Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes once you hit "send" on a purchase order? Mark breaks down the journey from PO to production — covering sales confirmations, product spec sheets, payment terms, and how the process differs for new brands, brands switching manufacturers, and current customers reordering or launching something new. Plus, get to know new co-host Stephanie with a hilarious round of Two Truths and a Lie. 🎧

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

00:31: - Meet Stephanie

01:45 - 2 Truths and a Lie

07:14 - What happens after I turn in a PO?

08:59 - Product Specs Page

10:17 - Manufacturing agreement

12:12 - Migrating Production

13:14 - Future Orders

13:31 - Current customer with a new product

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. 🎧

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

00:06 - How do you pick which is best for my brand - retail vs dtc vs omni channel?

00:49 - Know retail qualifications

01:20 - Example of Stephanie's buying habits

03:07 - Quick overview of what a co-packer

03:54 - Private Label vs White Label vs Pre-formulated vs Custom Formula?

04:20 - Private Label & White Label

05:46 - Risk of private label

06:43 - How do you differentiate yourself when using a private label product?

08:35 - What is a custom formula and what are the pros and cons?

10:19 - What is a pre-formulated formula?

11:36 - Who is private label and custom formulas for?

12:12 - Does every co-manufacturer offer private label and custom formulas?

13:13 - Do manufacturers prefer to make private label or custom formulas?

14:52 - Show Recap

15:21 - What one thing should viewers take away from this episode?

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.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

00:26 - Is there a database of manufacturers?

01:46 - What is an MOQ?

01:59 - What is the difference in MOQ and Minimum Order Value and do Manufacturers take them both into consideration?

02:30 - Fixed Costs in Manufacturing

04:50 - Why do manufacturers have MOQs?

05:29 - Hero Ingredients

07:47 - What is tiered pricing?

09:17 - When would you consider doing lower MOQs as a supplement manufacturer?

10:24 - Should I reach out to a contract manufacturer if I can't meet their MOQs?

11:40 - What risks to startup supplement brands have?

12:22 - Test Batch VS Regular Run

16:12 - Summary of MOQs and Advice

16:32 - What is driving your MOQ goal?

16:50 - Expiration Dates

20:22 - Companies that do Lower MOQs

22:50 - Can you build your brand with a private label product?

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?"