As a procurement manager, how to control costs and avoid risks while ensuring quality in the face of various customized glass bottle manufacturers in the market? This practical guide will break down those 'unspeakable secrets' for you.
Three common pitfalls, step on one accurately
Low price bait, later price increase
This is the most common routine. Some manufacturers intentionally omit mold fees, sampling fees, or special process fees when quoting, using ultra-low prices to attract customers to place orders. When the mold is ready and the customer is struggling, additional fees will be added for various reasons. Countermeasure: Require the manufacturer to provide a full package quotation, clearly listing the bare bottle price, mold cost, sampling cost, printing cost, packaging cost, and shipping cost, and indicating that there are no subsequent hidden expenses.
Small workshops impersonate the original factory
Many trading companies disguise themselves as factories and subcontract to small workshops after receiving orders. This leads to uncontrollable delivery times, uneven quality, and a lack of after-sales service. Countermeasure: Persist in on-site inspections, focusing on the number of kilns, bottle making machine models, and mold workshops. If the other party refuses to visit for various reasons, it can be basically judged as a non source factory.
The process description is vague, and the goods are not on the right board
What color is' premium gray '? Is "frosted" full sand or localized? Oral descriptions are prone to ambiguity. Countermeasure: All process requirements must be implemented in writing and accompanied by Pantone color codes or physical reference samples. Before mass production, samples must be signed and sealed as acceptance criteria.
Four great money saving tips to save 30% of your budget
Reasonably plan the minimum order quantity (MOQ)
The production of glass bottles has a very high minimum order quantity requirement (usually 5000-10000 bottles). If the order quantity is small, the mold and start-up costs will be shared among the extremely high single bottle costs. Countermeasure: If the initial sales volume is uncertain, you can first choose the universal bottle type of the existing mold for customization (such as only spraying and printing), and then invest in mold opening after the sales volume stabilizes.
Standardize bottle mouth to reduce accessory costs
If non-standard customization is used for bottle mouth specifications (such as 38mm, 43mm, etc.), the matching bottle cap and gasket need to be separately molded, resulting in a geometric increase in cost. Countermeasure: Try to use industry standard bottle mouths as much as possible, so that mature and low-priced bottle cap accessories can be purchased in the open market.
Simplify bottle structure
Overly complex shaped bottles (such as those with complex handles, deep grooves, or extremely thin bottle walls) not only have a low yield rate and slow production speed, but also increase the rate of transportation damage. Countermeasure: While meeting the brand tone, try to adopt a simple and symmetrical structural design, which can significantly improve production efficiency and reduce overall costs.
Plan ahead and avoid peak season
The 3-5 months before Mid Autumn Festival and Spring Festival are the absolute peak season for the glass bottle industry, with tight production capacity, rising prices, and extended delivery times. Countermeasure: Plan packaging design six months in advance and place orders during the off-season. Not only can you get a more favorable price, but the manufacturer will also have more time to polish the quality.
Conclusion
Customizing glass bottles is a systematic project, and procurement managers not only need to know how to bargain, but also need to understand the "process" and know the "manufacturer". Find the right partners and communicate with a professional attitude in order to create the most stunning products with the most reasonable budget.
