Tips for Starting a White Label or Reseller Business in South Africa

Starting a white label or reseller business in the health and wellness industry is one of the easiest and lowest-risk ways to enter the market. Whether you’re creating skincare, supplements, or wellness products, your success depends on strategy, compliance, and consistent branding — not just on having products to sell.

If you’re still new to the concept of white labelling, you can read more in Shopify’s guide to white label products, which explains how the model works globally and why it’s popular among entrepreneurs.

1. Selecting Products for Your Brand

Start by choosing products that align with your niche — for example, a Detox Bath Soak, Collagen Capsules with Vitamin C, or Cellulite Body Scrub with Rooibos Tea.

Research your chosen products and ingredients carefully so you can confidently explain them to your customers. It’s not your supplier’s role to train you — you need to understand your own niche, ingredients, and customer needs.

For example, you can learn about South African cosmetic regulations through Biorius’ guide to South Africa’s cosmetic laws or consult the SAHPRA cosmetics labelling draft regulations.

2. Understanding Pricing & Profit Margins

When setting prices, always include:

• MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): The smallest batch you can order per product type.
• Packaging & labelling: Printing costs can range from R7 – R35 per label, depending on size and quantity. To get the best pricing, print at least 100 labels per product/design — not split across multiple products.
• Shipping & marketing: These are part of your cost structure, so build them into your selling price.

A solid pricing structure helps you stay competitive while maintaining a healthy margin.

3. Labeling & Legal Compliance

All health, beauty, and wellness products sold in South Africa must follow specific labelling rules. Each label must include:

• Product name and category
• Full ingredient list (common and scientific names)
• Volume or weight (e.g., 200 ml or 20 g)
• Directions for use and warnings (if any)
• Manufacturer details:

“Manufactured for: [Your Brand Name], [City], South Africa. For enquiries: [Your Email/Website].”

For official standards, visit Trade.gov’s overview of South African labeling requirements.

💡 Important: Certifications like GMP, HACCP, SAHPRA, Halal, or ISO confirm manufacturing quality — but they cannot be transferred to your business. You must apply independently if you want certification under your brand name.

4. Managing Stock & Orders

Once you receive your products, you’re fully responsible for managing them. Buying white label means Easy Slimming is your supplier, not your stock manager.

That means:

• We do not track your stock or alert you when you run low.
• You are responsible for reordering, storing, and tracking expiry dates.
• Keep organized records or use free tools like Google Sheets or Airtable for basic inventory control.

For additional insights, you can review Essentially Natural’s checklist for South African cosmetic formulators, which includes practical compliance and product-handling advice.

5. Marketing Your Wellness Brand

Marketing is where your business identity takes shape. Use your social media, website, and community engagement to build credibility.

Focus on:

• Education over sales: Explain ingredients and wellness benefits.
• Consistency: Use matching brand colours, fonts, and tone across your marketing.
• Trust: Consumers buy from brands that look reliable and authentic.

When your products look professional and your information is accurate, customers are more likely to choose you — even in a competitive market.

Explore our White Label Services for ready-to-brand health, beauty, and wellness products — all produced in GMP-certified facilities and made to your order specifications.

Conclusion

Starting your own white label or reseller business in South Africa doesn’t need to be complicated — but it does require planning, compliance, and accountability.
By learning how to manage your stock, label correctly, and market effectively, you can grow your brand confidently and sustainably.