Should your brand go with a ready-made formula or build something entirely your own? This week on The Unbottled Podcast, we break down private label, white label, pre-formulated, and custom supplement options — what each one actually means, the MOQs and costs involved, and who each path is really built for. Plus: a viewer question on retail vs. direct-to-consumer vs. omni-channel, and why passion for your product matters more than which route you pick. 🎧

This week on The Unbottled Podcast, host Mark Bryant breaks down one of the most important — and most misunderstood — concepts in supplement manufacturing: the MOQ (minimum order quantity). Mark explains why fixed manufacturing costs make MOQs so critical to your per-bottle price, the difference between an MOQ and a minimum order value, and why "hero ingredients" can push your minimum order up (or down). He also covers tiered pricing, when a manufacturer might flex on their stated MOQ, the real purpose of a test batch, and the hidden risks of chasing the lowest possible MOQ — including a cautionary story about a brand that got more than it bargained for. Plus: practical tips for testing a product idea at home before you ever approach a manufacturer, and why being upfront with your manufacturer about where you really are in your journey can save everyone time and money.

In episode one, Mark Bryant, Vice President of Business Development at Canyonside Labs, a supplement manufacturer out of Twin Falls, Idaho, lays out the topics that will be addressed in future episodes–from "Why materials are used in formulas?" to "How you should choose a manufacturer?"