MAYK Help Center

All About Retail-Ready Formulations

Debbie2025-06-17

In the dynamic world of K-Beauty, getting your products to market quickly and efficiently can be a game-changer. For many new and established brands alike, Retail-Ready Formulations offer an incredibly powerful pathway to launch your own skincare line with minimal risk and maximum speed. At Mayk, we specialize in connecting you with these cutting-edge Korean solutions.

This article will break down exactly what Retail-Ready Formulations entail, their distinct advantages, and how they can be the perfect starting point for your brand.

Retail-Ready Formulations, often referred to as ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) or White Label products, are pre-developed skincare formulations that have already undergone extensive research, development, and testing. These are proven formulas that are stable, effective, and often reflect current market trends or timeless skincare needs.

When you choose a Retail-Ready Formulation, you are essentially selecting an existing, high-quality product base that a manufacturer has already perfected. Your role is then to apply your own brand's logo, branding, and packaging design, effectively "white-labeling" it as your own unique product.

Opting for Retail-Ready Formulations through Mayk offers a multitude of benefits, particularly for brands seeking efficiency and accessibility:

  1. Exceptional speed to market: This is the most significant advantage. Since the R&D and formulation work is already complete, you can skip the entire development phase entirely. This means your products can move much faster from concept to shelf, often ready for production within weeks.

  2. Lower risk & proven quality: These formulations are already stable, have passed rigorous quality control, and often have a track record of performance. This significantly reduces the risk associated with developing a new product from scratch. You benefit from established, reliable K-Beauty innovation.

  3. Highly accessible MOQs & lower initial investment: Retail-Ready Formulations are designed to be highly accessible. With Mayk, our MOQs for these products start from just 50 units per product. This incredibly low entry barrier makes it feasible for startups, indie brands, or established brands looking to test new lines without a massive upfront commitment. Furthermore, the cost per unit for these products is transparently displayed on each product page in our catalog, allowing for clear budgeting.

  4. Reduced complexity: For those new to skincare manufacturing or expanding their lines, Retail-Ready simplifies the process. You focus on branding and marketing, leaving the complex formulation and production details to the experts.

Choosing your Retail-Ready products with Mayk is a straightforward process:

  1. Browse our catalog: Explore our curated selection of high-quality, on-trend K-Beauty formulations available in our catalog.

  2. Order samples: We highly recommend experiencing the products firsthand. You can purchase individual samples for just $20 per product.

  3. Curated sample packages: To make your selection even easier and more cost-effective, consider our sample packages:

    • Starter Package: Get 5 Retail-Ready samples of your choice from our catalog for only $69 (a 31% discount!).

    • Bestseller Package: New to the industry? Receive 6 of our best-selling, proven Retail-Ready formulations for $72. These fixed choices offer a great introduction to Mayk's quality without the decision-making effort.

While the core formula of Retail-Ready products remains fixed, you have ample opportunity for customization to make it uniquely yours:

  • Your Brand, Your Packaging: The primary customization for Retail-Ready products lies in your branding and packaging. You can apply your logo, custom label designs, and choose from a selection of standard primary and secondary packaging options that suit your brand aesthetic.

  • Limited Formula Customization (with MOQ shift): If you wish to make specific, minor changes to the ingredients (e.g., adding a specific ingredient, removing an ingredient) or desire entirely unique, non-standard packaging that isn't part of the standard options, the product effectively transitions into a 'semi-custom' category. In such cases, the MOQ for your project would typically shift from 50 units and start from 1,000 units or more, depending on the complexity of the changes.

To offer you maximum flexibility for your brand, Mayk provides clear options for how your Retail-Ready products are presented:

  • Product Labels (Primary Packaging):

    • For orders starting at 50 units, product labels featuring your design are included as part of the service.

    • For orders of 100 units and above, labels become optional. You can choose to receive your products filled into their individual bottles or jars (primary packaging) without labels. This is ideal if you prefer to handle labeling yourself or have specific post-production branding processes. If you opt for us to print and apply your labels for orders of 100+ units, an additional charge will apply.

  • Box Packaging (Secondary Packaging):

    • Adding a custom box as secondary packaging is completely optional for all Retail-Ready orders. If you choose to proceed with branded box packaging, an additional charge will apply.

  • Design Support:

    • To streamline your design process, we can provide dielines for both labels and boxes. You simply send us back your completed design/artwork in the required format (.ai), and we'll handle the printing for you.

    • If you don't have an in-house designer, Mayk also offers a convenient template-based design service at an additional charge, helping you create professional branding quickly.

Samples are generally available much faster and can typically be shipped within 1-2 weeks of your request.

It usually takes around 4 weeks to produce after confirming your label designs.

It's important to set clear expectations:

  • Not Bespoke From Scratch: Retail-Ready Formulations are not designed for creating a product with a completely unique ingredient list or a drastically altered base formula from the ground up. If you have a highly specific, novel concept, our Custom Formulation (OEM) service would be the appropriate path.

  • Not for Extensive Performance Claims without Testing: While the formulas are proven, any new or specific performance claims you wish to make under your brand name may require additional testing specific to your product.

Can you do white labeling?

Yes, Mayk offers Retail-Ready Formulations, aka white label formulations, that work like a turnkey solution which saves you time and resources. All you need to do is select a product from the catalog, and rebrand them as your own.

If you wish to use Mayk's white label formulations, MOQs are 50pcs per product to start. Note that customizations are not possible as the formulation and packaging have been fixed.

What is the process of Retail-Ready Formulations?

1. Explore our Retail-Ready Formulations catalog here.

2. Order samples ($20 each).

3. Order a production on our website (starts at 50 units per order).

4. If you've ordered labels/boxes, send us your designs based on the template dielines provided by Mayk.

How to place a production order after sampling?

To place a production order after you've received your sample order, you typically need to follow these steps:

1. Retail-Ready Formulations: Place an order for production on the website. MOQ starts from 50pcs.

2. Custom Formulation: Make sure you are satisfied with the sample you received. This is crucial as the production order will be based on this sample. Reach out to the manager in charge and confirm the MOQ, and provide your label designs.

What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for Retail-Ready Formulations?

For ready-made Retail-Ready Formulations, our lowest MOQ is 50 units per product. This is the lowest manufacturing MOQ in Korea, and it is only exclusively available at Mayk. This is only limited to the items listed on our catalog.

What is the cost per unit for a retail-ready formulation?

Our Retail-Ready Formulations are designed for maximum transparency and ease. For these pre-developed, market-proven K-Beauty products, all associated costs are clearly stated on our website. You can navigate directly to each specific product page in our catalog to view the detailed cost per unit based on various quantity tiers. This allows for immediate budget planning without any hidden surprises.

Does the unit cost for Retail-Ready products on your website include labeling and box packaging?

The unit cost listed for our Retail-Ready products includes the product filled into its standard primary packaging. Labels are included for orders of 50 units. For 100 units and above, labels are optional and come at an additional charge if you want us to print and apply them. Box (secondary) packaging is always completely optional and incurs an additional charge.

Can I modify the formula of a Retail-Ready product?

Retail-Ready Formulations are designed to be "ready-to-go" to ensure speed to market. Therefore, the core formula itself cannot be altered. If you require minor modifications to ingredients or prefer specific, non-standard packaging, the project transitions into a 'semi-custom' approach, and the MOQ will typically increase to 1,000 units or more.

Can I change the packaging of a Retail-Ready product?

Retail-Ready Formulations typically utilize standard, pre-selected primary packaging to ensure quick turnaround and cost efficiency. If you have a highly specific or custom-designed primary container you wish to use, this would usually require transitioning to a Custom Formulation project, which involves a different MOQ and lead time, as it impacts container compatibility. We also do not sell the formulation by bulk, as they have been pre-filled into standard primary packaging.

The product I want to create is not on your Retail-Ready Formulations catalog.

If the product you want to manufacture is not on our Retail-Ready Formulations catalog, then you will have to use our Custom Formulation service to create that product.

Note that Custom Formulation MOQs will apply.

Do Retail-Ready formulations come with certifications for quality and safety?

Our Retail-Ready products are formulations that have undergone prior testing and are designed to meet the regulatory requirements of most countries globally. However, certifications (such as organic, vegan, or specific market registrations) must be applied for by your brand under your brand name, as these are tied to the final product and its market destination.

What documents do you provide with Retail-Ready Formulations?

After your production order is confirmed and the downpayment is made, we provide essential documents such as the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) list, and Certificate of Analysis (COA). Additional documents like the Product Information File (PIF) and Certificate of Free Sale (CFS) can be requested. Please note that specific test reports for marketing claims are available at an extra cost.

What information do I need to provide for my label and box designs?

Once your order is confirmed, we will provide you with the necessary dielines for your labels and/or boxes. You (or your designer) will then need to provide us with your complete artwork in a high-resolution, editable file format (e.g., .ai). If you don't have a designer, we also offer a template-based design service at an additional charge.

How much does Mayk's template-based design service cost for labels and boxes?

Our convenient template-based design service for labels and/or boxes is available for an additional charge of $199. This service helps you create professional branding quickly if you don't have an in-house designer.

Does the cost per unit include packaging for my product?

For Retail-Ready Formulations, the cost per unit shown on our website typically includes standard primary packaging (e.g., the bottle or jar). Secondary packaging (such as label and box) are additional costs. For Custom Formulations, the final cost per unit will explicitly include both the formulation and your chosen primary and secondary packaging, as packaging is a significant cost driver that you select during the R&D and quoting process.

Can I order fewer units than your stated MOQs?

Our stated MOQs are the minimum quantities required for efficient and cost-effective production runs. While we aim to be highly accessible, going below these MOQs is generally not possible as it would make production economically unfeasible due to fixed setup costs. Our 50-unit MOQ for Retail-Ready is already one of the lowest in the K-Beauty industry, specifically designed for smaller brands.

Can MOQs be mixed with few Retail-Ready Formulation products?

No, all MOQs stated on our catalog are based on one product only. If the MOQ is 50pcs, you need to order 50pcs of the same product.