Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Our agency is facilitating the startup for a client`s lotion company. We
have been emersed in researching all aspects and would like to see if
someone could give us some advice. We would like to quickly begin
approaching some of the chain stores with the product like Home Depot,
Lowes, etc. The lotion is for hard working men with cracked skin on their
hands and feet, which is why we want to target the Home Improvement
market to begin with. However, we are finding that more and more
women that try the product love it as well. Including myself.

You can view the packaging at http://thinktankdesigns.com/Larsons.htm,
the site has not yet been launched.

Thank you in advance.

is your question specifically how to approach the big box retailers you mentioned or whether to redirect efforts to cater to women.

if women are of interest, how are they becoming aware of it? online?

where is the product currently being sold? what`s the sales track record so far?

sounds like an interesting product!

rich

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Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation

Rich, thanks for the response.

Yes, my question is how to approach the big retailers. Right now the
product is not being sold at all. We are just talking it to death. There are
many elements that still need to be put into place before we can begin
selling. Right now I am just trying to think in the biggest of terms and
want to make sure that we know how to approach these retailers when
the time comes.

We definitely want to market the product to women, but we are starting
with our niche market to begin. The creator of the product is a very down
to earth guy that worked as a Lineman for many years. He actually
developed the product for himself when him and his wife found that
nothing on the market would work to cure the painful cracks in his skin
from being in the outdoor elements all day. So he is very passionate
about helping other hard working men ease their pain as well. We will
expand our marketing efforts once his core market has been explored.
We are very excited about his product and the results it has brougt those
who have tried it. We feel the product has great potential and would like it
to be in as many "Hard Working Hands" as possible.

Robin,

 

One question that is sure to arrise is the method inwhich you will be distributing the product.  Any Big Box business will be concerned with how you will be able to fulfill their orders in a timely fashion with accurate reporting and inventory managment tools.  This is a where a fulfillment house becomes more than a shipping company for you and acts as a business partner.  I would be happy to discuss any questions and concerns you may have in regards to these issues.  Good luck!

 

Dan Coll

Rapid Fulfillment, Inc.

www.rapidfulfillment.com

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Product & Literature Fulfillment Experts Dan Coll, President Rapid Fulfillment, Inc. 461 Cochran Road, Suite 300 Pittsburgh, PA 15228 dan@rapidfulfillment.com www.rapidfulfillment.com

dan,

a new topic about how fullfilment works (without making it a blatant commercial!) would be really cool for our community. please consider that.

now to robin...

robin,

i think it`s critical that you continue on your path of marketing tightly to a niche. one interesting thing that might happen is that women will buy it anyway b/c it has the impression of "industrial strength" and with all the things women continue to be responsible for, including having soft hands(!), i bet they`ll love using a product that is "serious".

as for approaching the big retailers, is there any way you can sell the product locally initially just to get some track record you can brag about as part of your pitch to the big boxers?

rich

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Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation

Robin, sounds like a great product and I know plenty of people who would try it..

BTW - the site address you gave in your original post does not download any graphics/photos - so I could not review the packaging, etc. Tried MSIE and Firefox to no avail.

This product sounds like a great product to sell online to build a clientele and a selling history. I know the BIG BOX retailers can make people`s eyes bug out with the potential, but if your product works as you say it does (and I believe you), I would think you could capitalize on some early sales through the Internet and build a following. What do you have to loose?

This product also lends itself to free sample pouches - you know, the small foil samples - one use type thing. Maybe use the Internet to build your database of potential customers by offering a free sample if they signup for a "hand care" newsletter. This newsletter would be a great way to promote good handcare and get in some subtle plugs for your product AND create some customer evangelists with the free samples. Because if they try the free sample, and it works, they will come back to the website to buy the bigger size or sizes. Maybe even consider a free nail brush or so other inexpensive giveaway for first time buyers, etc. I can see all kind of cool promotions with this product. 

Just like the guy who invented this stuff, I`m betting there are plenty of people searching the Internet for relief to dry and cracked skin. Build your following and you`ll have the BIG BOX BOYZ coming to you soon enough.

R@

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