From concept to delivery
Most brands come to us with an idea rather than a finished specification. Here is how we turn that into stock on your shelf, and roughly how long each stage takes.
1Brief and consultation
You tell us what you want to make, who it is for and what you want it to do. We talk through formats, ingredients, regulatory constraints and rough costs. If what you are asking for is not viable — a health claim you cannot legally make, a nicotine strength above the legal limit — we tell you at this stage rather than after you have spent money.
Typical timescale: 2–5 working days
2Formulation and quoting
We develop a working formulation and give you a firm quote covering unit cost, tooling or artwork setup, and minimum order quantity. For supplements this includes ingredient sourcing and dosage; for e-liquid it includes flavour profile, VG/PG ratio and nicotine strength.
Typical timescale: 1–2 weeks
3Sampling
We produce samples for you to assess. Flavour work in particular usually takes two or three rounds to get right, and we would rather iterate now than after a full production run. You sign off on the final sample before anything scales up.
Typical timescale: 2–4 weeks including revisions
4Artwork and compliance check
You supply branding, or we work with your designer. Before anything prints we check the label against the regulations for your category — ingredient declarations, allergens, health warnings, nicotine warnings, and the required statutory text. Getting this wrong means reprinting an entire run, so we are thorough here.
Typical timescale: 1–2 weeks
5Notification and testing
For nicotine products, MHRA notification is submitted and the required emissions and toxicological testing completed. There is a mandatory six-month waiting period after notification before a product can be sold in the UK, so this stage needs planning into your launch date.
Typical timescale: Supplements: 1–2 weeks. Nicotine products: 6 months from notification
6Production
Your batch is manufactured, filled, labelled and packed. In-process quality checks run throughout, and the finished batch is tested against specification before release.
Typical timescale: 2–4 weeks depending on volume and format
7Release and delivery
Batch documentation is issued — Certificate of Analysis, specification sheet, compliance records — and stock is released. We can ship to your warehouse, your fulfilment partner, or hold stock for scheduled release.
Typical timescale: 3–5 working days
Common questions
How long does the whole process take?
For a supplement, typically eight to fourteen weeks from first conversation to delivered stock. For a nicotine-containing e-liquid, the mandatory six-month MHRA waiting period after notification dominates the timeline, so plan on seven to nine months for a genuinely new product.
Can you work faster if I already have a formulation?
Yes. If you arrive with a finished specification and approved artwork, we skip the development stages and go more or less straight to production scheduling. That can cut a supplement project to four or five weeks.
What if I do not like the samples?
We revise them. Flavour development in particular is iterative and we expect two or three rounds. Nothing goes to production until you have signed off a sample you are happy with.
Do I need my own artwork and branding?
You need branding, but not necessarily print-ready artwork. If you have a designer we will give them our templates and specifications. If you do not, we can put you in touch with people who do this work regularly for our customers.
Ready to start your product?
Tell us what you want to make and we'll come back with formats, timelines and costs.
Request a quote