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➡️ Idea to Launch w/ Chelley’s (New Brand) Body Butter
VISION >> From Enthusiast to Entrepreneur
Before joining Flex, Chelley had a clear vision to create a premium body butter brand that would stand out across major D2C platforms like Shopify, Amazon, TikTok, and Google Shopping.
She was passionate about natural skincare and ready to turn her personal interest into a business, but she needed a structured path to bring her idea to market efficiently and professionally.
“I knew what I wanted the product to feel like, smell like, and represent but I just needed someone to help me make it real.”
TAKING ACTION >> Joining the Product Launch Program
Chelley joined Flex’s Starter Product Launch Program (PLP): a guided system that transforms brand ideas into real, custom and launch-ready products through structured milestones, expert mentorship, and access to fulfillment partners.
During her time in the PLP, Chelley:
- Defined her brand concept and positioning
- Developed a custom formulation brief for her body butter
- Collaborated with the Flex lab team on texture, scent, and packaging iterations
- Got her product tested and production ready with a complete BOM
- Took advantage of complementary access to the Collective to simulate her rollout
Within 16 weeks, Chelley had a launch-ready SKU backed by validated sourcing and fulfillment options.
NEXT STEPS >> From Formula to Fulfillment
Once her formula was finalized, Chelley transitioned into scaling her product with Flex’s In-house Product Fulfillment Team and their partnership network who handled:
- Batch manufacturing coordination and raw material sourcing
- Packaging procurement and labeling compliance
- 3PL fulfillment and inventory forecasting for multi-channel sales (Shopify, Amazon FBA, and TikTok Shop)
This phase allowed her to focus on brand storytelling and marketing while Flex managed the production backend.
“Flex made everything feel like it was actually happening. I wasn’t just talking about starting a brand I was watching my product get filled, labeled, and boxed.”
LAUNCH >> Turning a Concept into Sales
Chelley’s body butter officially launched across her Shopify storefront, supported by pre-launch teasers and short-form video content repurposed for TikTok and Instagram. Within weeks, she began generating D2C sales and collecting feedback that validated her formula’s appeal.
Key Launch Metrics (early stage):
- First batch sold-through rate: 85% in the first 30 days
- Primary sales channel: Shopify + TikTok organic
- Secondary channels prepped: Amazon and Google Merchant listings
SCALE-UP >> Reorder & Growth Through Advanced Fulfillment
Today, Chelley is working with Flex’s Advanced Fulfillment Team to scale production for her first major reorder. This milestone marks her shift from first-time founder to active beauty brand operator.
Her next steps include:
- Increasing batch size for Q1 reorder
- Expanding SKUs into seasonal body butter variations with the help of Flex’s Product Development management systems
- Building retargeting campaigns through Flex’s marketing partners
FROM CHELLEY >> Building a Brand with Flex
When asked what she’d tell others considering the Product Launch Program, Chelley said:
“You don’t need to have it all figured out, Flex meets you where you are. They helped me go from an idea in my notes app to real jars on shelves and sales coming in.”
STRATEGIC TAKEAWAY:
Chelley’s journey embodies the Flex Brands model in motion. It guides passionate enthusiasts into profitable founders, simplifying product development, and supporting long-term brand growth through our fulfillment and partner network.
Disclaimer: results are not guaranteed, actual client and brand name identity are anonymous for the purpose of this content
➡️ From Learn to Launch w/ Laura’s Journey Through Flex Brands’ System
VISION >> Curiosity to Clarity
Before joining Flex, Laura was exploring how to turn her passion for personal care into something tangible. She wanted to understand how brands are built from the inside out but wasn’t yet sure what type of products she wanted to launch.
After discovering Flex’s Product Launch Toolkit, Laura dove into its resources to learn the fundamentals of formulation, branding, and fulfillment. It gave her the clarity she needed to take the next step.
“The toolkit opened my eyes and I realized I didn’t just want to make products; I wanted to understand the full process behind creating a real brand.”
TAKING ACTION >> Testing the Waters with the Mock Launch Program
Laura joined Flex’s first-ever Mock Launch Program, a guided 8-week simulation where aspiring founders experience the brand-building process from concept to marketing without committing to production yet.
During the mock program, she:
- Identified her ideal customer profile
- Built a concept brief for multiple potential product directions
- Learned how to structure a launch roadmap
- Developed the confidence to pursue a real brand concept
By the end, Laura had discovered her preferred direction in a custom serum set and felt prepared to take the leap into product development.
NEXT STEPS >> From Mock Launch to Product Launch Program
Having completed the mock program, Laura seamlessly transitioned into Flex’s Product Launch Program (PLP) while applying her tuition credit from the mock cohort toward full enrollment.
Her discount covered the equivalent of the mock program’s tuition fee, making her one of the first clients to graduate from the educational tier into the full build-out tier of Flex Brands’ Sustainable Launch System.
“It felt natural because I wasn’t starting from scratch. Everything I learned in the mock program directly transferred into my product roadmap.”
LAUNCH >> Building the Serum Set
Inside the PLP, Laura began developing her custom serum set, supported by Flex’s formulation and fulfillment team.
Her key milestones include:
- Developing a multi-step skincare system for balanced and hydrated skin
- Selecting active ingredients and packaging aligned with her brand’s identity
- Collaborating on brand visuals and early marketing concepts
Laura’s project demonstrates how the PLP builds directly upon the foundation established in the mock launch, offering a continuum of progress rather than a restart.
SCALE-UP >> Preparing for Market Entry
Now in the later stages of formulation, Laura is preparing for pilot production and pre-launch marketing. Her next milestones include:
- Completing final stability testing and sensory reviews
- Preparing content for pre-order campaigns
- Aligning with Flex’s Product Fulfillment Team for manufacturing
Once finalized, her serum set will serve as the hero product anchoring her debut brand.
FROM LAURA >> From Student to Founder-in-Progress
Laura’s story shows how Flex’s ecosystem enables new founders to progress at their own pace from curiosity to clarity to creation.
“I started just wanting to learn. Flex helped me realize that I’m capable of building a real brand and gave me the pathway to do it step by step.”
STRATEGIC TAKEAWAY:
Laura’s path represents the educational-to-execution pipeline that powers Flex Brands showing how our toolkit and mock launch program create a smooth on-ramp into the Product Launch Program, reducing friction and accelerating conversion.
Disclaimer: results are not guaranteed, actually client and brand name identity are anonymous for the purpose of this content
➡️ Jerry’s Fast-Track Path with Flex: From Viral Idea to Verified Launch
VISION >> Seizing a Viral Opportunity
When Jerry joined the Product Launch Collective, he wasn’t just exploring ideas. He came ready to execute. A hands-on operator with a sharp eye for trends, Jerry used Flex’s AI-driven market analysis tools and Collective community insights to identify a recently viral product gaining massive traction on TikTok.
Rather than reinventing the wheel, he decided to reverse engineer the concept and build a competitive, branded version through Flex’s Product Launch Program.
“I knew there was a window while the product was hot, the market was talking, and I didn’t want to wait six months to figure it out. Flex gave me a way to move now.”
TAKING ACTION >> From Collective Insight to Product Launch Program
Through the Product Launch Collective, Jerry had access to:
- Real-time AI product validation tools (social trend and keyword insights)
- A tight-knit founder community sharing live data and supplier references
- Direct support for evaluating viability, differentiation, and margins
After validating that the viral product had sustainable demand and profit potential, Jerry enrolled in the Product Launch Program to bring his version to market with speed, structure, and compliance.
NEXT STEPS >> Building the Brand & Backend in Parallel
Jerry’s biggest insight came fast - while market validation was easy, brand development and backend infrastructure weren’t.
As he began designing his sales funnel and influencer partnerships, Flex’s Product Success and Fulfillment Teams went to work behind the scenes to build out his operations layer:
Flex deliverables included:
- Curating a branded bill of materials (BOM) for his product line
- Identifying and resolving regulatory bottlenecks early (claims, labeling, and ingredient compliance)
- Establishing production in a 3PL-eligible facility to streamline fulfillment and logistics
This dual-track approach allowed Jerry to build marketing and distribution simultaneously, a core advantage of Flex’s operating system.
“I could focus on growth, not guesswork. Flex handled everything I didn’t even know I needed handled.”
LAUNCH >> Synchronizing Speed with Structure
By the time Jerry’s marketing channels were ready (TikTok Shop, Shopify, and influencer collaborations), his product production was already underway.
This alignment between front-end readiness and back-end fulfillment meant he could go live with a validated offer and a stocked supply chain from day one.
Highlights:
- Product validation complete before production
- Production and packaging aligned with 3PL standards
- D2C storefronts ready to connect with fulfillment workflows
In short: Jerry turned a viral trend into a structured, scalable launch all powered by Flex’s backend support.
SCALE-UP >> Building the Distribution Engine
With a validated product and fulfillment established, Jerry is now focused on building multi-channel distribution, leveraging:
- TikTok and influencer UGC campaigns for front-end growth
- Shopify + 3PL integration for backend scalability
- Partnership referrals within Flex’s network for repeat manufacturing and logistics
He’s positioned to evolve from trend responder to brand builder, a key Flex Brands transformation.
FROM JERRY >> Turning Speed into Sustainability
Jerry’s case underscores a critical insight: speed matters, but infrastructure sustains.
“Flex helped me build the machine behind the hype. I came in chasing a trend and I’m continuing on with a business.”
STRATEGIC TAKEAWAY:
Jerry’s journey shows how Flex Brands bridges the gap between viral opportunity and operational reality by combining AI-driven validation, regulatory expertise, and fulfillment infrastructure to help founders move fast and scale right.
Disclaimer: results are not guaranteed, actually client and brand name identity are anonymous for the purpose of this content
🧴 Sally @ New Brand
How she went from concept to product in 15 weeks:
Our client is an entrepreneur with no pre-existing branding who worked with our "Product Launch Program" to transfer in two existing concept formulations to have them commercialized based on her approval of the products.
Here's what she had to say:
"I wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for the fantastic experience I've had working with Flex Cosmetics.
From the very beginning, the team has been incredibly responsive, which immediately gave me a sense of trust and confidence in the partnership. Their quick communication and willingness to address any questions or concerns made the entire process smooth and efficient.
Beyond the responsiveness, what truly sets Flex Cosmetics apart is the in-depth knowledge and support I have received. The team consistently answered my technical and scientific questions regarding the chemistry of my product, helping me navigate the complex formulation process with ease. Additionally, I appreciate the support and help I am given in providing guidance on the business side.
Flex Cosmetics has not only equipped me with the knowledge to make informed decisions, but they’ve also instilled a sense of confidence in my business. It’s clear the team is invested in my success, and their partnership has been a key factor in pushing my business forward.
Working with Flex Cosmetics has been an incredibly positive experience, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration."
Here it from her
Hear it from them:
“Absolutely super simple starting this process with you guys! I've so appreciated the prompt responses and how accessible you've been to me. The team has been great at holding my hand through it all so far and have made me feel so at ease with leaving my project in their hands. I've felt super comfortable and am excited to work hand in hand together throughout the process, making sure I'm involved along the way. I've been specific in what my requirements are/ goals are for this product and the team has assured me we will come up with the perfect formula.” - Paige (New Brand)
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Eric (New Brand):
“Flex Cosmetics was our first
and only choice for all of our unique cosmetics formulation needs that were different from common benchmarks.” -
Audrey (New Brand):
“Flex provides honest feedback that us helped shape our products and they are very easy to work with”
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Shanice (New Brand):
“They’re flexible and reliable and always ready to collaborate. They help you understand everything that goes in to developing a product."
