A useful OEM quotation starts with a clear product brief. A request such as “please send your best price for pet treats” gives a supplier little to work with. Two products that look similar can involve different recipes, piece sizes, packaging and order requirements. A brief does not need to be complicated, but it should make your priorities easy to understand.
For brands, distributors and wholesalers, the goal is to give the manufacturer enough information to review the project and identify what still needs discussion. Here is a practical way to structure your first enquiry.
1. Describe the product you want to develop
Start with the product category and format. Are you interested in freeze-dried cubes, shaped bites, ring-shaped pieces or an air-dried treat? Include a reference product, photograph or sketch if you have one. Explain which features are essential and which are simply inspiration.
Separate appearance from formulation. A photograph can show a shape or color, but it does not establish the ingredient list or nutritional specification. If you already have a recipe requirement, provide it separately. If you are still exploring options, say so rather than presenting an unfinished idea as a final specification.
2. Define the brand and destination market
Tell the supplier where you plan to sell the product and how it fits your range. A distributor building an assortment may have different priorities from a brand developing one flagship product. Explain the intended pet, sales channel and product positioning so the discussion has a clear commercial context.
Identify the language needed on the pack and who will prepare and approve the label information. Raise any destination-specific documentation requirements early, with the appropriate local review, instead of leaving them until artwork is ready.
3. Specify the pack, not just the product
Include the target net weight and your preferred packaging format. State whether you need retail packs, bulk packs or both. If you have brand artwork, attach it and explain whether it is final or still in development.
It is also helpful to distinguish the first launch configuration from future options. Asking for several pack weights and designs without identifying the first order can make the proposal harder to compare. Start with your priority pack and request alternatives as separate options.
4. Give an order estimate and a realistic target date
Share the quantity you are considering for the first order and any anticipated repeat-order pattern. Treat this as a planning estimate if you have not made a purchasing decision. The manufacturer can then discuss the order requirements for the selected product and packaging.
Explain what your target date means: sample receipt, production completion or arrival at your destination. These are different milestones. Leave space in the discussion for sample revisions and artwork approval, and ask for a timeline linked to the agreed scope.
5. Make the quotation easy to compare
Ask the supplier to identify what the quotation covers: product specification, pack configuration, quantity, sample arrangements and delivery scope. Keep alternative configurations separate. If you compare suppliers, use the same brief for each rather than comparing prices for different products.
Before confirming an order, resolve any items marked provisional. Keep a written record of the approved recipe, packaging, artwork and commercial details so both teams work from the same version.
Your first enquiry can be one clear paragraph
For example: “We are developing a private-label freeze-dried treat range for our destination market. Our preferred format is a paw-shaped bite. Please review the attached reference, discuss recipe options and quote our proposed pack size and first-order quantity. We also need to confirm samples, artwork responsibilities and a project timeline.”
Explore BSG’s product formats and OEM customization process. When your brief is ready, send it to our team for a project discussion.