The reason private label brands fail is not just the lack of marketing. Some discontinue their operations due to defective products.

For instance, think of shoe polish that is inappropriate for the usage of customers causing damage to their dresses or shoes. Or it is misused by the warehouse worker who puts it in the freezer leading it to turn into a useless, hard block. Such issues arise from bad shoe polish formulation.

When a customer receives a broken product, this experience is often the only thing that they will remember. Things like these can directly damage your brand’s image. Your shoe polish formulation is a demonstration of what quality you can offer to the clients.

Climate-Proof Your Product, Protect Your Brand

Creating a long-lasting product is not a matter of pure luck. It revolves around meticulous science and numerous experiments. A basic formula cannot work well in all climates around the world.

We are committed to putting every custom shoe care formula to the ultimate test in our dedicated Biki Testing Center. With this process, we can eliminate product errors before your first order leaves our facility.

The tests include (but are not limited to):

• Oven Tests (High-Temperature Stability): Product samples are put into special, high-temperature ovens for extended periods, akin to 50°C (122°F), simulating what happens in warehouses or shipping trucks in hot regions like Dubai or Texas. We pay close attention to any signs of melting, oil separation, or texture changes.
• Freeze-Thaw Cycles (Low-Temperature Stability): The product is frozen numerous times, usually down to -15°C (5°F), and then it is allowed to warm up to room temperature. This matches the scenario of what happens when products are shipped through cold places like Siberia or Canada, ensuring that the polish does not crack, become hard or lose its smooth feel.

The special care in this testing assures your order is correct, whether sent to a hot desert or a cold mountain. Your clients receive the same high-quality product every time, no matter where they are.

We once assisted a client in fixing a polish that turned out a failure in Australia due to oil leaking in the summer heat. Our Oven Tests revealed the wax was not stable, thus we obtained the data necessary to create a new, stable custom shoe care formula that turned into a best seller.

Unlock Global Markets with Compliance

The market is very fast to depart from old styles of solvent-based products which contain high levels of VOC (volatile organic compound) solvents. This derives from the “Solvent Shift” that happens due to customers demanding products that are safe and because governments are enacting stricter rules.

To succeed at global levels your brand should stick to formulas that are advanced and obedient to the rules. These are:

• Water-based formulas with less smell and wastage, which means they are easier to clean up.
• Solvent-free shoe polish, usually in solid or cream form, that helps the environment.
• Bio-solvents which come from renewable and sustainable sources.

Complying with international chemical regulations is not a matter of discretion anymore; it is a prerequisite for market access and risk aversion. The two most important requirements are:

• EU REACH: The EU’s tough regulations on chemicals and their safety of use. Failing these rules can result in entire shipments at borders being blocked.
• US California Proposition 65: This enforces businesses to inform people about exposure to carcinogenic or toxic chemicals.

Non-compliance with these rules can lead to fines that are too huge and turn the chain of supply into a nightmare for everyone involved.

The R&D Biki’s department has created a whole portfolio of shoe polish formulation options that fully adhere to the stated standards. We deliver REACH compliant shoe care that in turn, protects your brand from legal issues while promoting expanded market possibilities.

Crafting Your Signature Shine

The gloss of a shoe polish does not just happen by itself; it is a result of the science behind it. This is the “Gloss Unit.” which can be controlled and measured.

The design of your product is about looking and feeling right. We can control this by varying different waxes in the shoe polish. This comes as a key feature of our custom service.

Is your target audience office workers who wear formal attire with a very shiny look? Or do you create the products for the casual market with an understated, natural matt finish? We materialize your thoughts by introducing ingenious blending of the main materials.

Wax Type	Key Property	Best For…
Carnauba Wax	Very Hard, High Melting Point	Best shine, strength & mirror finish.
Beeswax	Softer, Feeds Leather	Medium, rich glow & cares for the leather.
Microcrystalline Wax	Flexible, Better Texture	Creamy, smooth feel & stopping cracks.

Ingredients are never randomly selected. We create a tailor-made shoe care formulation using these waxes to help your brand achieve the desired identity and performance.

>>> Related Article: Carnauba Wax Shoe Polish vs Beeswax: Custom Formulation Guide

Biki, More Than a Manufacturer: Your R&D Partner

Do not throw the future of your brand away with a generic off-the-shelf formula. The low initial costs can often lead to high costs through product failures, customer returns, and damage to reputation that is beyond repair.

The solution is offered by the Biki ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) Formulation Service.

We do not just manufacture shoe polish ingredients. Our team of product planners and chemical engineers make us a full-fledged team. Our ODM formulation service is a true partnership.

This partnership involves:

• Joint effort to clearly define your product’s specific goals in look and performance.
• The search for better ingredients, and improvement of the product in stability, compliance, and with cost savings.
• Speedy prototyping and testing to get the perfect product before big production runs.
• Total regulatory and compliance support covering all target markets.

Collaborating with our design and development team R&D means you will have a strong competitive advantage based on product quality and technical knowledge.

Your Formulation, Your Brand’s Future

An improved shoe polish formulation is the bedrock of a strong private label brand. It helps to prevent expensive mistakes, provides worldwide compliance, and delivers the unique finish that your clients expect. It is the most important decision concerning your product.

Do you have a particular formula in mind or do you want to improve your existing product quality? Chat with our Chemical Engineers.