Today, many markets have become so competitive that it’s no longer possible to rely on off-the-shelf mass-produced solutions, including base materials used to make final products. Businesses aiming to be the best in their industry will need to look into custom solutions tailored to their specific needs to achieve the innovation and superior performance they’re after. Whether you’re simply the retailer or the manufacturer, here’s why custom materials are the key to a superior end product.
- Material quality impacts usability
There’s no denying that material quality can determine the usability of a product. Take the simple example of a child’s bouncy ball. Super balls made from high-quality rubber or polymers will bounce easily, making them a fun source of entertainment for kids. However, if the material is low-quality and doesn’t provide much bounce, kids will get bored and stop playing with the ball. Whether you manufacture or sell bouncy balls, it’s crucial to choose a product made from a material that will serve the intended purpose.
Another great example is how milled Kevlar is used in a variety of applications. For example, it’s used to reinforce electrical wire and cable for shielding and in ripcords as well as body armor and even vehicle tires. When consumers have a choice between Kevlar-reinforced products and something made with weaker materials, they’re going to choose the Kevlar product.
However, Kevlar needs to be milled into a powder at a specific size for each use. While you can buy pre-milled materials, it’s better to have it ground to exact specifications for your use. Custom milling services will grind raw materials as coarse or as fine as you need. If you use the same milled material for multiple applications, you can have it ground to different particle sizes and even have it stored onsite if needed.
- Customization produces a superior product
If you want to stand out in a crowded market, custom components and materials are a requirement. Customization allows you to engineer a product specifically made for your application to deliver consistent and reliable performance. You can piece together something functional with mass-produced parts, but if your goal is to compete on anything other than price, that’s an unsustainable approach.
Generic materials are for businesses trying to undercut competitors with bargains and bulk sales. When you’re serious about building a trustworthy, high-value brand, custom products are the way to get the unique edge you need. This is how brands become leaders.
- Customization results in fewer returns
Customers return products when they aren’t satisfied with the product itself, or if the product fails to live up to their expectations. Companies that produce cheap products have to use marketing hype to generate sales, which creates unrealistic expectations. This almost always results in disappointed customers who return their purchases.
The best way to reduce your return rate is to produce a superior product from the start and market that product responsibly. Customers will get what they expect, which means fewer complaints and returns. You’ll always get some returns from people who didn’t understand what the product was designed for or who didn’t read the description, but when your product delivers real value, returns become the exception rather than the rule.
- Better products create loyal customers
Custom materials and components allow you to create superior products that generate a loyal fanbase. Customers want predictable quality, and when you build a brand people can count on, they’ll tell their friends and leave you positive reviews online.
Trust breeds loyalty, and loyal customers always come back for more. However, that won’t happen if you’re cutting corners with cheap, generic materials. Yes, it costs more to use superior materials, but loyal customers are willing to pay more for a better quality product. When you build something they can count on, you’ll keep them for life.
- Better compliance
In some industries, businesses are required to use certain materials to meet safety and environmental industry standards. Using custom materials can make compliance smoother. For example, a custom supplier can provide materials that have been certified to meet or exceed specific standards, and will generally have better documentation to help with regulatory audits.
Instead of trying to retrofit off-the-shelf materials into compliance, which doesn’t always work, custom materials provide everything you need without the hassle.
Custom materials and components provide an unmatched advantage
In a fiercely competitive market, customers expect the best from brands and will buy from whoever can meet their needs. Don’t let your competition take their business. Look into custom materials that will give you an edge in your market. Whether you’re manufacturing or retailing, invest in custom solutions for optimal success.
