Many small cosmetics businesses start out with a home set up. Whether in your garage, basement, hobby room, or kitchen, you’ve likely spent a lot of time getting your production system down pat. However, as you grow more successful and demand for your products grows as well, a home set up may just not be enough. Likely, you can rent space in a nearby lab. However, you may also need to upgrade your equipment to keep up with demand.
Mixers
A mixer is a very important part of your setup, and there are a lot of factors that go into choosing what kind of mixer will be best for you. Obviously, the type of mixer you choose will be dependent on your products. Are you working with liquids, gels, or pastes? How large will your batches be? How fast—or slow—do you need your mixer to be able to go? These factors and others will affect your choice.
If you’re not sure what kind of mixer you need, it may be a good idea to talk to silicone mixing equipment suppliers. With very versatile equipment, they’ll be able to talk you through your products and help you make the best choice.
High-Capacity Tanks
If you’ve outgrown your home setup, you likely are needing to start working with bigger batches to keep up with customer demand. In this case, it’s important to have tanks and bowls that can handle larger amounts than your average kitchen mixing bowl.
Even if you are still working with relatively small batches, only a gallon or two, mixing bowls and storage containers should be good quality and reliable.
Heating and Cooling Equipment
Because many—if not most—cosmetics have an oil base, they require some heating to properly mix and homogenize. This means that proper heating equipment is very important for your products, as is cooling afterwards. Luckily, you don’t need a Bunsen burner or anything that intense.
A hot plate should work perfectly well, and as a bonus, they’re usually fairly easy to clean. Get one that gives you precise control over temperature. Additionally, make sure that you have an accurate thermometer on hand. Finally, simple, open top steel containers can be used to make a water bath for either heating or cooling.
Product Containers and Packaging
Increased demand means that your products are getting a lot of attention. However, it may be time to take a second look at your product packaging. Your business is growing, and depending on your brand and style, it may be time to adopt a more professional look. You might have to experiment a little with containers and packaging to find the look you want.
Your business is growing, and that’s a success worth celebrating. However, along with that, you need to look at practical concerns to help ensure that your business continues to grow. Consider these equipment upgrades as you look at expanding your business.