Getting Started With Wholesale - Your First Retailers
For a new brand, reaching out to retailers can feel intimidating, so the more prepared you can be the better. Hopefully you have read our post How To Approach New Stockists, but if not I strongly urge you to do so!
Here are some great ideas to help you feel more confident and professional when you take on your first stockists.
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Draw up a clear set of policies that work for you, memorise it, and present it to all potential customers. This could include things like minimum order quantities, payment terms, clear delivery costs, return policy etc.
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Do not be persuaded to work in a way that harms your business. For example, a potential customer may request a sale or return arrangement, and that may not work for you. Its ok to ask for some time to look into things if you aren't sure, and its ok to just say no if you are certain it will be detrimental to your business. Of course you still need to be flexible sometimes, especially with a stockist you feel will really take your brand forward.
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Make it easy for them to communicate with you. When you take on a new stockist it is important they know how to contact you quickly in the event of a problem or urgent requirement. Clear information on who to get in touch with will give them confidence and hopefully prevent small issues becoming major problems.
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Follow our Three Golden Rules to Make Life Easier For Your Stockists to keep your new retailers happy.
Further Reading:
Getting Started With Wholesale
Wholesale and Retail Customers - Are They Really That Different?
How to Approach New Stockists
Delivering Excellence To Your Wholesale Customers