I have a product idea and would like to start prototyping with someone, but to take it to scale would need to work with a company who does white label leather work.
I’ve tried a google search or reaching out to companies who I know use a white label company in the US, but have had no luck as of yet.
If you have any leads or connections, please PM me! Thanks in advance!
I have no practical suggestions but my understanding is that most low to medium level tack is made in developing countries, principally India and China. And high end tack may be made in its European country of origin. There are some high end brands like Edgewood and some Western brands that still manufacture in the US. But they are not going to drop ship you private label gear.
My suggestion would be to find a local artisan or saddle maker who is up for a challenge, and pay them what they are worth, to tinker with a prototype. Someone local to you. Once you have a prototype you can start looking for a white label overseas drop ship manufacturer to make multiples.
I cannot imagine tinkering with a prototype long distance with a factory in Pakistan or China. It would be hard enough to get the concept actually manufactured to your specs if they are set up to just produce entry level snaffle bridles in 3 color choices :). I don’t think they would have the capacity to develop and ship multiple evolving versions of a unique product.
A long list of suppliers all over the world here, worth a shot: http://www.suppliersof.com/bridles/74285996
Also you might try Bartville Tack or another Amish harness maker
You might also consider going to a non horse specific leather maker. I can’t vouch for the specific company I listed, but maybe it is a route to consider. https://makersrow.com/cascadian-fabrications-inc (you can google the makersrow site and other keywords to see if another company would be a good fit… expensive to sign up as a brand!)
Ask Amy Cattell Magee on FB. She has been ordering some bridlework made to order and possibly has a contact she’d share.
I’m in the process of setting up a small e-com business and have done some prototyping abroad. Portugal has some excellent small leather manufacturers and I’ve done some polo/dressage boots with a company in Pakistan. I think they turned out pretty good, but not perfect. The polo boots were definitely better. Why? Because this particular manufacturer has done many of them. So everything is about patience and repetitions.
Bridles are an easy job compared to eg a saddle or a boot, so you could just work with a decent cobbler, but if you want excellent quality you will need to shop around. My advice would be to always do a pilot with more than one because you need fallback options, that’s just how it works with outsourced product dev in general.
And expect sourcing to be a bit of a process so I wouldn’t rule out international manufacturers at all. Unless you find someone hyper-local, I wouldn’t even say that it’s faster to do it in US. American distances are so large that an express international fedex won’t necessarily be that much slower. Shipping those boots took only a week and that’s with customs and all. A bridle you can probably even ship in an envelope so much lower complexity & expense.
I’ll also add that you should do multiple iterations, when testing the producers because one of the big lessons I learnt is that it doesn’t really matter how good someone is as a baseline, but can you communicate well? Can they receive feedback? Are they quick with iterations? Those things really matter a lot more than perfection in that first order.
What does white label mean?
It’s a term that refers to a manufacturer that makes for other brands. White Label makers are basically the factories that actually produce the goods, and then the brand puts their label on it.
An example of this is Bartville Tack that was mentioned above - they make all of the Nunn Finer products. Nunn Finer does the design and specs/tech packs, and then Bartville manufactures.
I’d be hesitant to trust a poster that signed up three days ago. They seem to be advertising.
Do you not have leather workers in your area? That would be a good place to start. Designs are all well and good but if the craftsmanship sucks so does your product.
I actually traveled to places known for leather work, then spoke to the manufacturers there in person and ordered a few samples.
Yeah, but the advice offered here is general. Hardly anyone moves forward with their concepts for inventions or prototypes for anything anyhow. It actually takes a bit of cash whatever it is.
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