The hobby and educational market for astronomy is a continually growing and expanding field of study. Quality entry-level astronomical telescopes and other pieces of equipment are becoming increasingly in demand by not only parents and schools, but also by other amateur stargazers and hobbyists alike. Distributors and companies looking to penetrate the market and get noticed in the process, are opting for the private label option of telescopes that are made as “Astronomical Telescopes Private Label” product. Distributors and brands alike can get into the market quickly and at very competitive prices with the assistance of a well-established and experienced OEM supplier for creating a private label brand of telescopes.
A Practical Guide to making Private Label Telescopes. This guide goes through the process of customizing telescopes for launch in the beginner and educational markets.
Retailers and online sellers are noticing a rise in demand for telescopes that feel personal and trust worthy. Consumers are looking for brands that talk to them on a personal level as opposed to the bigger generic names on the market. A well managed private label program allows the retailer to create a product of their own design, price point and story whilst utilizing an experts manufacturing knowledge.
About 2 years ago a European distributor started their own beginner astronomy products line. Today their own brand of products makes up more than 40% of all sales of astronomy products in that distributors category of products. Importing OEM products was the main activity of this distributor before. Choosing the right OEM partner and a lot of attention to details has been the success formula.
There is generally a straight forward process when working with a good quality manufacturer.
1. Specification Confirmation When making decisions for supplying products to customers, you first define what their needs are. For this example of an entry-level telescope for astronomical use, decisions would revolve around such things as the size of the aperture, the focal length, the amount of magnification that the user can have, and what are the standard items that are included with the telescope.
The AS-TW01-80 Refracting Telescope is a great product for the beginner market. This 70mm aperture telescope has a focal length of 300mm. It has 50x magnification for normal viewing and with the aid of a 3x Barlow lens, it can reach 75x magnification. The AS-TW01-80 Refracting Telescope also comes equipped with a 5x24 finder scope. The 360° rotatable erecting mirror is great for viewing objects in any position. This little telescope is very light weight at only 2.6kg. It is great for families, and school use. It has great views of the moon and other bright objects in the sky.
2. Optical and Mechanical Adjustments Optical and mechanical design variables such as coatings, eyepiece design, and telescope mount design can be adjusted by manufacturers to meet price points and performance requirements of potential end-users. The good manufacturer will then test the product and give honest feedback to determine whether the end-user’s needs have been met.
3. Logo Printing and Branding The logos of your brand will be printed in great quality on the tube, tripod and all packaging materials. Many original equipment manufacturers also offer printing of your logos in special colors as well as nameplates that look like being original.
4. Custom Packaging and Accessories Turn your good product into a wonderful gift! Pack it into a full-color box with your branding, include a manual in the customer’s own language. Offer all sorts of additional accessories such as star charts or telescope cleaning kits. Of course, the packaging has to be strong enough to protect the telescope during shipping as well.
5. Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) and Production Timeline Most manufacturers set reasonable MOQs for private label work, often starting from 200–500 units depending on customization level. Lead times usually run 30–60 days after sample approval, giving you time to plan launches around peak seasons like holidays or back-to-school.
Popular beginners acoustic-electric guitars often have specifications like those listed below for the AS-TW01-80 model.
Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
Aperture | 70mm |
Focal Length | 300mm |
Standard Magnification | 50x |
Maximum Magnification | 75x (with 3x Barlow) |
Finder Scope | 5x24 |
Erecting Mirror | 360° rotatable |
Weight | 2.6kg |
Target Users | Beginners, families, schools |
Clear entry-point performance from new brands to help convert first time buyers.
Many first-time private label buyers experience similar challenges.
Experienced distributors typically manage to get around these problems by starting off small with a test order, visiting the factory in person whenever possible, and keeping detailed documentation of the entire process.
Telescopes for beginners and educational use are a sweet spot. Parents of children want safe and easy-to-use telescopes. Schools look for affordable telescope sets for their science classes. A well-branded private label line can capture this market segment very effectively.
Many online retailers have launched their own astronomy brands within the last 3 years and experience a high rate of repeat buyers, as kids grow up from entry level scopes to more advanced telescopes.
Successful Private Label programs do not start with just one product. Typically a brand starts by launching an entry level product and then expanding out to related products such as accessories and higher end models. The key to the brand expanding successfully is having a strong OEM partner who can support the growth with quality products and flexible production.
Hemusun Optical Instrument Co., Ltd. is a well established manufacturer of a large variety of optical instruments. The product line includes astronomical telescopes, rangefinders and binoculars. Their instruments are designed with good optics and practical use in mind.
Hemusun supports full OEM and ODM services, ranging from simple customization to a complete private label program. A lot of partners appreciate their way of working. Their quality control is reliable, the MOQ’s are reasonable and they communicate thoroughly in the development process towards a product. A product such as the AS-TW01-80 they produce in a cost-effective manner, yet of high quality. This is perfect for starting up or teaching astronomy. Many other high-quality optical products for astronomy as well. Which makes Hemusun a very reliable supplier of high-quality optical products for astronomy for companies that want to build up their own astronomy brand.
We also offer our customers the opportunity to build their very own astronomy brand within the growing telescope market by manufacturing their private label telescopes. We have many highly capable OEM partners that can work closely with you to make sure all aspects of your telescopes are custom made to your exacting specifications with regard to the telescope’s technical specifications as well as to your brand, packaging and all marketing materials.
Choosing the right manufacturing partner, rigorous testing and identifying the real needs of your customers are key to success. For distributors and brands who want to establish their own identity the entry-level astronomical telescope segment offers a good starting point for sustainable growth.
Most manufacturers start from 200–500 units depending on customization level. This allows new brands to test the market without huge upfront investment.
In general the time span from first talks about the technical specifications to the start of production is about 8 to 12 weeks. Good communication with the OEM partner is crucial for this timeframe.
Yes. Many OEMs allow logo printing on product, custom boxes, and the printing of instructions for re-sale. The product appears to be your own brand.
Its lightweight design, solid optics, and beginner-friendly features make it popular with families and schools. This helps new brands build positive customer experiences quickly.
You need supplier with good quality control, supplier who has experience with private label, supplier with reasonable MOQ and supplier who can communicate good. Test samples and check for references before placing a large order.