Valid and detailed business contact info is the first and most basic requirement of the packaging manufacturing industry, and applying for free cosmetic packaging samples is no different. A formal business email (that is regularly checked), a phone number with international calling capabilities, and information to identify your business (company name and business address) are all required. In many instances of cooperation, a lack of submission has been the primary cause of the delay. For example, due to an incorrect email address suffix, a Southeast Asian cosmetic brand was unable to receive the sample delivery notice in a timely manner, which severely impacted the subsequent development of the products. Providing complete contact information is necessary for ensuring the successful delivery of the samples, and in business, contact information demonstrates the professionalism of the business and is the first step to building a trusting relationship between the sample provider and the business. The sample provider relies on this information to contact you regarding bulk orders in the future, and business contact information is kept confidential as directed by international business practices.
In order for the sample to meet the actual needs, there must be clear specification information as it relates to the production technology and material selection of the cosmetic packaging. You must specify the packaging type, e.g. spray bottles, perfume bottles, or travel portable bottles and specify the capacity clearly, i.e. 10ML, 60ML or 300ML, which are some of the most common specifications of cosmetic packaging. You should also specify the required material, e.g. food-grade PET, PP, or borosilicate glass, as the packaging material's safety and compatibility varies among different cosmetic products (liquid skincare, perfume, facial cleanser). For example, the materials used to package perfume must have good air tightness, whereas the liquid skincare materials should be food-grade PET materials that are SGS certified. If you have any requirements for the shape of the bottle body (e.g., square, heart shape, star shape), it should also be indicated clearly. Experienced packaging manufacturers will modify the sample production plan to meet the practical needs of the clear specifications of the cosmetic products.
For specific/custom needs for cosmetic packaging, a detailed customization description is required when requesting free samples. This is an important aspect reflecting how well the two sides match professionally. Common customization needs include logo printing, color of the bottle, and surface processing. With regards to logo printing, be sure to provide a vector file of the logo that is a high enough resolution to show detail and state the printing method; automatic screen printing and multi functional hot stamping are the two most common in the cosmetic packaging customization industry. To color of the bottle, provide the specific Pantone color number to the manufacturer to avoid color deviation of the sample. Furthermore, if there are specific requirements for the bottle cap, such as child-proof screw caps or gravity sensor lids, please state this. It should be noted that free samples are only provided for basic customization that falls within the manufacturer’s technical scope. For highly specialized customization that requires new mold(s) to be made, the two parties will need to negotiate separately.
Within the scope of the manufacturing of packaging that has a low MOQ (minimum order quantity) flexibility, a firm’s intent to cooperate in bulk and their projected order volume provide a gauge to the manufacturer, that would offer free samples, is a prevailing custom. In relation to this, we would like to ask you to briefly outline the phase of your cosmetic product project, for example is this a new product launch, and, if possible, provide a figure that represents your expected order volume on a monthly, or yearly basis. For example, in relation to the foregoing, if you indicate that your expected order volume is to be 250 pieces or more, this is the low MOQ threshold, and this is a yardstick by which many professional packaging manufacturers use to determine potential for synergistic collaboration to be placed in their order books. In a number of real-life instances, clientele that is able to express, openly, the demand for a bulk order, are more likely to be afforded the opportunity to the production and dispatch of samples, as this is defining the production capacity and this is about defining the scope of synergy in future cooperation. The Sample Provider is likely to provide constructive advice of the packaging plan for the proposed bulk order, including recommendations with respect to the reduction of the total procurement cost as a result of the proposed revisions to the order packaging structure.
Keeping logistics and receiving information clear and updated is required to deliver the free cosmetic packaging samples successfully and especially to deliver the samples across the borders. You have to provide an elaborate receiving address along with the postcode and the logistics method that is required. You can choose from DHL and FedEx as they are international logistics firms that are widely used in the packaging sector. One more thing that you need to do is check if the receiver can clear the customs for samples. If yes, please provide the customs information required, such as the tax number of the company. After shipping the samples, the sample provider will provide you with the shipment tracking number to monitor the shipment’s progress and the estimated time of arrival is usually 7 to 15 business days. An example of this is a North American cosmetic retailer who provided complete customs clearance information and declared DHL logistics to get samples, and she received the samples within 8 business days. When the samples get delivered, make sure to provide the name of the contact person at the receiving address, and provide the contact number of that person to avoid any delays in case the contact person is not available to sign for the samples.
Sample acceptance and follow-up confirmation standards help avoid issues during the cooperation that may result in disputes later. It is important to specify what the sample acceptance points are. The quality and pricing specifications for cosmetic packaging sample acceptance points include, material quality, sample accuracy, print quality, and sample seal performance . It is important to specify the sample acceptance finish before the sample confirmation so the sample provider can adjust their production schedule and the cooperation can advance to bulk purchasing sooner. The sample provider can further improve their production schedule to maximize their cooperation with the purchaser. All standards for sample acceptance quality are based upon OHSAS18001 and ISO 9001 and quality control standards; therefore, your sample acceptance quality standards are bound.
EN
