Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi,

I am starting up a new hair gel for men and it will be manufactured within the next few weeks.  I have been working at it for over 3 years while keeping a full time job.

Here is my question.  How do you get a product from a company that is not established in a store?  I have read about slotting fees, etc. from the big stores like CVS, which would make it virtually impossible for me to get a deal with the store.

I am on a limited budget (at best) and any advice would be helpful.  I of course see potential in my product, but know that I need to get the word out there, which can be costly.

Regards,

Ryan

Maybe you should start with shops dedicated to hair care, the hair cuttery, hair saloon and the like. I believe Aveeda started in that manner as well, when the product became popular enough the retailers went looking for the manufacturer not the other way around.

Good luck,

Thanks for the response.  I will definitely try that route.  I was amazed when I researched the bigger chains and found out that often they do not even want new products as it may take one of their products off of the shelves.

That`s good advice from elidS. You usually have to start small and build up a track record. There aren`t that many left but depending on the area of the country in which you live, there may be some smaller chains that you can approach as well.

Good luck.

Ron

Thanks Ron.  I live in Massachusetts where it seems that everything is big chains now, but I will hit the pavement trying to find the smaller stores.

I don`t know if this will help, but you could place a well informed brochure page online. Then do an online search for hair care product retailers. Email them to let them know you`re out here. (using the online page as a link in the email.) They may only want to put your product on their site as a drop ship component, but your name will at least be there for people to see. Also, if the online supporters don`t sell anything, your name is still present on the pages, while you continue your search in a brick and mortar.


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

I really like that idea and it can be done on the cheap.  Thank you very much for the suggestion.

How about giving free samples to local barber shops?  Word of mouth can be a good thing and if they help create customer demand, then you will have some ammunition to get it into other shops.  If your product is truly different enough to stand out, let barbers or private salons try a free sample in the hopes they will want to stock it.  Similar to what has been already said.

~Kim

That`s a GREAT idea ScrapBizKim!

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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Kim (ScrapBiz) said what I was going to say, along with Eli and Vincent. Start with your local barber shops and hair salons (some guys also go to Fantastik Sam`s, y`know). :-D

If you give them a bunch of samples, tell them the wholesale price, and encourage them to sell it for some nominal amount, you get two advantages:

• The product gets into places where people see the name,
• You`ll get a very solid market test response. If people take it and it doesn`t do it for them, they`ll tell the barber or stylist. But if the barber gets rave reviews, you can then start selling them quantities.
  

The online "direct from manufacturer" would maybe help you with sales here and there. Be sure to also put a "Dealer`s Welcome" navigation button and page so people could ask you about distribution.