the high street

[KYLA33]

hi, was just wondering how to approach high street shops to try to get them to purchase my products. Has anyone had any experience with this? what was the best way to go about it?

[lajlaj]

hi, was just wondering how to approach high street shops to try to get them to purchase my products. Has anyone had any experience with this? what was the best way to go about it?

I supply to major accounts, what are you going to be selling? I'll not lie and say it is easy but it can be done. It can take at least a year to make any progress at all.

Start by sending letters and samples but be prepared to follow up and chase and chase as much as you can.

Another good way is to attend trade shows, again though it depends on what you will be selling.

Happy to answer any specifics you may have.

[Chiggs]

I supply my products wholesale to shops- not major accounts like Nadine, mainly independent retailers/baby shops/card and gift shops.

I've gained stockists lots of different ways-doing the selling myself by making appointments with shops, sending letters (as Nadine says, the follow up is v. important!), doing a trade fair, publicity (http://www.chiggs.co.uk/in_the_news.htm) in magazines for my products led to some shops approaching me, likewise with recommendations in trade magazines.

I also have a listing on www.thewholesaler.co.uk (http://www.thewholesaler.co.uk) which leads to trade enquiries and trade orders.

[KYLA33]

Hi, with regards to getting interest from magazines, did you write to them with a press release or did they contact you? your product is very different from anything else out there whilst mine, although lovely, is not the only ones on the market. (a range of babywear)
Also I was thinking of going into the local shops in person with a sample of what i've designed, would this seem rude without calling first do you think?

[Chiggs]

for the magazines, I sent a letter and a sample of a Baby feed Wheel- the advantage being that it's inexpensive and light to post, and I really do think that sending an actual Wheel helped to get the coverage.

For shops, tbh i've done both- my first day selling I did cold call some local shops, and had a good response (maybe sympathy, because I was so nervous I was shaking :D).

I usually now do call first to arrange a time to visit- shop owners often don't (seem to :cheesy:) mind, as they know thay can always say no, and may find a new product to sell without much effort! There are a couple of shop owners on this forum, maybe they will advise the best way to contact...