Image: Dan Eaglesham
When it comes to marketing immune support supplements, retailers often step up their efforts during the fall and the winter. While there is a solid logic behind that decision, market research shows the emergence of a new trend.
Since a strong immune system is not just important for warding off the flu, but for optimal functioning of the body, interest in immune support supplements is now almost year-round. This means retailers may have to rethink their marketing strategy if they want to profit from this trend. This finding, along with other interesting facts about the market for immune support supplements, comes from a report by Natural Products Insider. Let’s look at its main takeaways.
Industry Report: Immune System Support Winners
The survey, conducted among 151 respondents from various backgrounds, found that among the countless ingredients that boast immune supporting properties, three of them clearly stand out in popularity. They are as follows: Vitamin C, Beta-glucans and Probiotics.
While the popularity of Vitamin C is probably no surprise to anyone, that of beta-glucans and probiotics is indeed pretty recent. Beta-glucans, found in some grains and mushrooms, are thought to help the body in fighting bacterial and viral infections. Probiotics, while primarily used for digestive support, are constantly found to be beneficial for many other systems, the immune system included.
While these three ingredients were clearly in the lead, others, such antioxidants are also frequently included in immune system support formulas. One of the reasons is that a big percentage of users believe them to have immune-strengthening properties.
The Importance of Scientific Studies & How to Use Them
The Natural Products Insider study had a finding that will interest many marketers in the supplement industry: 91 percent of respondents said they believe that “clinical research is very or highly important to marketing immune products, either seasonally or year-round.”
This holds true even for supplements, such as garlic and echinacea, which have been in use by traditional medicine for centuries. Therefore, when marketing any immune support supplement, it would give you greater leverage if you cite a scientific study backing your claims. You can, for example, provide a link to the study and summarize its most important findings on your website. Naturally, your choice of words should still be cautious. The study found that 46 percent of the interviewed retailers use structure-function claims to market immune support supplements compared to just 15 percent who use health claims. That’s understandable in light of the fact that “only a few approved health claims exist for dietary supplements.”
As for what other communication channels respondents say are the most effective for marketing immune support supplements, answers vary from television to “advertorials, trade shows, satellite radio, blogs and targeted email blasts.”
Building Your Own Private Label Line
Even if you’re ready to jump onboard the immune support supplement train, you might still be wondering which products you should start with. Let us help you, by showing you our three best-selling immune support products:
Capsicum Extract + Garlic Extract
This product combines two very sought-after ingredients, known to work well in combination. Capsicum has thermogenic effects and works as an expectorant, while garlic is shown to improve symptoms of the flu and the common cold. It improves the immune system, because it exhibits strong anti-inflammatory action, in addition to its antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties.
Consumers are in love with our Greens Powder, because it provides a healthy dose of antioxidants derived from vegetables, leafy greens, berries and other fruits. To provide extra immune benefits, the powder includes probiotics and enzymes, too. Three very popular mushrooms are also in the blend – reishi, maitake and cordyceps.
Antioxidant SuperFruitThis exciting new formula packs extracts from more fruits and vegetables than you can probably count. Just a scoop provides 70 percent of a person’s daily value of vitamin C. Another ingredient that makes this powder very popular is the 500 mg of beta-glucan, which the Natural Products Insider report shows to be very much in-demand right now.
Concluding Remarks
There’s certainly a lot we can learn from Natural Products Insider’s report on the state of immune support supplements. I urge you to read the full report to find more useful information that will help you profit from that niche.
And now that you know the right approach, let us be a part of your success. Our high-quality formulas, containing just the right ingredients to spur consumer interest, will quickly boost your sales. Call our Sales Manager at 855-209-0225 ext. 2 or email us at sales@privatelabelsupplement.com and you will get your free quote right away!
All my best,
Stefani Thionnet
Stay focused and never give up!
