The Complete Guide to Creating a Product Brief

So you’ve got your manufacturer, but how do you make sure they help make you a successful product? Well, it all starts with what you send them. Use the complete guide to creating a product brief below as a full template you can send to your manufacturer…

I’ve learned over the years that the only way to really get what you want across to manufacturers is by having a super-thorough product brief.

Not only does this tell the manufacturer exactly what you’re looking for, but it also helps turn your product ideas into a tangible item that could sell well in your niche.

Let’s take a deep dive into creating a product brief for your product:

Which Format to Use When Creating a Product Brief
Information to Include in Your Product Brief
Packaging Options to Include in Your Product Brief

Catch my TikTok short on this below, or scroll to keep reading here on the blog:

@orenmeetsworld
A full template for creating a product brief for tour manufacturer #ecommercetips #productdevelopment #creatoreconomy
♬ original sound – Oren John

Which Format to Use When Creating a Product Brief

The easiest way to do a brief is in PowerPoint or Google Slides because you can:

include images and reference links
send it to someone directly as a presentation file or converted PDF
share it across teams

Information to Include in Your Product Brief

The first question to answer right upfront is… “What are you trying to create?” Let’s take this metallic puffer bag as an example, in roughly x size.

Next, you would clarify what materials you want your product made out of.

For instance, is this jewelry sterling silver? Is it white gold, gold plated, steel, etc?

It’s quite okay to ask your manufacturer for the options and materials available. This helps you choose your ideal materials, and also figure out what your creative limits are.

Next, include a list of the colors you’re using with their pantone codes if possible.

Then add in any notes about what you would consider to be a success from a quality perspective, whether it’s references to other products, or notes about stitches, platings, etc, – whatever will contribute to the manufacturer getting it right the first time.

Need help with this? Just look at product e-commerce descriptions of things you already like. They note a lot of these details on most product descriptions.

Then, does your product have sizes? And if so, what can you measure out?

You can always provide a guide for one or two sizes and ask if your factory will grade the size and provide options for the others, which you can then verify.

Does your product need labels, tags, or other accessories that are included with it?

I’d map that out, too. If you’re making these separately, this is a good place to note that you have those from another supplier and provide the manufacturer with detailed information on how they’re going to be included on your product.

Packaging Options to Include in Your Product Brief

Then how is the product ideally packaged? Do you have notes on that packaging?

And do you expect your manufacturer to produce it, someone else to produce it, or them to help you find someone to do it?

Then consider the final form.

Do you want it shipped to you completely done, in its packaging, bagged and tagged?
Or do you want components shipped to a third party?
Who’s going to assemble it?

It’s worth including where they’re going to ship samples to, and where they’re going to deliver final products to, if it’s a third party distribution center, for example. This helps you get your costing down from the start.

You can also include target price points and quantities here, but that will usually be a part of a later conversation you have with the manufacturer.

If you put all these things in your document and just call out as questions anything that you don’t have the answers to, you’re off to a great start in building your product.

Standout Product Packaging Suppliers (With Links)

BONUS MATERIAL!

Catch the Builders.Build podcast with my best friends, Colin and James, to discover more about our individual TikTok perspectives and entrepreneurial journeys across brands, products, websites, and more.

Thank you for reading my complete guide to creating a product brief for your products!
If you found this content insightful and helpful, please be sure to like and share this article with your circle. Also, make sure to subscribe to the newsletter for more product development tips!
– Oren

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