How to convince a manufacturer to offer a drop shipping program?

Business Forum

Money

Elevator Pitches

How to convince a manufacturer to offer a drop shipping program?

New Topic

Post Reply

Follow Topic

Page of 1

Author
Message

MikeyB

posts: 1

Jun 12, 2008 3:37 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Hello all,
I am a budding entrepreneur who is interested in launching a small e-commerce site to sell a specific product that, to my knowledge, is not yet being sold online. So, my question is, what is the best way to approach the manufacturer to convince them to let me sell their products online?
From what i can tell, their products are sold by "representatives" that also represent other products in the food service industry.
Any advise is welcomed. Thanks in advance.

DefMall

posts: 99

Jul 17, 2008 12:32 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

I came across this recently. A product line that is traditionally sold by contract furniture dealers. I wanted to sell it on a drop ship basis via website.

At first, the sales maanger was just being beligerent...asking me questions along the lines of `well, how to you expeect to handle `X`?`...or ...`What are you going to charge for `X``?

Since I had owned a website before and I knew the industry, I was able to answer his questions quickly and thoroughly.

But more importantly, and this is the advice I think you are looking for, I told him this: Listen, I`m not trying to compete with you and I`m not trying to compete with your dealers. I`m trying to partner with you, and bring you more business. This is how I plan to do it (insert strategy here). If you can use additional sales, I can bring them to you, and I can do it professionally. My job is to sell the product the way you want it sold, so we can both make money."

That was the clincher. He didn`t become any "nicer", but he gave me access to his line on a drop ship basis.

I think, If you can show a manufacturer that you have a UNIQUE way to bring him business, and a plan to do it, they will atelast give you LIMITED access. (In this economy, they`d be a fool NOT to).

Mikey - if you get this off the ground, and you really are their only `web` distributor, please let me know. I know some clever Web 2.0 marketing tecqniques and I`d like to share them with you so you can get some business and make the manufacturer glad he chose to let you sell the line!

Page of 1

Post Reply

Keep the Community Clean!

StartupNation forums should be used as a platform to learn, educate others, share stories, tips & tricks and to provide constructive feedback.
Please do not use the Forums for advertising & blatant self-promotion.
Please be respectful to other members and refrain from personal attacks and vulgar language.
StartupNation reserves the right to delete any message, reply, and/or member who violates our terms of use.

Read full terms of use

Contact Us Privacy Terms of Use Become a Marketplace Provider Advertise Local Guides Site Map Home Business Start a Business

Business Forum

Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

How to convince a manufacturer to offer a drop shipping program?

Keep the Community Clean!