|
|  |
| |
|
| | The Minding Your Own Business Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Help With Marketing and Distributing | Views: 923 | | Jan 14, 2007 7:12 pm | | Help With Marketing and Distributing | # | 
Kim Easter | | I serve as an Independent Distributor for a company that has ramped up advertising in national magazines with readership in the millions. Each ad specifies that these products can be found in retail shops. The company is pushing as well as the few independent distributors to get the product into the marketplace. Right now there are more distributors in Canada than the United States, but that won't last long.
I need suggestions or possibly a business partner to help me get these products into the stores while momentum remains high.
Thanks,
Kimberly Easter
Moderator, Home Sweet Home Business
http://hshbusiness-network.ryze.com
Business Suitable 4 YouPrivate Reply to Kim Easter | | Jan 15, 2007 4:22 am | | re: Help With Marketing and Distributing | # | 
Kurt Schweitzer | | Kimberly,
So, you want to get retailers to help you sell your products. How are you selling to the retailers?
As someone who is starting a retail business, I can tell you a few things a retailer is looking for:
1) Does your product appeal to the retailer's customers? The retailer doesn't want to buy your product, he wants to sell it. If he can't sell it, he won't buy it from you.
2) Does your product fit with the rest of the retailer's offering? If your product doesn't fit well with what he's already carrying, he may not have facilities such as appropriate display fixtures, so he's not likely to try to sell it.
3) What sort of markup is available? A higher markup offers the retailer more flexibility in selling the product. If it isn't selling, he can reduce the price and still make a profit. Of course, if the product sells well, the retailer can settle for a smaller markup.
4) What terms do you offer? If the retailer can sell something before he has to pay for it, it's a big win. Consignment sales are good (the retailer never actually buys the product), so are flooring plans (where a finance company buys the product from the manufacturer/wholesaler and allows the retailer 60 days or more to display it on his sales floor before paying for it).
5) What sort of support do you offer the retailer? Support might include packaging options, marketing materials, and fast restocking.
The bottom line here is that as a distributor, your customer is the retailer. You need to market to your target retailers the same way he markets to his target customers.
One last point: The retailer is NOT the consumer of your product. It's nice for the retailer to be able to endorse your product from personal experience, but his objective is to SELL the product, not to use it! A smart retailer won't buy your product (no matter how much he personally likes it!) if he can't sell it at a profit.
I hope this helps!
Kurt Schweitzer
Urban Village ScootersPrivate Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Jan 15, 2007 6:37 am | | re: re: Help With Marketing and Distributing | # |
Kim Easter | | Yes, what you provided helps a lot. You helped me to think like a retailer. Let me do my best to address your points.
1 and 2 - Most of my products fit with health, nutrition, supplement, drug, or grocery stores. They would also work in medical offices or natural/holistic type facilities. I wouldn't ask if I didn't think the product would fit with their current line.
3 - A higher markup is available for retailers at deeper discounts since they can purchase product in greater volume more frequently.
4 - The retailer can purchase purchase a little or as much as they like. There are no minimums.
5 - Packing is very secure. Marketing materials are included in every shipment. I always receive product within 3 to 5 business days.
I will be sure to make these points clear up front when talking to potential retailers.
Of course, if any of my products might soot any retailer you know, I am open to the connection. Let me know if I missed anything that you intended for me to catch.
Thanks again,
Kimberly Easter
Moderator, Home Sweet Home Business
http://hshbusiness-network.ryze.com
Business Suitable 4 YouPrivate Reply to Kim Easter | | Jan 16, 2007 12:52 am | | re: re: re: Help With Marketing and Distributing | # |
Kurt Schweitzer | | Kimberly,
By packaging options I mean things like different size packages (12 oz, 16 oz, 20 oz for example) or different labeling (such as larger print for seniors, or bright colors for children). Packaging options may also mean case quantities vs. single unit quantities, or packaged to hang on a peg vs. sit on a shelf.
There are many examples of products that are identical except for the way they are packaged. Different packages appeal to different market segments, and allow you to have different prices for the same product!
Kurt SchweitzerPrivate Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Jan 16, 2007 2:00 am | | re: Help With Marketing and Distributing | # | 
Reg Charie | | Kimberly you can also setup a website offering different levels of pricing.
The CRELoaded B2B offers 4 levels of discount and an affiliate sales option.
RegPrivate Reply to Reg Charie | | |
| |
| |
