Joanna Cosgrove01.01.09
Vitamins On Demand
Taking the guesswork out of supplements with convenient, customizable daily dose packs.
By Joanna Cosgrove
Online Editor
“Once I identified which supplements were right for me, it was very inconvenient to either deal with all of the bottles on a daily basis or package a pill minder each week,” he said. “Furthermore, there were the added issues of trying to travel with my supplements, monitoring my ‘inventory’ to keep from running out (since most supplements are different count bottles and dosages), making multiple trips to the store to purchase the supplements and finally, remembering to actually take my supplements each and every day (or remembering if I had or hadn’t already taken my supplements that day).”
The experience inspired Mr. Montie to create the company Vitamins On Demand, which sells pre-packaged vitamin packs, a format he knew would address some of those issues, but not all of them. “After talking to friends and family who also took supplements on a daily basis, I realized that these weren’t just my issues,” he said. “These were universal issues that all supplement consumers faced.”
He bills the Vitamins On Demand concept and packaging as a problem-solver that addressed three primary issues: simplicity/personalization, portability/time savings and consistency.
Consumers begin by selecting a base pack: Men, Women, Men 50+, Women 50+, Easy-To-Swallow and Vegetarian. To further customize the product, the company offers a variety of “Health Extras”—add-on tablets and capsules that cover special needs such as joint and bone health (a calcium and magnesium/glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and MSM combination), heart health (a trio of turmeric, cayenne pepper and CoQ10 capsules), and Mood & Energy (a cocktail of vitamins and minerals, plus St. John’s Wort). There are also other options like Garden Fruits & Greens, aspirin, Weight Loss support and Prostate support.
“For those consumers who already know exactly what they want, they can choose the custom option and pick individual supplements,” commented Mr. Montie. “This is a vast departure from the one size fits all ‘vitamin packs’ currently on the market. The consumer gets only what they want.”
Each Vitamins On Demand pack comes in a perforated blister card pack that can be easily assimilated into the lifestyle of an on-the-go consumer. “No bottles. No packing pill minders,” said Mr. Montie. “It also creates an easy way for consumers to take their vitamins and supplements with them when they are away from home. They can simply tear off a day or a week. Consumers need a vacation from life’s little stressors, not a vacation from healthy choices and healthy living!”
The packaging also serves as a handy daily indicator to remind them whether or not they’ve taken their supplements on a given day. “Too often, consumers have their daily routines interrupted and can’t remember if they have actually taken their supplements for that particular day. It prevents the consumer from taking too much (or too little),” he said. “To make it even easier and convenient, all of our packs can be set as an ‘Auto Ship Subscription’ [which] means that the consumer will receive their fully prepared, personal vitamin packs every four weeks automatically. No more trips to the store. No more skipping one or all of their supplements because they’ve run out.”
In business since last July, Vitamins On Demand currently offers 52 vitamins and supplements. The company affords consumers the flexibility to either purchase their supplements via the company’s simple supplement recommendations based on gender and age, or they can individually add each supplement they desire. “In addition, we offer the consumer the ability to request any supplement/dosage that we do not have online and we can source it and provide a price quote,” noted Mr. Montie.
All of the vitamins, herbs and supplements used in Vitamins On Demand Health & Wellness Vitamin Packs and Health Extras are produced in GMP facility, which, according to Mr. Montie, are manufactured to the Vitamins On Demands’ exacting standards. “All are quality assured for purity and potency,” he affirmed. “Currently, Vitamins On Demand is not in an exclusive partnership with a single supplement manufacturer.”
Most of the company’s core four-week vitamin packs cost $19.99 (plus shipping).Health Extras range in price from $0.49 to $13.99 each, depending on the product. Vegetarian Health & Wellness Packs start at $34 and Easy to Swallow Health & Wellness Vitamins Packs cost $27.99 for a four-week supply.
Mr. Montie promised that Vitamins On Demand would continue to refine the custom solution offerings based upon the needs and desires of its customers. “We currently offer the consumer this more personal approach, albeit in a low key manner, by making specific requests via the website,” he said. “However, Vitamins On Demand will remain committed to offering a simple user experience. Too often, consumers give up their attempts at choosing supplement lifestyles because of the confusion caused by the deluge of products and dosage options. We have a genuine desire to help people live healthier lifestyles by providing a portable, personal and simple way to choose vitamins and supplements.”