Need to Register?

Komoney · June 28th, 2007

iight iight so im brain stormin and what not me and my company are shooting for our favorite store... i'm hoping that this list may help some people and that some people may help me... its basically a list of what you need to hit retailers hard when you pitch them.... most parts are left out for personal business reasons but it's a rough outline almost anyone could follow

because most of us have store account goals.... but exactly what does it take to reach them.

Nice Line Sheet/ Catalog

- What materials or mediums will you use? What are the costs?
- Utilize samples and examples of other established brands/competitors

Wholesale Pricing/ Minimums Terms and Conditions

- Strategic wholesale prices for each design
- Set minimums for your designs in order to get wholesale
- terms and conditions

Sales Pitch

- Possibly a video, a brief background or mission of your brand
- YOur style and distribution levels
- YOur commitment to success of retailer as well as brand
- Closure- business card and/or contract

Samples

- What samples will you bring in, how will you display them?

UPC/Barcodes

- Appling for them, GS1 USA approx. $750
- Printing barcodes, when and how?

Hang Tags

- What will you use? business cards aren't a bad idea

Order Fulfillment

- Ordering shirts, printing them, attaching labels, hangtags, etc
- And then finally delivering them to store in a timely manner

Comin'OutSwingin · June 29th, 2007

Pretty good checklist. There are couple of things I wouldn't include, though.

"- Utilize samples and examples of other established brands/competitors"

If you have targeted a store, then more than likely they would be familiar with other brands and their quality, especially established brands. I don't think it's necessary to show them a side-by-side comparison of the competition. Keep the focus on your brand!

"- Possibly a video, a brief background or mission of your brand"

NO VIDEOS!!! They don't have time, and really won't care to see a video. If you have samples, trust me, they will suffice. If there are certain things you would put in video, just simply tell them. Put it in your line sheet, or maybe on your order forms. But please don't try to show them a video!

Just my suggestions.

Other than that, it's a pretty good starting point.

kindred · June 29th, 2007

yep the sample is the only thing that matters because you are showing the buyer what to expect if they order. Unless you have a connection to a buyer in a major chain somwhere the majority of what you have laid out won't be necessary right away.

Here's my main speaking points at a tradeshow

1. sample and wholesale cost to them
2. what the brand is about what makes us different
3. when can you deliver

this takes about 2-5 minutes and the rest is the buyer looking through the samples.