve their scores. Our software solution organizes regulatory documents for instant availability for any brand or product. It also flags problem ingredients, whether a brand is developing a new product or trying to meet ingredient and packaging regulations as they expand to new retailers or markets.
Below is a checklist of four key factors when evaluating a manufacturer:
- Responsiveness: How quickly are issues communicated? Are you included in decision making on how to move forward? Your manufacturer should be another set of eyes, always looking out for you. If they use the IIN, it is constantly updated to identify compliance issues in every jurisdiction.
- Quality: While mistakes can happen, are systems in place to prevent problems, and quickly catch them? From applying the wrong label to filling the wrong bottle, if there was an issue, how well was it corrected? Some manufacturers send a sample of each batch to verify consistent smell, appearance, packaging and labeling. If issues arise, the IIN makes it easy to access key information for a quicker fix.
- Fulfillment: How well are quality and aesthetic specifications being met? Are products being shipped on time, sticking to an agreed upon schedule? Does the manufacturer have the capacity to grow with you? Be like Goldilocks in the famous fairy tale – you need a manufacturer that isn’t too small or too big, but just right.
- Regulatory documents: Keeping documents up to date and organized is time-consuming. Many manufacturers are turning to Ithos to help, knowing we’ll also keep them up to date on changing regulations while instantly producing a PIF or SDS. Unlike some crowd-sourced data, at Ithos our database covers 60 countries and is monitored by compliance experts who explain changes that affect your products.
The four factors above are a good place to start a conversation with your manufacturer about how they can best meet your needs in the year ahead.
Given the increased scrutiny of ingredients by both retailers and governments, brand expansion of product portfolios into accessories and other lines, as well as new international opportunities selling online, both brands and manufacturers use the Ithos Information Network to organize and access compliance information as they grow.
If you have a question about your contract with a manufacturer or are looking for help to automate your regulatory functions, contact us to learn which solution is right for you.
