Recently, Aicube had the opportunity to interview Tom Raffy, the head of GAR Labs, a developer and manufacturer of private label personal care and beauty products. GAR Labs has been in business since 1982, and has grown into a trusted manufacturer and supplier and is a regarded authority on trends in the beauty product manufacture industry.

Aicube: Hello, and welcome. First off, what exactly is GAR Labs?
Raffy/GAR Labs: We are a beauty industry private label contract manufacturing company.
Aicube: What does that mean in layman’s terms? Who are your customers and what do you sell?
Raffy/GAR Labs: Our customers are local and national marketers of quality beauty and personal care supplies. We formulate, manufacture and package various company’s unique personal care products that you probably use every day.
Aicube: Interesting. Most people don’t think about where their personal care products come from beyond the brand name or the drug store.
Raffy/GAR Labs: It’s true. We operate beyond the scope of retail sales.
Aicube: What are some examples of personal care products you manufacture?
Raffy/GAR Labs: Well, the list is long. Some common products we formulate are high end hair care salon products, unique hair care products for infomercials and home shopping stations along with 100’s of local distributor’s moisturizers, scented bath soaps and shower gels, as well as perfumes.
Aicube: What distinguishes GAR Labs from other personal care product manufacturers?
Raffy/GAR Labs: We are the one of the most sophisticated operation in the entire western United States. GAR Labs has unrivaled computerized and progressive standards for formulating, manufacturing and tracking personal care products…all done with state-of-the-art equipment.
Aicube: Those are lofty claims. How do you substantiate them?
Raffy/GAR Labs: Our track record speaks for itself. But beyond that, our business model is adaptable, we do this to always be able to incorporate market and social changes.
Aicube: Many manufacturers say they are distinctive. What makes GAR Labs unique?
Raffy/GAR Labs: We have an integrated production system. From a client’s first contact with GAR Labs for samples, to the final product delivery verification, it’s all under our roof. And our Product Development Department is always searching for new and better ways to serve our clientele and the environment.
Aicube: The environment?
Raffy/GAR Labs: Naturally.
Aicube: How can beauty and personal care manufacturing serve the environment?
Raffy/GAR Labs: Any manufacturer can serve the environment by reducing their carbon footprint. It would be irresponsible of GAR Labs to grow as we have without undertaking significant measures toward real sustainability.
Aicube: Such as…?
Raffy/GAR Labs: Like installing our own high-capacity 100,000 watt solar power system, so that GAR Labs can generate its own energy and take a burden off of the grid and burn less coal and oil.
Aicube: It’s refreshing to see a company take that goal so seriously.
Raffy/GAR Labs: Our future depends on it.
Aicube: Thank you for answering our questions today, Tom. We invite you to come back soon to chart GAR Labs’ progress toward sustainability.
Raffy/GAR Labs: That would be my pleasure. Thank you.

For more information about GAR Labs, visit them online at www.garlabs.com

—
About GAR Labs

Founded in 1982, GAR Labs has grown and now operates from a 133,000 square foot headquarters located in Riverside, California.  The GAR Labs facility meets or exceeds all health, safety, EPA and FDA standards and requirements, and is licensed for both alcohol filling and storage.  Using only purified water, GAR Labs can serve a capacity ranging from 55 gallons to 12,000 gallons per shift.

From 5,000 to 5 million pieces, GAR Labs can develop the formulation, fill and package your product.   GAR Labs is licensed and staffed to all personal care products which include sunscreens, face cream, body creams, hair care, body soaps, perfumes and alcohol related products.  In addition, GAR Labs is an FDA registered over-the-counter drug (OTC) products.

GAR Labs employs its own in-house chemists that work in a full-service laboratory and can quickly make test samples of the products you want.  Along with the development laboratory, GAR Labs offers clients peace-of-mind by having a fully equipped quality control-testing department.

GAR Labs works to ensure that ALL the ingredients AND the finished products are compliant by using three testing divisions:

• “Analytical Testing Lab” verifies the chemical finger print of each ingredient to guarantee compliance through Infrared Spectrometer (IR) and High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC).
• “Quality Control Department” ensures all finished products meet customer specification.
• “Microbiological Testing Department” insures all ingredients and finished products are bacteria free.

As you can see with GAR Labs, ALL raw materials AND finished products are fully tested for both quality and compliance so that you can trust what you are selling and it will last a long time.

When it comes to processing your order the team at GAR Labs is committed to offering the best in project management.  Upon receiving a client purchase order, customer service reps have the ability to track the project’s progression.  Using a state-of-the-art computer system, GAR Labs customer service personnel enter your purchase order and then track the progress of the work and email their status every week until your order is complete.

Even after completion, GAR Labs can help you with the technical documents that might be needed to sell your product domestically or by exporting.

GAR Labs has received rave reviews from their customer base.  One such customer wrote that GAR Labs are “easy to work with” and “reasonably priced.”

For more information, visit GAR Labs online at www.garlabs.com or call them at 951-788-0700.