Six assets to prepare before approaching an overseas contract manufacturer
Relaxious Universe Limited is a Hong Kong‑based product development and sourcing partner bridging global brands with Asia's best manufacturers. We guide every stage — formulation, compliance, design, and production coordination — backed by a GMP-certified factory producing 50M+ units annually. 60+ brands served. 80M+ products created and distributed across personal care, home care, wellness, and pet care.
Work through the six assets below before you send your first RFQ to any factory. Check each asset when it is genuinely complete — your score counter updates live. At 6 / 6, you are ready to start your manufacturer search. Use Page 2 to complete the Retail Math Worksheet and Product Specification Quick-Start.
| # | Asset & What It Requires | Ready? |
|---|---|---|
01 |
A Written Product Specification
Covers: product format, key claims, ingredient direction (must-haves and must-avoids), a sensory reference product, packaging format and material, target certifications, and primary target market. One to two pages — not a mood board.
If not ready: use the Spec Quick-Start on Page 2 — 60–90 min for a standard ODM product.
Unlocks: Accurate, comparable quotes. Ends the "price depends on formulation" non-response.
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02 |
A BOM Cost Target
Worked backwards: retail price → target gross margin → maximum landed cost → subtract freight (FOB), import duty, and customs clearance → your maximum Bill of Materials cost. This number is your floor for evaluating every quote you receive.
If not ready: use the Retail Math Worksheet on Page 2 — takes 20 minutes.
Unlocks: You know immediately whether a factory quote works for your business — without collecting six unverifiable numbers.
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03 |
A Target Market Decision
EU: CPSR + CPNP notification + EU Responsible Person. US: FDA MoCRA facility & product registration. UK (post-Brexit): UKCP notification + UK Responsible Person — separate from EU. Choose one primary market first. Start your Product Information File (PIF) now.
If not ready: choose one market, list the mandatory compliance steps, and open a folder for your PIF.
Unlocks: Ingredient conflicts caught before formulation starts — not after a compliance assessor flags a problem mid-sampling.
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04 |
A Realistic Volume Commitment
3–6 months of your conservative sales forecast. Check formulation MOQ and packaging MOQ separately — they come from different suppliers and often differ significantly. Custom packaging typically requires 5,000–20,000 units minimum from component suppliers, even if the factory will fill 1,000 units of liquid.
If not ready: revise your forecast downward and confirm the packaging component MOQ before finalising any custom design.
Unlocks: Working capital stays liquid. First order doesn't tie up cash in stock that ages out before it moves.
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05 |
A Pre-Production Budget
Beyond the factory quote: sample courier costs (standard ODM samples are often free; OEM samples carry a fee), CPSR/compliance assessment, pre-shipment inspection (SGS / Bureau Veritas / Intertek), ocean freight & insurance, import duties. Typically adds 30–50% to the quoted product cost on a first order.
If not ready: add 30–50% to your factory quote as a planning buffer until you have specific line-item quotes.
Unlocks: No mid-production financial surprises. The gap between factory quote and landed cost stops being a shock.
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06 |
An OEM vs ODM Decision
OEM: custom formula, you own the IP — longer timeline, higher development cost, full formula portability. ODM: factory's existing formula, your branding — faster, lower cost, no IP ownership of the formula. This decision changes how you write your brief, what questions you ask, and how you compare quotes.
If not ready: a 30-min call with Relaxious Universe resolves this before you approach any factory.
Unlocks: Correct briefs from day one. IP terms and development timelines clear from the first conversation.
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| Target retail price |
£
|
The price your end consumer pays in your primary channel |
| ×Target gross margin |
%
|
DTC brands: 50–65%. Retail supply: 40–55% |
| =Maximum landed cost |
£
—
|
Product in your warehouse, compliant and ready to sell |
| −Ocean freight + insurance |
£
|
Per unit (FOB). Request a live quote from your freight forwarder |
| −Import duty rate |
% = £—
|
Check HS code. Personal care (3304/3305) typically 3–12% |
| −Customs clearance & forwarding |
£
|
Per unit. Divide total customs fee by number of units ordered |
| =Maximum BOM cost |
£
—
|
Product + packaging cost at the factory gate. Take this number into every manufacturer conversation. |
All figures illustrative. Use FOB quotes throughout — never compare FOB and EXW quotes without converting to the same basis. Import duty here is calculated as % of landed cost (a planning estimate; actual duty applies to CIF value). Get live freight and duty figures before committing to a retail price.
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Room 2104-06, 21/F, Cosco Tower,
183 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong
