What OEM means: building your own brand with a Thai factory, and what to ask

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is what Thai sellers call "we make it under your brand": the factory produces, you own the brand and sell it. It is common for cosmetics, perfume, supplements, chilli pastes and sauces, because you can start without building a plant. First-timers usually lose money on what they did not ask at the start. Ask these questions before hiring a factory. 1. OEM or ODM — if you bring your own formula or spec and the factory makes it, that is OEM. If you pick one of the factory’s existing formulas and put your brand on it, that is usually called ODM or a "ready formula". The latter starts faster with lower minimums, but your product may resemble other brands using the same formula. Ask which one you are buying. 2. Who owns the formula — if the factory develops it for you, ask whether it belongs to you or the factory, whether you can take it with you if you change factories, and whether the factory will make the same formula for other brands. Put this in the contract or the quotation. 3. Who files with the Thai FDA, and in whose name — cosmetics must be notified and supplements need a food registration number before they go on sale. Ask the factory who files, whose name appears in the documents and on the label, and whether changing factories later means filing again. The details depend on the product type; if unsure, ask the Thai FDA directly before production. 4. Factory standards — ask to see certificates that are still valid, such as GMP for cosmetics or food, ISO 22716 for cosmetics, or HACCP for food. Check that the name on the certificate is the factory that will actually make your product, not an intermediary. 5. Minimums per formula and per packaging — minimums usually come in two parts: the product per formula, and the packaging per design (bottle, box, label). Custom-printed packaging often has a higher minimum than the product itself. Ask for both prices separately. 6. Samples before production — get a sample of the formula to use yourself and give to others. Ask the sample fee, how many revisions are included, and the lead time from sample approval to the first lot. 7. Payment and responsibility — ask the deposit percentage, when the balance is due, who is responsible if the first lot does not match the sample, and keep every chat and quotation. On Trust Gate, sellers in the cosmetics (including perfume) and supplements categories list contract-manufacturing services. Check each shop’s verification badge first, then send a quote request with the questions above directly. The agreement and payment are between you and the seller.