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With the market on a sure and steady path to recovery, inventors looking to get their innovative product ideas out on shelves in convenience stores across the nation have to brave a number of barriers in order to break into the business successfully. Achieve your dream goal to see your product on the shelves of major market chains and brands like Whole Foods, Target and Walmart with the right approach, effort and research.
Here are a few steps or tried and tested methods to ensure your product gets shelf space and is put out on display at stores.
Begin local
Take small steps toward a great future. Sure the ultimate end is to see your product up on the shelves of giant commercial store chains, but they might not be interested in an initial startup product without a proper sales base or a steady growing sales record. Start with online sales to introduce your product to customers and prove its ability to sell.
Approach local stores in your neighborhood and town or at stores where you normally shop. Local shop owners are more likely to entertain you and your product. Especially stores that recognize you as a regular customer will be more open and approachable, as you can entice them with an established customer base of friends and acquaintances that comprise your product demographic.
Build a great pitch
No matter what kind of store you approach with your product, make sure you have an excellent sales pitch ready to win over the buyer. It’s best you make a formal appointment and meet the manager in charge of stock and supply intake. Demonstrations of product will help drive your sales pitch, while information on the product is essential to gain buyer confidence and assert validity of product.
Expect denial, but don’t accept it as final
There will be several times where your product meets flat refusal, though with determination and effort you can use suggestions made and criticism offered to better your product. Be it in terms of packaging, labeling or other aspects and aesthetic elements. It is always best to take as much as you can from buyer interactions and work on ways to enhance your standing product and make it more appealing to clients and buyers.
Remember there is always a sure way into the market, and making small changes, like including tamper proof sealing on your product, can make a big difference to a buyer.
Get interactive
Several super market chains and super stores allow small and startup businesses to market their products through special programs where producers interact directly with customers by displaying their products in store aisles and by offering demonstrations and tastings if possible. Allowing buyers and customers the opportunity to try and experience the product for themselves and urges them to make an informed decision while highlighting your product’s appeal and winning qualities.
Store buyers in charge through experience, have a well-based idea of type of products that sell and what exactly people look for when purchasing a product. Interactions with buyers will bring you a wealth of information and feedback you can then use to sell your product. Simple utilitarian additions to design can make a marked difference in how your product is approached by buyers and customers alike. The key is to hold something unique that separates your product from the many generic items sold in stores already. The more your product stands apart from the rest, the higher the likelihood of store buyers giving your product shelf space or keep them on display.
Expand your buyer base
Visit trade shows, exhibitions and fairs. Check out C Store Distributors Directory and C Store Directory, this will give you a more in depth view of the market and widen your exposure to interested buyers across the nation. However, before you do enroll yourself into a trade fair, research the many fairs to gain an understanding of which ones best suit your product. Trade exhibitions that hold a broad display of unrelated products might leave you feeling like you don’t belong and worse yet, unnoticed by the many buyers who do attend.
It is best to get a good idea of what the show covers, or look for product specific trade shows that deal in your area of specialized goods. Trade shows will introduce you to a gamut of store retailers with valid contact information using which you can contact them and meet them separately to develop better relations thus broadening your buyer spectrum base.
Opt for broker assistance
Many a time product inventors or designers aren’t very good sales people, or haven’t time at their disposal to meet and interact with store buyers, or can’t afford to hire a dedicated person to direct product sales. In situations like these, convenience store brokers come to the rescue. Brokers can make sales for you with their pre-established buyer relations and familiarity of market, brokers greatly help emerging and startup companies get their products in stores.
With the help of a broker you can spread sales across different regions across the country. In addition brokers work on about 5-15% commission made on approved sales.
Create buzz
The best way to get your product on display shelves at retail stores is have the buyer contact you. If customers begin asking for your product in stores, then buyers will be forced to call and stock up on your product. Achieve this by creating marketing buzz about your product.
Advertise and market your product online through popular blogs and social news feeds. With a sufficient number of people having read about and tried your product, they are bound to pass on the message, enticing their friends and family to try it out too. This creates hype and excitement over the product and people just love anything fresh and exciting.
Build customer relations by interacting with bloggers asking them for relevant feedback and opinion about your product. If their interest in your product is heightened, they might take it upon themselves to write about and share your product.