Skin care brand Ktchn Apothecary is launching manufacturing services for small- and medium-sized brands.
Ktchn Apothecary Labs wants to help smaller-sized brands produce personal care products end to end without the typical constraints of large-scale mass production manufacturing.
According to Ktchn Apothecary founder Kevin Lesser, many manufacturers have high minimum-order quantities, often requiring minimum production runs of 10,000 to 25,000 units.
“This practice not only ties up vital capital in unsold inventory, but also stifles innovation and limits marketing flexibility,” he said. “To make matters worse, many contract manufacturers retain ownership of the formulas they develop, forcing brands into long-term dependence on mass production.”
Ktchn Apothecary is offering its low-MOQ manufacturing model to other personal care brands for the first time in its own New York-based production facility with minimums as low as 1,000 units. Additionally, Ktchn Apothecary Labs ensures that clients retain 100 percent ownership of their formulas, enabling them to manufacture their products whenever and wherever they’d like.
“In an industry dominated by mass production, we’ve seen firsthand how small-batch manufacturing and full formula ownership can be game changers,” said Lesser. “By offering these advantages through Ktchn Apothecary abs, we’re empowering smaller brands to grow faster and compete with the beauty giants unlike ever before.”
Lesser launched his own brand in 2017. The idea came to him two years prior when his dog George licked his face after he had applied a fresh coat of moisturizer, causing him to worry what ingredients it contained.
“That really led to me starting to really analyze what’s in skin care and understand more about mass production and that the formula you’re buying to make your skin glow and feel softer and feel healthier, is mass-produced, so it’s filled with a ton of chemicals that don’t need to be there. They’re all focused on shelf life,” he said. “I started thinking I’ll just make my own skin care for myself. And it was this handcrafted, fresh made skin care that started in my apartment, and I was making small batches.”
Key ingredients are pure aloe, apricot oil, apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, carrot seed oil, lavender oil and rosehip oil along with oats and beeswax. Products include Facial Cleanser, $22; Radiance Renewal Face Oil, $49; Perfecting Elixir Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $47, and Body Cleanser, $35. They are sold direct-to-consumer and on Amazon.
