Private label products from China: how to start
Private labeling is how a store stops reselling a product anyone can list and starts owning something competitors cannot copy by tomorrow. China is where most private label products are made, and the process is more accessible than it looks, provided the steps happen in the right order. This is that order.
What "private label" really means
A private label product is made by a manufacturer and sold under your brand, to your specification. The degree of change varies:
- White label: an existing product, your logo and packaging. Fast, low minimums, limited differentiation.
- Private label: the existing product adapted: materials, colors, sizes, formula, accessories, bundle.
- Custom development: a new product designed with the factory, sometimes with your own mold. Longest and most expensive, strongest protection.
Most ecommerce brands start at the first level and move up product by product. The service side of this is described on our private label in China page.
Which products are worth private labeling
The process, step by step
Where to find private label manufacturers in China
Alibaba.com
The default starting point: English-speaking suppliers used to export. Expect a mix of factories and trading companies, and minimums set for importers.
1688
The domestic wholesale platform, with lower prices and lower minimums, but in Chinese and without export service. Usable through an agent. See how to buy from 1688.
Trade fairs
The Canton Fair in Guangzhou and category-specific shows let you see products and meet factory owners in a few days. Worth the trip once you have volume.
A sourcing agent
An agent on site shortlists factories in the right cluster, including many that are not on any platform, and handles negotiation, samples and follow-up. Our China sourcing agent team works this way. Which city makes what is covered in our guide to China’s sourcing hubs.
MOQ: how minimums really work
The minimum order quantity is not a fixed rule; it reflects what a production run costs the factory to set up. That is why it moves with what you ask for:
| What you change | Typical minimum | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Logo and packaging only | From ~50 units | The product already exists in stock |
| Color or material | Hundreds of units | Raw material is bought in batches |
| Custom packaging | 500 to 1,000 units | Printing plates and setup |
| New mold or design | Thousands of units | Tooling cost has to be amortized |
Minimums are negotiable, especially with a supplier who expects repeat orders. Paying slightly more per unit for a smaller first run is usually the right trade.
From dropshipping to private label without stopping sales
The transition does not have to be a leap:
- Keep selling the generic product through your current setup.
- Add branding first: packaging, inserts, logo. This is branded dropshipping, and it already changes reviews and repeat purchases.
- Order a first small private label run of the improved version, stored in a warehouse that ships per order.
- Switch the listing when the new stock is in place, and compare return rate and reviews over a month.
- Scale the run once the numbers hold, and repeat with the next best seller.
A Swiss activewear brand we work with followed this path to a fully custom range refreshed every year.
Mistakes that cost first-time private labelers
- Private labeling an unproven product. Validate demand with a generic version first.
- No written specification. If it is not written, the factory decides.
- Paying 100% upfront. Keep a balance payable after inspection.
- Skipping inspection on the first run. The first run is where misunderstandings show.
- Ignoring trademarks and compliance. Register your brand in your selling market and check which certifications the product needs before production, not at customs.
- Forgetting landed cost. Unit price plus packaging, inspection, freight and duties. See how to ship from China to the USA.
Private label with Apex Hub
We handle the chain end to end from Shenzhen: sourcing and supplier verification, samples, negotiation, production follow-up, inspection, custom packaging, storage and worldwide fulfillment. Most products start from around 50 units. Tell us which product you want to make your own and we will come back with supplier options, prices and lead times.
Frequently asked questions
How do I private label a product from China?
Validate the product, write a specification, find and vet a manufacturer, approve samples, agree price, minimum and lead time, design the packaging, inspect the run before paying the balance, then ship it to a fulfillment warehouse or to Amazon.
What is the minimum order for private label products in China?
A logo and custom packaging on an existing product can start from around 50 units with the right supplier. Changes to materials, colors or molds raise the minimum, often to several hundred or a few thousand units.
How do I switch from dropshipping to private label?
Keep selling the generic version while you develop the branded one. Start with packaging and logo, order a first small run, compare returns and reviews, then extend to product changes.
What is the difference between private label and white label?
White label is a ready-made product sold by several brands with only the logo and packaging changed. Private label is adapted to your specification, so competitors cannot buy the same item off the shelf.
Do I need a sourcing agent to private label in China?
No, but it removes most of the risk for a first run: supplier verification, negotiation, sample handling, production follow-up and inspection are done by someone on site who is accountable to you.
Related reading
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