One of the most common—and most costly—phrases in consumer packaged goods (CPG) development is:

“We’re still figuring out our customer.”

When founders develop a new product, most of the attention naturally goes to what feels most tangible: the formula.

They spend months refining actives, adjusting dosages, testing textures, debating flavors, and fine-tuning the sensory experience. In skincare, it’s about performance and feel. In supplements, it’s about efficacy and positioning. In food, it’s about taste and differentiation.

When founders think about rising costs, they usually look inward—at ingredients, packaging choices, or manufacturing quotes. But one of the most powerful forces shaping your product’s cost structure sits far outside your control: oil.

If you sell dietary supplements on Amazon, or plan to, the compliance landscape has changed.

What used to be a documentation exercise is now a third-party verification process. And for brands that are unprepared, that shift can mean suppressed listings, frozen inventory, or sudden removal from the marketplace.

“Hormone balancing”

It’s one of the most powerful phrases in wellness marketing right now. It appears on powders, capsules, teas, gummies, and influencer morning routines. It promises clearer skin, easier weight loss, better mood, improved cycles, deeper sleep, and fewer cravings.

But, what does “hormone balancing” actually mean?

As consumers rethink what it means to enjoy a drink, low and no alcohol beverages are rapidly evolving from niche options to a mainstream force in the beverage landscape. Once an occasional choice for Dry January or teetotalers, functional mocktails, adaptogenic spirits, and better-for-you alternatives are now reshaping social occasions and wellness routines alike.