Which hair foil SKUs to launch first
A new hair foil brand can launch with one of three lineups: a lean range of two SKUs, a balanced range of four, or a full range of six or more. Each SKU carries its own minimum order, 1,000 boxes per design for a custom pop-up design, so the first-order budget grows with the number of SKUs.
Three starter lineups
The lineups below are for a brand selling sheets in North America. A brand selling in the UK or the EU replaces the narrow pop-up sheet with a 100 mm roll and the wide sheet with a 120 mm roll.
| Lineup | SKUs | What it contains | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lean | 2 | One narrow pop-up size, in silver and in one colour or print | Testing a market or a marketplace listing |
| Balanced | 4 | A narrow and a wide pop-up size, each in silver and in one colour or print | A brand selling to salons |
| Full | 6 or more | The balanced range, plus a long pre-cut sheet and a roll | A brand with distribution in place |
Each SKU has its own minimum order. For a custom pop-up design that is 1,000 boxes per design, and for printed foil 3,000 boxes per design, so the budget for a first order is roughly the number of SKUs multiplied by the minimum. We do not publish prices; a quotation for the lineup you choose shows the unit prices, the plates and the samples as separate lines.
Choosing sizes
Size is the decision that should not be original. Salons have dispensers, trolleys and habits built around the sizes they already buy.
| Market | First size | Second size |
|---|---|---|
| USA, Canada | 5 × 11 in or 5 × 10.75 in pop-up | 8 × 11 in pop-up, for wider sections |
| UK, EU | 100 mm roll | 120 mm roll, or the 100 × 225 mm strip |
| Australia, New Zealand | 5 × 10.75 in or 6 × 10.75 in sheet | 8 × 16 in pre-cut sheet |
The reasoning for each market is on its page, starting from hair foil by market, and every size is drawn to scale on the hair foil size chart.
Choosing designs
A foil brand is recognised by its box first and its foil second.
Silver foil in a printed box is the foundation. It needs box plates only, and it is the product every salon will try. Put the effort into the box: it is the largest printed surface you have.
A colour or a print is what gets photographed. One design is enough at launch. It carries a higher minimum because the foil itself is printed; the limits are on custom printed hair foil.
A sensible proportion for a first order is weighted towards silver, because it sells steadily, with the printed design as the smaller part. Printed foil must be tested with bleach before it is sold; see printed hair foil ink vs bleach.
Packaging decisions that affect cost
Four choices on the box move the cost of the launch.
- One box design or several. A single design with the size on a label needs one print run. A different design for each size needs one each.
- The sheet count. A larger count lowers the cost per sheet and raises the price of the box. Pick the count for the buyer: salon or retail.
- The box construction. A push-up base or a retail hanging tab adds to the dieline, not much to the price.
- Marketplace preparation. Cartons for a fulfilment centre hold fewer boxes than export cartons. See Amazon FBA prep for hair foil.
Box types are described under hair foil packaging options.
After launch: what to add next
Add in the order your customers ask.
- The second size in the format you already sell.
- A second design, once the first has shown that printed foil sells for you.
- The second format: a roll beside the sheets, or sheets beside the roll.
- A wide or long size for balayage, as a pre-cut sheet.
Each addition is a new minimum order, so let sales of the first range decide. The process for every order is on private label hair foil, and the requirements a marketplace brand has to meet are on hair foil for private label brands.
FAQ
How many SKUs should a new hair foil brand start with?
A new hair foil brand should start with two to four SKUs. Every size and every printed design carries its own minimum order, so each extra SKU adds stock and cost before anything has sold. Two SKUs test the market; four cover the common techniques.
What is the best-selling hair foil size?
The best-selling hair foil size depends on the market. In the US and Canada it is a narrow pop-up sheet, 5 × 11 in (127 × 279 mm) or 5 × 10.75 in. In the UK and the EU it is a 100 mm roll. Launch with the size local salons already use.
Should I launch with printed or plain foil?
Plain silver hair foil in a printed box is the lower-cost launch: the brand is on the box, and the foil needs no plates. Printed foil gives the brand a look that is visible in the salon and in photographs, at a higher minimum order. Many brands launch plain and add a printed design second.
How much does a first private label order cost?
A first private label hair foil order costs the unit price times the minimum quantity for each SKU, plus one-off costs for plates and samples, plus freight and duty. Hair Foil Factory does not publish prices; a quotation for your chosen lineup gives the total with each part shown.