Looking For A Custom Or Private Label Dog Balm or Salve? Start Here.

If creating your own line of nose, paw balms or skin salves is on your radar I know you will have a lot of questions. I have tried to pull together the most common FAQ's here, to help you make a decision about whether this is a viable idea for you, and if I am the right business to work with. 

What Are Custom Dog Balms & Salves?

These are products created with you, either by tweaking one of my existing formulas or by developing something completely bespoke that no one else has and that you can market exclusively as your own.

In simple terms, this is for businesses that want their own product rather than selling mine as it stands.

It is not a small batch service. There is quite a lot involved in developing something properly and it needs to make sense for both of us.

Who Is This Best Suited To?

This works best for businesses that are serious about developing a product properly and have a clear plan for how they are going to sell it.

Generally, for a custom product, I am looking at a minimum of 500 units. If you are nearer 1000 units for a first order, that is ideal. In most cases we are looking at a value of around £1000 plus for the smallest size, although that is open to discussion depending on what you are looking for.

If you only want to change one or two ingredients in one of my existing products, we can be more flexible. That is usually a simpler process and I can reduce the minimum order requirement significantly. I love working with other small businesses and this may help you create a product that is more 'you' on a smaller budget.

If I get on a Zoom call with you and I can see that you have a clear sales path through Amazon, or you are already working with influencers, have an established business, or you are registered as a limited company and have already invested money into your business, I am much more open to creating a suitable product with you without an upfront investment. Once you have settled on a formulation and placed a firm order however, I will send an invoice to be paid before the products are made. It has to work for both of us.

Many of my new clients have come about as a result of mutual business contacts and that works brilliantly as we know we are both in the same arena, trustworthy and reliable. I know that sounds awful, but these days it pays to do your due diligence and that goes for me too! 

My Non Negotiables

Before you decide if I may be the right person to work with, there are a few things I will not compromise on.

• I don't make water based products using preservatives. Everything is natural and balm based.
• I don't use artificial fragrance oils to scent a product, mainly because they can smell incredibly strong and I cannot be sure they are safe for the dogs. If you are looking for a gingerbread scented Christmas balm then I am not the manufacturer for you.
• I won't use anything that is not 100% natural, I'm not criticising products that are made with synthetic ingredients, there are some lovely ones out there - it just is not something that I specialise in.
• Ideally I prefer to formulate without added scent these days. It is better for the dogs. I suspect most dogs would choose a natural aroma rather than something highly fragranced, it removes any allergens, means the products are suitable for puppies, pregnant bitches and sensitive dogs and also ensures you will not need any hazard warning symbols on the products. Lightly scented with essential oils is an option but may incur an additional expense (around £100) as I will need to send the recipe to a specialist company to create the Safety Data Sheets and advise what wording is necessary on the labels. 

These non negotiables are fixed and I like to be upfront about this as it saves us both valuable time. I know it sounds like a long list but it comes from experience and from what I am comfortable putting my name to.

At the same time, if we have similar visions, I will always do my best to make what you are looking for happen. Your success is my success and I love to make your goals happen.

How It Works

Drop me an email with what you are considering in the first instance, a bit of background about you and your business, what you are looking for, quantity etc. The first step is usually a Zoom call. I find it much easier to talk through your vision properly rather than going back and forth over email. If you are unsure of what you want at this stage lets just have a chat - I am always very happy to have an initial first call with no obligation. Ping me an email at enquiries@thedogandi.co.uk and we can take it from there.

We can discuss goals, selling channels, labels, branding, ingredients, texture, packaging, budget or logistics. Whatever it is that you need. Sometimes what you envisage can't be done exactly as imagined. If you come to me with a long list of premium ingredients and they are all expensive or they do not work well together, it may not be realistic within a unit price that works for you.

In that case, I will suggest ways to achieve your vision in a way that still makes commercial sense and is still strong from a marketing point of view.

If you are creating a dog product, I will also give you honest feedback about how it sits within the current market. For example, if you want to include a premium ingredient more commonly seen in human skincare and I don't think people would use that on their dogs, I will tell you. It is far better to adjust early on than struggle to sell it later.

Why I Might Say No To A Proposal

Most of the time as long as we are working within my non negotiables, I am very much an 'anything is possible' kind of person, but when it comes to a product, some things just fall in to the too difficult list. I was recently asked to create a balm that could be used on both dogs and people and marketed as a dual purpose product. I love the idea but I ended up saying no.

There are opposing pieces of legislation and labelling requirements around products for animals and products for humans. Whilst in theory it could probably be done it becomes hard to be sure you are complying for both properly, and I didn't want to take that risk. This is just one example, but if gives you an idea of why something may not be possible.

UK Based Only

Everything I do is UK based and I do not send to the EU or elsewhere. This is because I am not familiar with the guidelines for selling these products into the other countries and if I am honest, the red tape just seems more and more of a challenge. That said, if you are doing your own labels, are familiar with what is required, you are managing shipping out of the UK and the ongoing responsibilities then do get in touch. I can do the making if you can do the rest.  

Packaging & Labelling

One of the great things about a custom product is that you can choose the packaging that suits your brand. That might be tins, glass jars, cardboard tubes or something more bespoke that you have sourced yourself. If you can source something suitable, I can work with it. If there are any concerns around your packaging choices and suitability then we can talk through that. Sending samples to me to test is no problem either.

For labels, you have options. You can design and apply them yourself. You can send labels to me and I will apply them for you. Or I can arrange printing through the printer I work with.

If you want to order ready branded containers and have them sent to me, that is also something we can discuss as part of the wider plan.

Reverse Engineering & Inspiration

If there is a product already in the market that you like the direction of, we can look at that together. We can review the ingredient list and create something similar in principle.

This isn't about copying. It will not be identical. I would usually recommend changing something so it feels more unique to you. But if you want a particular ingredient, texture or for it to be vegan, we can absolutely work with that.

Samples & Next Steps

After our initial call, if we both feel it is a good fit, I will look at creating samples. What that looks like will depend on what you want, where you are and what your budget is.

Every project is slightly different, which is why I prefer to talk everything through properly first.

Your Formula Is Yours

If we create a formula together, I will never use that exact same formula for somebody else. It will always be unique to you.

I will also share the exact recipe with you. If you are building your business around a product I have designed, I do not want you to be left stuck if something happens to me. You need that security as well.

Phew - I know there is a huge amount of information here but I appreciate that if you are looking for a custom product it is likely to be a significant investment for you and I want you to feel confident that you are working with the right person. If you like what you have read so far, I would love to hear from you. My email is enquiries@thedogandi.co.uk I do have a phone number 07745 218403 but honestly - I am terrible at keeping it with me and I often work non standard hours to fit around my life, my family and sometimes the weather! If it is sunny I will be making the most of it and work in the evenings or on a rainy weekend instead! There has to be some benefits to being self employed after all! 

If none of this is for you and you are looking for wholesale products with my branding you can see the range and buy instantly here or if you would like your own branding and can DIY your labels why not buy unlabelled tins here. Convenient and you can still make them your own.