Start Getting Your Product Out There in the Market Now
Image by Jeremy Smith from Pixabay
Have you ever wondered how some business owners succeed at getting their product out in the market, while some don’t? The retail industry is a temperamental one, and you have to get on its good side before you can actually sell. So, before you can make a sales pitch that promotes your products to customers, start with a great pitch directed at retailers out there.
You really have to be out there, not only to test your product but also to promote it. Here are 5 things to get in the pipeline as you start making your way through all the routes and channels of retail.
- Create a product pitch plan.
Sit down and list all the retail stores you have in mind. Potentially, these are the ones you are interested in approaching for business. Since you plan on working with them, it helps when they are aligned with the vision and goals which you want to achieve.
At the same time, study your competition. Find out which stores carry similar products. See where you can find a niche or make a difference, especially terms of the product and service you deliver.
- Do your research and prepare your brief.
In advance, get ready with your data. Based on what your product is or what it can do, have a ballpark figure on how much it would cost and how many you can supply within a specific time frame. Using facts and figures, fine-tune your plan into one that is feasible and can be supported.
- Reach out and present your plan.
Connect with distributors and retailers to see if they will buy your idea. Introduce yourself through a cover letter, and be prepared with a product kit that contains samples. Don’t come empty-handed, banking on yourself alone. Credibility is something you build.
With a limited time to present, be concise and straightforward. Talk about your key points and highlight how they can be beneficial to both you and your listener.
- Make a round of local food retailers.
Build a network of contacts, starting with the neighbourhood and community you live in. Even if it means starting small, tap on local food businesses that could give you a break. Arrange to have your product on their shelves. Independent store owners have the advantage of being able to decide without going through the ranks.
- Get into web-based retail platforms.
Explore all possible options for a start-up such as website pages and social media sites. Post an Instagram story or a YouTube post to introduce your product subtly and informally. Achieve more exposure on-line by affiliating yourself with sites that can advertise your product for free. Once you go viral, then there’s virtually no stopping you!
At this stage when you’re just getting started, a product pitch will be the key. The bottom line is that you have to start now and get it out there where the action is. Spot-on, out there means in front of retailers, on the bargaining table, into the store, and on the shelf.