OEM / ODM Checklist: What to Prepare Before Your First Branded Order

Private-label lighting is one of the fastest ways for a distributor to protect margin: the same product, under your brand, with packaging that suits your market. The process is straightforward once you know what is customisable and what is not.

1. Sort out your logo files first

Ask for a vector file (AI, EPS or SVG) plus a single-colour version for laser engraving and printing. Screen-print logos on housings usually need one or two colours; full-colour logos are better suited to packaging and manuals.

2. Decide exactly what is customised

• Product: logo on the housing, lens colour, beam pattern, colour temperature, DRL colour, cable length and connector
• Packaging: your colour box, hang tag, sticker, manual and barcode
• Kits: what is inside the box — bracket, harness, switch, mounting hardware

Most suppliers will quote the standard version first and then price each change separately, so keep the list short for the first order and expand it once the line is proven.

3. Ask for the right documents

For lighting sold into Europe, ask for the ECE approval or test report that names the exact model and approval number, plus EMC documentation (R10) and IP68 / IP69K test reports. For the US, ask what is street-legal in the state you are targeting. Certificates belong to the product and the factory — they are not transferable to a different model, so always match the model number on the paperwork to the SKU you are buying.

4. Packaging and cartons

Give the supplier your artwork dimensions and carton quantity requirements as early as possible. Ask for a printed proof before mass printing: colour shifts on cardboard are common, and a reprint is expensive. If you sell through retail, ask for shelf-ready cartons and a barcode position you can approve.

5. Plan the first order

• Start with two or three SKUs and small quantities, rather than ten SKUs at minimum volume
• Ask what the MOQ is per SKU and whether mixed SKUs can be combined in one carton or container
• Confirm the sample timeline with the artwork, not only the product
• Agree on how the shipment will be inspected before it leaves, and who pays if a batch fails

Questions to ask before paying a deposit

• Is the housing tooling already owned by the factory, or is this a modified standard product?
• How long does production take after artwork approval, and how long is the transit leg?
• What happens if the logo or packaging does not match the approved proof?
• Can you provide real photos and a short video of the finished branded batch before shipping?

We handle model selection, branding and shipment for our dealers, and we will confirm what is available for your market before you commit. See the OEM / ODM page for the process, or send us your logo and target market and we will come back with a model list and artwork plan.