How can we sell in big retail stores?
How can Rebecca get her product into retail stores? Share your advice for Bug Catcherz here.
From Rebecca Whicker, Woodstock, GA Thanks, everyone, for you great comments. I'd just like to clear up the reason we chose the name Bug Catcherz. It wasn't to label us or identify us as a "fashion tape" company. The Bug Catcherz name and brand was developed so that we could expand the brand and add other innovative (non-fashion tape) products to the line eventually. The mission is to "catch" and eliminate what "bugs" women. That is the reason for the name, not some random thing chosen that doesn't explain fashion tape. Hope that helps.
From Anna Lighter Regarding the article on: Selling to big retail stores: I have seem a product very similar to this in several stores in California usually in a basket at the register. Maybe Rebecca Whicker could go to localstores with baskets of her product to sell on consignment until she gets picked up by a big retailer. I also think a great name instead of Bug Cachterz is "Stick2it". Thanks a struggling entrepreneur.
From Carol Spieckerman With all due respect, I disagree with the advice given to Rebecca Whicker (“How can we sell in big retail stores?”). In today’s retail world, the name of a product has little to do with the product’s success. Why? Because product names, branding, packaging and pricing are often changed by retailers on a whim and it is up to the supplying company to either dig in or comply. Any product name should be offered up as “keep or toss” it retailer presentations. Beyond that, as a consultant to retail vendors, I can say from experience that getting products placed with major retailers is not a crap shoot. There are processes that have proved to be more successful than others and going through retailers’ stated approval steps isn’t always necessary!
From Jen Gold Cuyahoga Falls Ohio I completely agree with the answer given. I read Rebecca's letter but when I saw Bug Catcherz under her name I thought Huh? I didn't make sense. It doesn't sound like fashion tape. I bet if the name changed, doors would open.
Rebecca,
There are many different ways to get your product in front of a major retail buyer. First, never send a buyer a gift because it may be against their companies rules. You need to contact a vendor that is already doing business with the buyer you are targeting and ask them how they were able to get their product in front of the buyer. Second, you can consult with a broker that specializes in selling to the retail account you are targeting. Third, you should visit http://www.boostmyproduct.com and learn how to sell your product to any major retailer!