For any beauty brand looking to develop its own unique skincare line, one of the most common and critical questions that arises early in the manufacturing process is: "What is the Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)?" Understanding MOQs is fundamental to planning your product launch, managing your budget, and ultimately, bringing your vision to market.
As your trusted partner in Korean skincare manufacturing, Mayk is here to demystify MOQs and explain how we work to make premium K-Beauty production accessible, even for smaller brands.
MOQ, or Minimum Order Quantity, refers to the fewest number of units a manufacturer is willing to produce in a single production run. MOQs exist for several practical and economic reasons:
Efficiency of production lines: Setting up machinery, mixing ingredients, filling containers, and packaging products involves fixed costs regardless of batch size. A higher MOQ helps manufacturers amortize these setup costs over more units, making production more cost-effective.
Raw material sourcing: Manufacturers often purchase ingredients and packaging components in bulk to achieve better pricing. MOQs ensure that the volume of finished goods justifies these bulk purchases.
Quality control: Larger batches allow for more consistent quality control processes, as the setup and testing procedures are applied to a greater number of units.
Specialized requirements: Custom formulations often require specific ingredients or unique packaging, which may only be available or economical when ordered in larger quantities.
In the highly competitive Korean skincare manufacturing landscape, typical MOQs for custom skincare formulations often start around 5,000 to 10,000 units. This can be a significant barrier for startups, indie beauty brands, and even larger companies looking to test new product lines.
At Mayk, we understand this challenge. This is where our unique approach comes into play. We leverage our extensive network and relationships with a diverse range of Korean manufacturers, including smaller, highly specialized partners that individual brands might not otherwise have direct access to.
This allows us to offer more flexible MOQ options without compromising on the renowned quality and innovation of Korean skincare, dramatically lowering the entry barrier for your brand.
We offer two distinct pathways, each with its own MOQ considerations, to best suit your project's needs:
For brands seeking a quick, low-risk entry into the market with proven, market-tested K-Beauty formulas, our Retail-Ready options are ideal. This pathway minimizes development time and costs, allowing for a swift launch.
Standard MOQ: Starts from just 50 units per product.
This exceptionally low entry point makes it easier than ever to brand high-quality, popular Korean skincare products as your own, perfect for testing the market or building your initial product line.
For brands with a truly unique vision seeking a bespoke product developed from the ground up, our Custom Formulation service provides unparalleled customization. This tier allows for significant control over ingredients, formula characteristics, and packaging. Within Custom Formulations, we offer two sub-tiers:
Core Custom Formulation (MOQ: 1,000 - 3,000 units per product)
This tier is designed for brands looking for a unique formula with a lower entry MOQ for custom development.
It allows for in-depth customization of the product's active ingredients and overall formulation.
Packaging options at this tier typically utilize generic, transparent plastic containers with white lids for primary packaging, helping to maintain efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Full Custom Formulation (MOQ: Above 3,000 units per product)
This tier unlocks the full potential of bespoke product development, ideal for brands with ambitious design goals.
You gain extensive control over both the internal formula and a much wider range of packaging options. This includes diverse selection of packaging for both primary (e.g., custom bottles, jars) and secondary (e.g., unique boxes) packaging.
For exceptionally unique designs or specialized materials, MOQs may be higher, often starting from 5,000 units.
If you wish to make specific changes to the ingredients or opt for unique, non-standard packaging for a Retail-Ready Formulation, the MOQ will generally shift from 50 units and typically start from 1,000 units or more, depending on the complexity of the customization and the specific product type.
The complexity and customization of packaging are directly tied to MOQ:
MOQ 1,000 - 3,000 units: At this tier, packaging choices will be more limited, typically comprising standard, transparent plastic bottles with white lids. These are excellent for functionality and cost-effectiveness.
MOQ 3,000 units and above: As your MOQ increases, so do your options for custom packaging. You'll gain access to a wider variety of materials, colors, shapes, and custom printing techniques, allowing for a truly unique brand presentation.
Note: If you want to create your own custom packaging, which involves creating a mould just for your brand, the cost of packaging will increase to around USD 100,000 PER product (includes mould for lid and body).
While Mayk specializes in skincare, it's helpful to understand MOQs for other common beauty items:
Color Cosmetics (e.g., blush, lip products, eye makeup): Due to the intricate nature of color matching and diverse shade requirements, MOQs for color cosmetics can range anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 units per shade.
Sheet Masks: These popular K-Beauty staples have a distinct manufacturing process. The MOQ for sheet masks typically starts from 20,000 units. If you plan to sell them in multi-packs, consider this breakdown:
Selling in boxes of 10 masks: That's 2,000 units (boxes).
Selling in boxes of 5 masks: That's 4,000 units (boxes).