Do you have a product perfect for chain stores and want to know why buyers are not calling you back? Karen Waksman, founder of Retail MBA reveals 5 tips and strategies to help you get started today!
Are you having trouble getting your product into stores? Karen Waksman, founder of Retail MBA, has the answers. In this training segment, Karen explains the five reasons why chain store buyers are not calling you back.
Reason #1
When you reach out to a buyer, the first thing she will do is take a look at how you are presenting the product. If it’s not interesting, she won’t be interested. Most products are not totally brand new inventions, but rather a new version of an existing product. Buyers are looking for something newer and cooler.
Reason #2
When people think about getting their product into stores, they usually have three favorite retailers in mind. The problem with this strategy is that everyone else has the same strategy. Going after retailers that not everyone is selling to initially can get you in the door. Buyers like proof of concept, and if you can show them that you have sold elsewhere, it can make a difference.
Reason #3:
Retailers care about whether or not your product is selling. With the internet age, buyers can easily find information about your product and see if it is converting. If it’s not, they won’t be calling you back.
Reason #4
Retailers care about whether or not your shipping is conducive to a deal with them. If you are trying to save a couple of dollars by shipping a product by boat, it won’t work. By the time the product gets to the store, it could be months and months out.
Reason #5
Retailers care about pricing. If your pricing is way off, they won’t be calling you back. However, there are workarounds and strategies to help you figure out your pricing issue. Don’t quit with retailers just because they are saying your pricing is too high.
How to Get Your Product in Stores
Getting your product into stores can be a challenge, but with the right strategies and support, it can be done. Karen Waksman and Retail MBA have been helping people for the last 13 years get into chain stores. If you want to learn more, you can visit RetailMBA.com for free trainings, workshops, and more.

Outline of "How to Get Your Products in Stores - 5 Reasons Buyers Are Not Calling You Back at Stores!
Chain store buyers are important in the retail industry, as they are responsible for selecting the products that will be sold in major chain stores. However, many entrepreneurs struggle to get their products noticed by chain store buyers, and often find that their emails and calls go unanswered. In this article, Karen Waksman, founder of Retail MBA, provides insights into the top five reasons chain store buyers may not be calling you back.
-
Your Product is Not Unique The first reason that chain store buyers may not be responding to your outreach is that your product is not unique. Buyers have seen a lot of products over the years, and they are looking for something that is fresh, new, and exciting. If your product is not unique, it may be difficult to capture their attention. Waksman suggests that inventors rarely come up with completely new products, but rather create new versions of existing products. As such, it is important to find a way to make your product stand out from the crowd.
-
Your Strategy is Not Thought Out The second reason why chain store buyers may not be responding is that your strategy is not well thought out. When entrepreneurs think about selling to chain stores, they often focus on their top three favorite retailers. However, this strategy is flawed because everyone else is doing the same thing. Waksman suggests that going after retailers that not everyone is selling to initially could get you in the door of these retail chains. If you explore other strategies that can get you beyond what everybody else is doing, you may have a better chance of getting noticed.
-
Your Product is Not Selling The third reason why chain store buyers may not be responding is that your product is not selling. Retailers want to see that there is a demand for your product, and if it is not selling, they may be hesitant to take it on. Waksman suggests that there are ways to combat this, such as marketing strategies that can ensure that your product will sell.
-
Your Shipping is Not Conducive to a Deal with a Retailer The fourth reason why chain store buyers may not be responding is that your shipping is not conducive to a deal with a retailer. If you are trying to save money by shipping your products by boat, for example, it may not work well with chain stores. By the time the product arrives and is placed in the store, it may be months out of date. It is important to find a shipping method that works well for both you and the retailer.
-
You Are Not Following Up The fifth reason why chain store buyers may not be responding is that you are not following up. It is important to remember that buyers are busy, and they may not respond right away. If you do not hear back from them, it is important to follow up in a professional and respectful manner. Waksman suggests that you should follow up at least three times before giving up.
In conclusion, if you want to get noticed by chain store buyers, it is important to have a unique product that stands out from the crowd, a well thought-out strategy, a product that is selling, a shipping method that works well for both you and the retailer, and to follow up in a professional and respectful manner. By following these tips, you may be able to increase your chances of getting noticed by chain store buyers and ultimately getting your products on the shelves of major retailers.
