The global hair care industry is expected to grow by close to 5 percent between 2020 and 2027. Whether your market is international or you’re focused on the States, it’s a good time to start a hair care brand.
Starting a hair care line isn’t just about knowing your shampoo and conditioner from your hair oils and styling products. You’ll need to add sales and marketing, accountancy, and management skills to your tool belt, too.
Read on to learn what you need to know before starting a hair care business.
Find Your Purpose
Before you even think about creating a website or which manufacturer you’ll work with, you need to work out the why of your hair care line. What prevalent problem are you trying to address with your products, and which product will offer a helpful solution?
You may be tempted to create an extensive range to address every hair care niche. But it’s actually better to focus your energy (and investment) on one to two high-demand products. Then, once those are selling well, you can use the profits to expand.
But where do you gather your inspiration? If you’re a hairdresser, ask your salon customers questions, and study their purchasing habits. Or choose to focus on the needs of a specific demographic, say trend-influenced teens or people with curly locks.
Hair Care Product Manufacturing
Sure, some people start beauty product businesses in their home kitchens. But if you’re looking to reach any scale, that won’t be practical in the long term. In other words, you need to find a product manufacturing partner.
Suppliers or private label producers like BPI Labs have the scientific expertise and equipment to formulate, test, produce, and package your beauty products. You provide the company with your specifications and branding, and their team of experts gets to work.
The catch here is that most suppliers will ask you for an MOQ (Minimum Quantity Order Order). This means you’ll need to front up the cash for a pre-specified number of bottles or tubs of your product.
So it’s crucial to do your research to find the best supplier for your needs before signing a purchase order or contract. This includes asking around your friends in the industry for referrals, interviewing suppliers, and getting samples of their products.
Brand Image and Packaging
You’ve got your hair care products; they’re tested and working just the way you wanted them to. So now you’re excited to get it into your target market’s hands. But how does an unknown brand get its name out there?
Cosmetics and personal care are some of the fastest-growing sectors for online sales, so your internet image is everything. First, you need to settle on your brand name, lock in that domain, create an e-commerce site, become a master of SEO, and set up your social pages.
Marketing is a long game for most brands, especially when you’re new. If you don’t think you have the expertise yourself, don’t be afraid to invest in people who do.
What Are You Waiting For?
Starting a business in hair care is a daunting prospect, no matter how experienced you are in the industry. But with the correct information, good manufacturing partners, and a passion for great hair, you can proceed with confidence. Don’t wait for inspiration to strike: start today!
For more advice for busy beauty entrepreneurs, check out the rest of our blog.
