Private Label
Private label is selling products made by someone else under your own exclusive brand, capturing margin and blocking comparison.
What private label is
Private label is selling products manufactured by someone else under your own brand: the retailer specs or selects the product, the factory makes it, the label is yours.
Why private label matters
It captures margin the middle brands would take, and it makes the product exclusive: nobody else carries your label, so price comparison shopping has nowhere to go. Retail’s biggest names run huge private label programs for exactly these reasons.
What private label involves
- Sourcing and vetting manufacturers, usually with MOQs
- Product specs, quality control, and compliance
- Brand, packaging, and positioning built from scratch
- Owning demand generation: no brand recognition arrives free
Frequently asked questions
Private label vs white label: what’s the difference?
White label sells one generic product to many brands as-is; private label is made or customized for one seller. Private label controls more and shares less.
What are the risks of private label?
Inventory commitment before demand proof, quality issues landing on your brand alone, and building recognition from zero. The margin is payment for carrying those risks.