Do you want to start a glove production company? If YES, here is a detailed guide on how to start a glove manufacturing business with no money or experience plus a glove manufacturing business plan you can use for free.
Different types of gloves are used for different purposes, and of course those that are in the business of producing gloves are known to generate sales year in year out if the business is well-managed.
As a matter of fact, economic downturn hardly affects the usage of gloves because the commodity plays a major role in safety in various industries, even at home.
Despite the fact that starting a standard glove company can be capital intensive, but if you are able to conduct a thorough market research and feasibility studies before launching the business, you are sure going to breakeven before most businesses that are started on a same day, within same location and under similar economic conditions.
What most standard glove manufacturing companies rely on to increase sales cum revenue generation is robust distribution network within their coverage areas.
Handymen, technicians, hospitals, welders and truck drivers’ et al are some of the key business entities that you should partner with if you want to do pretty well in this business.
Steps to Starting a Glove Manufacturing Business
1. Understand the Industry
There are different types of gloves used for different purposes. We have fabric or cotton gloves (sometimes referred to as liners) that provide a thin, breathable layer between the worker’s skin, the tools and materials they’re using;
Coated Fabric Gloves (They offer a higher level of puncture and cut resistance, increased protection from the alkalinity of concrete items such as bricks, and improved chemical resistance when compared to a standard fabric glove).
Surgical gloves are disposable gloves used during medical examinations and procedures to help prevent cross-contamination between caregivers and patients; a sterile glove worn to prevent contamination of the patient during invasive procedures and to protect the hand from exposure to potentially infectious materials.
Surgical gloves are made of different polymers including latex, nitrile rubber, polyvinyl chloride and neoprene; they come un – powdered, or powdered with cornstarch to lubricate the gloves, making them easier to put on the hands.
Surgical gloves are usually sized more precisely since they are worn for a much longer period of time and require exceptional dexterity. The sizing of surgical gloves is based on the measured length across the palm in inches, at a level slightly above the thumb’s sewn.
Other gloves are Latex, Nitrile or Synthetic Gloves, Leather Gloves, Aluminized Gloves, Kevlar Gloves, Puncture Resistant Gloves, Impact-Resistant and Vibration-Resistant Gloves, Chemical- and Liquid-Resistant Gloves,
Some of the leading players in the gloves manufacturing industry are from the united states of America. But some of these surgical gloves manufacturing companies outsource the production of their surgical gloves to other parts of the world; predominantly countries in Asia just in the bid to cut cost.
Some of the factors that encourage entrepreneurs to start their own gloves manufacturing company could be that the business is thriving business and the products can be sold not just in your country but all across the globe.
The gloves manufacturing industry is growing and there are opportunities for entrepreneurs to launch their own business from the scratch and still become a globally recognized brand. The advent of computer and computer software brought leverage in the gloves manufacturing industry. Designing gloves can be conveniently done with the aid of software.
2. Conduct Market Research and Feasibility Studies
- Demographics and Psychographics
The demographic and psychographic composition of those who make use of different types gloves cut across various industries ranging from the healthcare industry, to the chemical industry to logistics industry to manufacturing and fabrication industry hence the demographic composition for the gloves manufacturing business is all encompassing.
So, if you are thinking of starting your own gloves manufacturing business, then you should look beyond producing and marketing your products to just medical facilities and labs in your city, but also all across the United States of America and other parts of the world.
3. Decide Which Niche to Concentrate On
If you are looking towards starting gloves manufacturing business, then you must by all means look for a niche area that you can settle with. These are some of the areas of specialization a startup glove manufacturing company can specialize in.
- Surgical Gloves (Latex, Nitrile or Synthetic Gloves)
- Non – Surgical Gloves (Leather Gloves, Aluminized Gloves, Kevlar Gloves, Puncture Resistant Gloves, Impact-Resistant and Vibration-Resistant Gloves, Chemical- and Liquid-Resistant Gloves, Coated Fabric Gloves and Fabric or cotton gloves)
The Level of Competition in the Industry
The competition that exists in the gloves manufacturing business goes beyond competition amongst glove manufacturers in your city or country; it is both nationally and internationally. Major gloves brands in China, Germany, France, Italy, united kingdom and in any part of the world can be found in stores all across the United States of America. So, it will be right to say the competition in the glove manufacturing business is tough.
The truth is that no matter the level of competition in an industry, if you have done your due diligence and you brand and promote your products or business properly, you will always make headway in the industry. Just ensure you have what it takes to churn out quality gloves and similar safety products and you know how to reach out to your target market.
But over and above, there are several glove manufacturing companies scattered all around the United States. So, if you choose to start your own gloves manufacturing company, you will definitely meet stiff competition. Besides, there are larger gloves manufacturing companies/brands that determine the trend in the industry and you should be ready to compete with them for customers.
4. Know Your Major Competitors in the Industry
In every industry, there are always brands who perform better or are better regarded by customers and the general public than the others. Some of these brands have been in the industry for a long time, while others are best known for how they conduct their businesses and the results they have achieved over the years.
These are some of the leading gloves manufacturing companies/brands in the United States of America and in the globe;
- New Pig
- Amada Miyachi America
- Carolina Glove Co.
- Cementex Products, Inc.
- ToughBuilt Industries, Inc.
- Shen Wei (USA) Inc.
- Sempermed USA
- GLOBAL GLOVES LLC
- The Islandia Group, Inc.
- TNA International
- Tri Star Medical
- SG Health Production LLC
- PolyTech Synergies
- Ver Sales, Inc.
- The Lincoln Electric Company
Economic Analysis
If you are looking towards successfully launching a business and maximizing profits, then you need to ensure that you get your economic analysis right and try as much as possible to adopt best practices in the industry you choose to build a business in.
Gloves manufacturing business is not a Green business, as a matter of fact, you will come across several brand names in your local stores when you go shopping. So, if you are mapping out your economic analysis, you should carry out thorough market survey and costing of the required raw materials, branding and other equipment needed to successfully run the business.
If you are considering starting a gloves manufacturing company, then your concern should not be limited to the cost of setting up the business and churning out quality gloves but also on branding and on how to build a robust distribution network. The truth is that if you are able to build a robust distribution network, you are sure going to maximize profits in the business.
5. Decide Whether to Buy a Franchise or Start from Scratch
Unfortunately, you can hardly find the franchise of a glove manufacturing company to purchase meaning that if you want to own a gloves manufacturing business, then you must be ready to start from the scratch. This is because the business is still thriving and there are loads of opportunities available to aspiring entrepreneurs that are interested in the industry.
The truth is that it will pay you to start your gloves manufacturing company from the scratch. Starting from the scratch will afford you the opportunity to conduct thorough market survey and feasibility studies before choosing a location to launch the business.
Please note that most of the successful glove manufacturing companies around started from the scratch and they were able to build a solid business brand. It takes dedication, hard work and determination to achieve business success.
6. Know the Possible Threats and Challenges You Will Face
If you decide to start your own a gloves manufacturing business today, one of the major challenges you are likely going to face is the presence of well – established glove brands whose products can be found all across the United States and the global market. The only way to avoid this challenge is to create your own market.
So also, one of the major threats that you are likely going to face is economic downturn and unfavorable government policies. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing power. Another threat that may likely face also is the arrival of a new gloves manufacturing company in same location where yours is located.
7. Choose the Most Suitable Legal Entity (LLC, C Corp, S Corp)
If you are considering starting a glove manufacturing company, the legal entity you choose will go a long way to determine how big the business can grow. From a general perspective, you can either choose a general partnership, limited liability company, or a sole proprietorship for your glove manufacturing company.
Normally, sole proprietorship should have been the ideal business structure for a small – scale / customized gloves manufacturing business especially if you are just starting out with a moderate startup capital. But people prefer limited liability Company for obvious reasons.
As a matter of fact, if your intention is to grow the business and have your gloves distributed across the United States of America and other countries of the world, then choosing sole proprietor is not an option for you. Limited Liability Company, LLC or even general partnership will cut it for you.
Setting up an LLC protects you from personal liability. If anything goes wrong in the business, it is only the money that you invested into the limited liability company that will be at risk. It is not so for sole proprietorships and general partnerships. Limited liability companies are simpler and more flexible to operate and you don’t need a board of directors, shareholder meetings and other managerial formalities.
These are some of the factors you should consider before choosing a legal entity for your gloves manufacturing business; limitation of personal liability, ease of transferability, admission of new owners and investors’ expectation and of course taxes.
If you take your time to study the various legal entities to use for your gloves manufacturing business, you will agree that limited liability company is most suitable. You can start this type of business as limited liability company (LLC) and in future convert it to a ‘C’ corporation or an ‘S’ corporation especially when you have the plans of going public.
Upgrading to a ‘C’ corporation or ‘S’ corporation will give you the opportunity to grow your gloves manufacturing business so as to compete with major players in the industry; you will be able to generate capital from venture capital firms, you will enjoy separate tax structure, and you can easily transfer ownership of the company.
8. Choose a Catchy Business Name
When it comes to choosing a name for your business, you should be creative because whatever name you choose for your business will go a long way to create a perception of what the business represents. If you are considering starting your own gloves manufacturing company, here are some catchy names that you can choose from;
- All Purpose® Gloves Manufacturing Company, Inc.
- Medic Plus® Surgical Gloves Manufacturing, Inc.
- Dore Martins® Surgical Gloves Manufacturing, Inc.
- Lara Wise® Gloves Manufacturing Company
- Sally Graham® Surgical Gloves, Inc.
- Kim David® Gloves Manufacturing, Inc.
- Bright Star™ Gloves Production Company
- Leather Works® Gloves, LLC
- Brown Grade® Gloves Manufacturing Company, Inc.
- Empire® Surgical Gloves Manufacturing Company, Inc.
9. Discuss with an Agent to Know the Best Insurance Policies for You
In the United States and in most countries of the world, you can’t operate a business without having some of the basic insurance policy covers that are required by the industry you want to operate from. So, it is important to create a budget for insurance and perhaps consult an insurance broker to guide you in choosing the best and most appropriate insurance policies for your glove manufacturing business.
Here are some of the basic insurance covers that you should consider purchasing if you want to start your own gloves manufacturing business in the United States of America;
- General insurance
- Health insurance
- Liability insurance
- Workers Compensation
- Overhead expense disability insurance
- Business owner’s policy group insurance
- Payment protection insurance
10. Protect your Intellectual Property With Trademark, Copyrights, Patents
If at all there are any businesses that require intellectual property protection (copyright ©), then gloves manufacturing business should be one of them. The truth is that your design and your style need to be protected or else anybody can successfully fake or create similar products and be making money off your brand name.
Also, if you just want to protect your unique design, your company’s logo and other documents or software that are unique to you or even jingles and media production concepts, then you can go ahead to file for intellectual property protection. If you want to register your trademark, you are expected to begin the process by filing an application with the USPTO.
11. Get the Necessary Professional Certification
Although you do not need any special professional certification before you can start your own gloves manufacturing business, but you will do yourself a whole lot of favor if you study Production Engineering or related course before starting this this type of business. It will afford you the opportunity to truly maximize the business.
12. Get the Necessary Legal Documents You Need to Operate
The essence of having the necessary documentation in place before launching a business in the United States of America cannot be overemphasized. It is a fact that you cannot successfully run any business in the United States without the proper documentations.
If you do, it won’t be too long before the long hand of the law catches up with you. These are some of the basic legal documents that you are expected to have in place if you want to legally run your own gloves manufacturing company in the United States of America;
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Business License
- Business Plan
- Non – disclosure Agreement
- Employee Handbook
- Employment Agreement (offer letters)
- Operating Agreement for LLCs
- Insurance Policy
- Online Privacy Policy Document
- Apostille (for those who intend operating beyond the United States of America)
- Company Bylaws
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
- Franchise or Trademark License (optional)
13. Raise the Needed Startup Capital
Starting a glove manufacturing business can be capital intensive. Securing a standard and well – equipped production facility is part of what will consume a large chunk of your startup capital. If you choose to start the business on a large scale, you would need to source for fund to finance the business.
When it comes to financing a business, one of the first things you should consider is to write a good business plan. If you have a good and workable business plan document in place, you may not have to labor yourself before convincing your bank, investors and your friends to invest in your business.
Here are some of the options you can explore when sourcing for startup capital for your gloves manufacturing business;
- Raising money from personal savings and sale of personal stocks and properties
- Raising money from investors and business partners
- Sell shares to interested investors
- Applying for loan from your bank/banks
- Pitching your business idea and applying for business grants and seed funding from donor organizations and angel investors
- Source for soft loans from your family members and your friends.
14. Choose a Suitable Location for your Business
When it comes to choosing a location for your glove manufacturing business, the rule of thumb is that you should be guided by the demand for such product and easy access to labor and raw materials in the location you so desire to start the business.
Of course, if you are able to secure a central location for your gloves manufacturing business, it will enable you cut the cost of transporting your raw materials and finished products to and from your production facility.
It cannot be overemphasized that the location you choose to open your glove manufacturing business is key to the success of the business, hence entrepreneurs are willing to rent or lease a facility in a visible location; a location where the demography consists of organizations who make use of surgical gloves and non – surgical gloves daily.
15. Hire Employees for your Technical and Manpower Needs
If you are considering setting up a glove manufacturing company, it means that you should be prepared to purchase equipment and machines such as industrial mold machine, sealing machines, cutting and sewing machines et al. If you don’t have enough cash, you can start with fairly used equipment/machines but if you are financially buoyant, then you should go for brand new ones since they usually have a longer lifespan.
As regards leasing or outright purchase of a production or warehouse facility, the choice is dependent on your financial standings, but the truth is that to be on the safe side, it is advisable to start off with a short-term rent / lease while test running the business in the location. If things work out as planned, then you go on a long – term lease or outright purchase of the property.
When it comes to hiring employees for a standard gloves manufacturing company, you should make plans to hire a competent Chief Executive Officer (you can occupy this role), Admin and Human Resources Manager, Sales and Marketing Manager, Gloves Designers, Quality Control Officer, Tailors, Machine Operators, Accountant, Distribution / Delivery Van Drivers and Client Services Executive. On the average, you will need a minimum of 10 t0 15 key staff members to run a small – scale but standard gloves manufacturing business.
The Services Delivery Process of the Business
When it comes to the manufacturing of gloves, the first step to take is to come up with a design and then have the design approved by the board. The next step is to determine the quantity and types (colors and sizes et al) of the gloves to be produced.
Other steps involved in the process are cutting, molding, sewing, trimming and putting finishing touches. The next step is to pass them through quality control department before properly packaging, labeling and branding the products for sale cum delivery.
It is important to state that a glove manufacturing company may decide to improvise or adopt any business process and structure that will guarantee them efficiency and flexibility.
16. Write a Marketing Plan Packed with ideas & Strategies
Generally, running a business requires that you should be proactive when it comes to marketing your goods or services. If you choose to launch a glove manufacturing business, then you must employ strategies that will help you attract customers or else you will likely struggle with the business because there are well – known brands determining the market direction for lingerie line.
These are some of the marketing ideas and strategies that you can adopt for your gloves manufacturing business;
- Introduce your products by sending introductory letters alongside your brochure to hospitals, pharmaceutical stores, tools and safety stores, technicians and handymen and key stake holders throughout the United States
- Advertise on the internet on related blogs and forums, and also on social media like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn to get your message across
- Creating a basic website for your business so as to give your business an online presence
- Directly market your products
- Provide discount days for your distributors
- Advertise our business in community – based newspapers, local TV and radio stations
- List your business on yellow pages’ ads (local directories)
- Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)
17. Develop Iron-clad Competitive Strategies to Help You Win
The quality and uniqueness of your gloves, your business process and of course your pricing model, arepart of what you need to stay competitive in the industry. If wholesale distributors are making profits from selling your products, they will be more than willing to go the extra mile to help you push your products to every nooks and crannies of the cities they distribute products.
Another possible competitive strategy for winning your competitors in this particular industry is to build a robust distribution cum business network. Over and above, ensure that your organization is well positioned, key members of your team are highly qualified and your gloves and other similar products can favorably compete with the some of the best in the industry.
18. Brainstorm Possible Ways to Retain Clients & Customers
When it comes to business, no matter the industry that you choose to pitch your tent in, one of the easiest ways to increase customers’ retention and perhaps to attract new customers is to produce results and satisfy your customers always. If your customers are satisfied with your services delivery or products, they can hardly source for alternative service providers or products.
Statistics has it that one of the major reasons why clients source for alternative service provider or product is when there is a drop in quality. Another reason is poor customer service. If you can continue to improve on the quality of your gloves and other similar safety products that you produce and your customer service delivery, then you won’t struggle to maintain loyal customers.
Part of what you need to do to achieve this is to track progress, results or outputs with the aim of improving on them quickly as the case demands. When it comes to managing your customers, and building loyal clientele base, you should purchase a customized CRM software.
With a customized CRM system, you can easily stay in touch with your clients (you can carry out quick surveys, you can introduce new products and prices to them without any hitch, you can felicitate with them on their birthdays and other anniversaries, you can keep track of their progress, you can send bulk sms and customized e – mails and above all, you can easily receive compliant and feedback from them).
19. Develop Strategies to Boost Brand Awareness and Create a Corporate Identity
If you are in business and you are not deliberate about boosting you brand awareness and communicating your corporate identity, then you should be ready to take on whatever the society portrays your business to be. One of the secrets of larger corporations is that they are willing to spend fortunes to boost their brand awareness and to continue to communicate their corporate identity the way they want people to perceive them.
If your intentions of starting a gloves manufacturing company is to grow the business beyond the city where you are going to be operating from to become a national and international brand, then you must be ready to spend money on promotion and advertisement of your brand.
Here are the platforms you can leverage on to boost your brand awareness and create corporate identity for your gloves manufacturing company;
- Place adverts on both print (newspapers and related magazines) and electronic media platforms
- Sponsor relevant community – based events/programs
- Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote your business
- Install your Bill Boards in strategic locations all around your city or state
- Distribute your fliers and handbills in target areas
- List your gloves manufacturing company in local directories / yellow pages
- Advertise your gloves manufacturing company in your official website and employ strategies that will help you pull traffic to the site.
- Ensure that all your staff members wear your branded shirts and all your vehicles and distribution trucks/vans are well branded with your company logo et al.