The Customer: large US retailer with over 7000 locations.

The Product: lip balm

The Goal: design two products in a crowded category that will enable the retailer to offer something new.

The Challenge:  move through design and development phases, gain approval by Corporate, deliver 250,000 units complete with secondary packaging to 14 distribution centers in eight weeks time!

The Roadblock: key supplier expressed doubt in timely delivery since we were ordering at their annual 10-day summer shut down. PLS traveled to the Midwest to meet with them personally.

What PLS Did: came up with a concept that could be sold in their Personal Care section as well as Cough & Cold including the market’s first Certified Organic Medicated lip balm. We hired a packaging designer who worked very quickly while we sourced all materials and packaging, and began the certification process. Since quantities were high, we were able to rally all our vendors to quicken their lead times and give us their very best pricing. We hired additional workers and ran double shifts.

The Result: all distribution centers received their shipments ahead of schedule and the product launched on time.