good-to-go: product sign off

ooh-la-la. Getting closer to setting my brand's launch date after doing some pretty serious sign offs on product today. Big tick items were:

1. Sign off on lippy product costings - production/fill cost
2. Sign off on lippy formulation - base, flavours and shades
3. +ve test results from lab - 3 months with revised packaging
4. Re-designed artwork submitted for test print & production mockup of packaging

I am trying to get the message and words right to describe my product and have had the camera out for weeks bringing ideas to life. My pin board is covered in brochure mockup designs. These are some of the shots from my creative moments..... the kids are (NOT) in the background!

Tho it is good news with all those key sign offs I must dust off my corporate sales hat to bag some chunky sales offline (nooooo not retail - too many hurdles and deadlines for not much margin - aka bankable $$) to get the oils wheeled. By that I mean I want to pre-sell 10K (10,000 units would be REALLY nice tx) to take a big bite out of startup packaging stock requirements. Pre-selling before I buy packaging (my design custom made in Asia) and go to production (out sourced here in beautiful Australia using gorgeous ingredients) means I am not tying up my funds but using someone else's to cashflow my biz.

I am envisaging sales online (my biz model) will take time to build (no I don't have a 20+K subscriber list but would love one if anyone has a creative collaborative idea!!) and the quantity and rate of sales is a relatively 'unknown' so by doing this I reduce risk and as a consequence launch STRESS.....thus keeping me and therefore family happy!

NPD Update - food for thought

I had a telecon (do you still call them that?) with my contract manufacturer yesterday (Business manager & lab mgr + team) and the good news is ....the 'fixed' packaging' is 3 weeks into it's stability & compatibility trials and they are perfect. Last time we saw cracks week 1....so 2 more months to go and we will know. Then 3 months lead time on packaging and we just scrape in ...no, we miss Xmas. Or, I take a calculated risk and order early to maximise the best gifting period of the year. Food for thought. 

Lippy packaging problems solved?

I just received my 'final' (I hope) development samples of my lippy packaging this week. It is a beautiful creamy colour 'soft touch' wind up 'slim-stick' - that's the techo description! It is very understated and stylish and just the right size to pop in your pocket or purse for a quick 'foodie fix' but boy has it caused me some grief over the last 18 months.

The soft -to-touch coating that gives you a little sensory delight has been cracking under testing conditions of 40+C  filled or not filled. And testing is not a simple matter, first the packaging has to be hand made and shipped from Asia, then we need to be slotted in for lab time, then production trial time. No mean feat in one of Australia's best colour makeup production houses with an awesome team of cosmetic scientists, production guru's and account service queen.

We think the soft touch is not 'giving' on the cap when it is pushed onto the base, and so the little lugs that keep the cap in place are pushing out and causing pressure, because the soft touch coating is strong it must have taken away the 'give' in the plastic and so there is no where to go but to crack.

And, because the packaging was failing we have had to 'abort' some of our stability & compatibility testing several times hence why my launch date is so wide open. So fingers crossed, these little babies will work. I am giving them a lucky send off kiss as I pop them into the post to my development & production team.

Now all we have to do is wait til my beautiful little babies can move up the lab & production queue for more NPD & testing.......

I'll keep you posted!

briefs + building my external team.

Head down, tail up writing briefs today for a new product, new packaging (range #2) & new accountant or to use the right biz term - an outsourced CFO!
Tho i have prepared all my figures/spreadsheets, biz plan and model I need someone who is an expert to identify the weakness, find more opportunities and keep me on track, & introduce me to the right people & services. It feels good working on the backend.  I have been reading and listening to Marc Peskett (partner www.mprgroup.com.au) via StartupSmart.com.au and like what he says. Down side - his firm is Melbourne based.... not sure this is an issue in this day and age with SKYPE, online 'gotomeetings', shareslide/google docs and cloud accounting so readily available.

pretty little pots for warmer days...?

There is some creativity happening too -  I have a beautiful mood board taking shape for the new range. Love visuals to create a brief ....it inspires me. 

at my kitchen bench

I know, I am in the middle of my business plan and suppose to follow a set procedure but I am afraid passion and desire have took over quite a while ago. What does that mean - well I have already been researching 'lipsticks' and whether or not they could be made from food starting with skin friendly oils such as avocado and sesame. As a food scientist, I just had to start experimenting....