Why You Should Place Your Supplement Production Order Before Black Friday

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fast approaching.

For supplement brands, this can be one of the most important trading periods of the year. Increased website traffic, promotional activity and customer demand can create a significant uplift in orders — but that increased demand also means one thing is particularly important: being prepared.

If your products are manufactured to order, now is the time to start thinking about your production requirements.

At Life Lab Manufacturing, we work with brands throughout the year to manufacture supplements across a range of formats. As we move towards the final quarter of the year, production capacity can become increasingly limited, which is why placing your order early can help you enter the Black Friday period with confidence.

Why Black Friday preparation needs to start early

It can be tempting to wait until your Black Friday campaign is finalised before placing your manufacturing order.

However, by the time November arrives, it may be too late to secure the production timeframe you need.

Supplement manufacturing involves several stages, from sourcing raw materials and packaging through to production, quality checks and dispatch. Each stage needs to be planned around your required quantities and deadlines.

By placing your production order ahead of Black Friday, you give yourself more time to:

• Secure your required production slot
• Confirm raw material and packaging requirements
• Build sufficient stock ahead of increased demand
• Plan your Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions with greater confidence
• Reduce the risk of running short during your busiest sales period
• Allow time for your products to reach your warehouse or fulfilment partner before your campaign begins

Don’t wait until November to think about stock

One of the biggest risks of leaving production too late is assuming that increased demand can simply be accommodated at short notice.

Black Friday isn’t just a busy period for retailers. It can also be a busy period across the wider supply chain.

Manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers, couriers, fulfilment providers and other businesses can all experience increased demand and reduced availability as the year comes to an end.

This means that a production requirement that might normally be straightforward to schedule can become more difficult when requested at short notice.

Consider your expected Black Friday demand

If you are planning a Black Friday promotion, now is a good time to look at your previous sales data and estimate how much additional stock you may need.

Give yourself breathing room for the Christmas period

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are only part of the picture.

Once November arrives, there is very little time before the Christmas trading period.

For brands selling supplements, this can be another important period for sales as customers purchase products for themselves, stock up for the new year or look for gifts and wellness products.

Having your production completed before this period can help you avoid putting unnecessary pressure on your supply chain at the end of the year.

It can also give you greater visibility over your stock levels as you move towards January.

October is the time to start planning

With October approaching, now is the ideal time to speak to your manufacturing partner about your requirements.

You don’t necessarily need to wait until you have completely finalised every detail of your Black Friday campaign.

If you already have a good idea of which products you will be promoting and the quantities you are likely to need, starting the conversation early can help you understand your production requirements and available timelines.

At Life Lab Manufacturing, our team can work with you to discuss your upcoming requirements and help you plan your production around your business needs.