home decor, kitchen and household goods / Buying guide
Private label homeware
Private label can mean a label on a stock item, custom packaging, a modified stock item or a new design. Each changes the specification, approval work and supplier quote.
Decide which level you need before asking sellers to quote, so competing offers cover the same scope.
In this guide
The four levels
- Branded label or sticker on a stock item — confirm label material, placement, adhesion and minimum.
- Custom retail packaging around a stock item — quote box, insert, print setup and packing labour separately.
- Modified stock — specify the changed colour, glaze or fabric and approve a sample.
- Made to your design — agree tooling ownership, sample revisions, acceptance criteria and production minimum.
Where the money actually goes
For labels and packaging, ask for separate quotes for materials, printing, inserts and packing labour. Include the packed-carton dimensions in the landed-cost comparison.
For a new design, separate sampling and tooling from the per-unit production price. The economics depend on the quoted quantities and tooling rights.
What to settle in writing before any of it starts
- Who owns the tooling you paid for, and whether it can be used for anyone else.
- Whether your design may be shown to other buyers or listed publicly.
- The acceptable variance against the approved sample, so "close enough" has a definition.
- What happens to unsold stock of custom packaging.
Questions & answers
Common questions
- What is the lowest-commitment way to add a brand?
- Compare labels and packaging on an existing item. Obtain the minimum and setup quote for each before choosing.
- Will the factory sell my design to someone else?
- Agree tooling ownership, design use and any exclusivity in writing before paying for development.
- How long does a private label programme take?
- Ask for a schedule that separates artwork, sampling, revisions, production and inspection. Lead time varies by supplier and scope.
Your next step
Have a link you want checked?
Send a 1688 or Taobao product link and you get back the specification in English, the supplier check, and the landed cost to your country before you commit to anything.
Get a quote