In the episode “New Year Update on Sino-US Trade,” Wilson Lau and Jeff Crowther delve into the Sino-US trade as they see it for 2025, while recapping 2024. They explore their top takeaways for 2024 and what they think 2025 holds.

The conversation covers changes in China supplement market, the opportunities there and how Sino-US trade could be impacted.

Conversation Overview:

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:06 What are your (Jeff's) top takeaways from 2024?

02:01 Attitudinal change in health among Chinese population and the opportunity that it presents

06:26 What are your top things to keep an eye on for 2025?

11:25 The importance of trade associations, such as Health Product Association-China to understand the issues in the local market and how they can assist with entry into China

13:15 Cross-Border Commerce

21:58 Odds of Increased Tariffs on Chinese Goods

24:22 Strategies to address increased Tariffs

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

In the episode “The Rise of Personalized Herbal Solutions: Meeting Consumer Demand,” Wilson Lau and Graham Rigby delve into the future of customized health products. They explore how traditional herbal practices are enhanced by modern technologies like AI and 3D printing, offering tailored health solutions that meet individual needs. The discussion highlights how these technologies not only improve the precision of herbal dosing but also innovate the way these solutions are delivered to consumers.

The conversation covers the challenges and opportunities in integrating technology with traditional wisdom to create effective and personalized herbal products. Wilson and Graham stress the importance of collaboration between the herbal and tech industries to advance these personalized solutions. They also discuss the balance needed between machine precision and human intuition in crafting health remedies that are truly beneficial for individual health journeys.

Conversation Overview:

00:00 Introduction and Background

00:50 Innovative and Groundbreaking Work at Care Of

03:55 The Historical Context of Personalization in the Herbal Wellness Industry

10:39 The Role of Technology and Big Data in Personalization

18:49 Personalized Delivery Systems for Herbal Products

39:15 The Role of Ritual and Sensory Aspects in Herbal Medicine

40:13 The Potential of Precision Dosing and 3D Printing in Drug Delivery

41:46 The Importance of Personalization in Health Journeys

48:03 Balancing Technology and Human Intuition in Personalized Medicine

55:12 The Limitations of Clinical Trials in Evaluating Traditional Healing Systems

01:02:38 Navigating the Regulatory Hurdles in Personalized Herbal Solutions

01:09:01 Collaboration for Scaling Personalized Herbal Solutions

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

In the podcast episode “From Concept to Consumer: The Lifecycle of Herbal Product Development,” Wilson Lau interviews Lisa Thomas, Chief Commercialization Officer at Nuherbs, to explore the intricacies of herbal product development. Lisa, drawing on her background as a former professional soccer player and her deep understanding of nutrition, shares insights into the journey from initial concept to market-ready product. The episode covers key phases such as idea generation, product formulation, understanding the target customer, and the rigorous process of product formulation.

The discussion extends to the critical elements of scalability and supply chain management, particularly for small and medium manufacturers dealing with challenges like minimum order quantities, cost, and lead time. Wilson and Lisa explore the nuances of packaging design tailored to meet the expectations of target consumers and discuss the strategies that have led to success stories in scaling herbal products and developing custom ingredients.

They also highlight untapped markets such as sports nutrition, women’s health, and functional foods and beverages, underscoring the potential for growth in these areas. The episode concludes with an insightful discussion on regulations and policies shaping the herbal market, including the implications of the Amazon verification program and the importance of supply chain transparency.

To reach out to Lisa regarding the Bespoke Extracts program, please email [email protected]

How we make Bespoke Extracts

https://nuherbs.com/resources/how-we-make-bespoke-extracts 

Understanding Amazon’s New Dietary Supplement Policy: What you Need to Know

https://nuherbs.com/resources/understanding-amazon-s-new-dietary-supplement-policy-what-you-need-to-know

How to Comply with Amazon's Updated Dietary Supplement Policy

https://nuherbs.com/resources/how-to-comply-with-amazon-s-updated-dietary-supplement-policy 

Conversation Overview

00:00 Introduction and Lisa's Journey into the Health and Nutrition Industry

04:00 Navigating the Initial Phase of Idea Generation and Conceptualization

09:16 Formulating Products: Considerations and Challenges

18:18 The Importance of Market Research and Intuition

25:25 Tailoring the Approach to Product Formulation

29:30 Ensuring Quality and Efficacy in Ingredient Sourcing

32:48 The Crucial Role of Regulatory Compliance

35:46 Building Partnerships with a Culture of Care and Passion

38:09 New Herbs' Sourcing Process: Ensuring Purity and Compliance

45:36 Success Stories: Scaling Products

50:50 The Importance of Effective Packaging Design

57:32 Developing Custom Ingredients

01:05:35 Untapped Markets in the Herbal Product Industry

01:10:07 Regulations and Policies Shaping the Market

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

In the premiere episode of Season 3, titled “The Green Path: Journey of a Herb and the Impact of Ethical Sourcing,” Wilson Lau and Erin Smith explore the vital role of ethical sourcing in the herbal industry. This discussion covers the definitions and importance of ethical harvesting and sourcing, detailing their impact on environmental sustainability and community welfare. They also link these practices to the quality and efficacy of herbal products.

Wilson and Erin emphasize the power of storytelling and transparency in communicating the origins and benefits of ethically sourced herbs to consumers. They advocate for collaboration and the establishment of standardized measurements within the industry to ensure accountability and foster positive change. The conversation sheds light on how ethical sourcing not only supports the economic and social well-being of local communities but also preserves traditional knowledge and cultural heritage associated with medicinal plants.

The episode also addresses the evolving consumer expectations, with a growing demand for products that are responsibly sourced and produced sustainably. Through their insightful dialogue, Wilson and Erin illustrate how ethical practices in the herbal sector can lead to better products and a healthier planet.

Conversation Overview

00:00 Introduction and Setup

01:01 Journey in the World of Sustainability

09:46 The Three-Legged Stool of Ethical Sourcing

21:39 Communicating Ethical Sourcing to Consumers

28:49 The Future of Ethical Sourcing in the Herbal Industry

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

In this episode of our podcast, Wilson Lau is joined by Kim Dietz and Johanna Phillips from Strengthening Organic Systems LLC to explore the latest USDA regulations aimed at enhancing organic enforcement.

They delve into the critical updates, including broader certification requirements across the organic supply chain, the standardization of import documentation, and the introduction of mandatory fraud prevention strategies.

They emphasize the importance of supply chain integrity, traceability, and the mandatory reporting of fraud, particularly concerning exports to Canada.

Conversation Overview

00:00 Introduction to Strengthening Organic Systems

01:05 Top Three Changes in USDA Strengthening Organic Enforcement Regulations

10:11 Exemptions and Certification Requirements for Different Entities

12:01 Non-Retail Packaging and Labeling Requirements

14:08 Import Certificates and Considerations for Businesses

23:01 Exporting Organic Products and Special Paperwork

25:01 Exporting Organic Products to Canada and Europe

30:39 Conclusion and Contact Information

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

In this episode, Wilson Lau delivers an update on the herbal industry, touching on significant trends like the rise of functional beverages and mushrooms, and the critical focus on sustainability.

He unpacks the challenges posed by climate change, geopolitical events, and new organic regulations impacting the supply chain.

Wilson underscores the importance of staying updated and proactive in the industry, and he commits to providing ongoing insights on these evolving topics.

Conversation Overview

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:45 Top Trends from Expo West

04:12 Industry Trend: Sustainability

06:38 Herbal Supply Chain Challenges

08:00 Geopolitical Impact on Supply Chain

09:55 New Regulations for Organic Herbs

11:23 Conclusion and Future Updates

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

Gummies, tinctures, extracts…alternative delivery methods are want your customers want.

But putting an effective therapeutic dose into such a small format is a challenge for most brands and manufacturers.

In this video, Wilson and Suzanne discuss how to solve for the technical aspects of moving into new delivery systems.

If you company is exploring how to move into other delivery formats, and you are faced with challenge of getting all your key ingredients that new format, you want to watch this:

Conversation Overview

00:16: How hard is it to get a therapeutic does into a supplement?

1:26: Are consumers getting the Doses they need in supplements?

2:38: How do brands and manufacturers get to the right dose?

3:14: Material, taste, and other technical formation considerations

5:58: From bars to powders, all delivery systems have challenges. It’s important to understand them in all aspects of manufacturing.

7:50: You need find manufacturing partners that have technical expertise, but also an understanding of the phyto-components of the herbs and botanicals.

12:15: The next frontier of supplements is large and small animals.

Learn more about our bespoke extracts program: https://go.nuherbs.com/bespoke-extracts-ssw23

Explore our sleep strips: https://nutraditions.com

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

In this episode, Alexis Durham, Director of Education at AHPA, talks with Wilson Lau on her unique perspective on #sustainability. They cover: 

Learn More About the Sustainability Committee: https://www.ahpa.org/committees

You can also join over 11,254 herbal industry professionals, companies, and practitioners who subscribe to our monthly newsletters. You can select the topics you are interested in. https://go.nuherbs.com/emailpreferences

You can also subscribe to our podcast, Herbal Explorations, for the latest insights and interviews with the world’s leading experts in herbs and botanicals.

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

In this episode, Wilson talks with Erin Smith, an Ethnobotanist with Bayan Botanicals. They discuss:

Connect With Nuherbs

If you have questions on this report, reach out to me via Linkedin.

You can also join over 10,932 herbal industry professionals, companies, and practitioners who subscribe to our monthly newsletters. You can select the topics you are interested in. https://go.nuherbs.com/emailpreferences

You can also subscribe to our podcast, Herbal Explorations, for the latest insights and interviews with the world’s leading experts in herbs and botanicals.

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/

As we cross the halfway point of the year, this is my update From The Fields as I fly to visit our partners. Always, I address the hot button issues and give my best advice for managing them as you look forward.

I suggest reaching out to your herbal partners to better understand how this will impact your company going forward. This is especially important if you have contract pricing expiring as previously made commitments have been fulfilled and you haven’t experienced the price increases to date.

There is good news that some of the increases are offset by a stronger dollar and reduction of sea or air freight costs. We won’t discuss inflation because I am sure that you feel it daily and read all about it everywhere, just know that most of the non-herbal inputs have increased in price as well. Listen to the episode to learn more.

Connect With Nuherbs

If you have questions on this report, reach out to me via Linkedin.

You can also join over 10,712 herbal industry professionals, companies, and practitioners who subscribe to our monthly newsletters. You can select the topics you are interested in. https://go.nuherbs.com/emailpreferences

You can also subscribe to our podcast, Herbal Explorations, for the latest insights and interviews with the world’s leading experts in herbs and botanicals.

Learn more: https://nuherbs.com/