Selling to the big box retailers? Learn how to finance your sales!

If you are just starting out as a small business, it can be difficult to find the capital or credit to grow your business and start filling your products on store shelves. Here, we’ll take a look at how possible it is for new entrepreneurs to finance their sales through big box retail stores.

While some people think that only large corporations have access to the funds needed for commercial production, this isn't always the case. Whether you’re already selling your product in stores and are looking for additional ways to fund growth or haven’t yet sold in any stores and need financing at the start of your company's life cycle, here are some tips on how you can potentially get funding from big box retailers.

A Step-by-step Guide to Getting a Big Box Deal

The best way to get your product into a big box store is to start with the store in which they are most interested. Go to their website and find out what kind of products they would be willing to stock. If it’s not too competitive or similar to other items that you carry, then this is about as simple as it gets. If, however, you are unsure how well a product would sell and whether or not the demand is high enough, take advice from the store’s salespeople who specialize in selling those items and determine whether or not you want to try for this market.

Now it's time to start finding retail outlets that might be interested in carrying your product. Look for retail shops that are already selling similar items, because not only will you have less competition for your product, but it will also open up a channel of communication with the store so that you can explain how you would use their space to promote your product.

Use a retailer newsletter and website as venues to reach out to retail chains. Use these products as your calling cards, these are what retailers want to see and need in order to place an order. If you can’t make the numbers work, even with a guaranteed order, it might be best to try selling through another channel.

Next, approach the regional buyer—the person who is responsible for stocking your product locally or regionally. Find their contact info and send them a letter with your company information, including your website, product catalogs and anywhere you've already sold. The idea here is to prove that you are legitimate and you offer a quality product at an affordable price.

Finally, meet with buyers face-to-face. This step is especially important if your product isn't carried by that store. You want to make sure the buyer understands your company and what you want to accomplish in terms of growth. Once they're interested in you, find out what stores they sell in and which one might be most interested in selling your product. The more specific you are with your information, the easier it will be for us to reach a deal.

Prepare a presentation packet with pictures of your product, pricing information and all other relevant information that might help them make the decision to place an order from you. Once the deal is made and you have an order, you can either create a separate contract for each individual retailer or work with one representative from the larger retailer to put together a contract that works for both parties.

There's no question that this method of marketing can be very effective, especially if you find new retail outlets to sell in. You will always be able to get your product into stores and they will always want to sell your product because of its uniqueness. If you are already selling your product in stores and would like additional ways to secure funding through a big box chain, then take these steps for a chance at seeing your product on store shelves.

It's a great option for entrepreneurs who have not found success by selling their products through traditional means. It can be difficult to get into certain retail outlets that cater to small business owners, but it is possible if you're ready to put in the hard work and are willing to accept the risk that comes with changing the face of retail.

Remember, there are only so many retail outlets in America, so if you're not able to find a retailer that would like your product or if the store has already exhausted its stock of similar items, this method might not be right for you. But if you're getting ready to launch a new business or are looking for the opportunity to expand your current business, you can use this method to earn the funding you need and put your products on retail shelves.

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Conclusion:

Locating retail stores that are interested in selling your product is the most difficult part of the process of starting a new business. Once you've done that, however, you will have a much easier time securing more and more retail outlets that want to carry your product. If you find a taker and secure an order, then let FBA do the heavy lifting for you. When it comes to using these services as a marketing tool for your online retail business, it's important to remember that not all retailers offer them and if they do, they might not be willing to work with you because of the fee. It's best to check with the retailer beforehand so you can make sure it makes sense before starting your campaign.