Getting your food or beverage product in stores can significantly increase your reach and grow your business. However, it can also be a complex and competitive process. Thankfully, with the help of a design agency like DePersico Creative, you’ll get seamless product positioning and branding strategies to propel your business toward success.
See how your food product could end up on shelves starting with the following 12 steps:
1. Understanding Your Product
One of the major steps to tackling supply chain issues is thoroughly understanding your product and identifying the right retail stores that will cater to its demand. This step requires comprehensive product knowledge and a strategic approach. Ask yourself, “What sets my product apart? How does it satisfy my customers’ needs?”
2. Carry Out Market Research
Start by participating in trade shows and visiting wholesale marketplaces to understand the retail landscape. Doing this will give you an insight into how to get your product in stores. Notably, exploring online wholesale marketplaces efficiently identifies hot trends, popular products, and what influential retail stores are stocking.
To further enrich your research, your partner can organize surveys or even offer a free sample of your product to local store owners. By doing so, you may gain feedback directly from business owners and their customers. These insights can help you tune your product to better suit the market’s needs and demands.
3. Identifying Your Food Product’s Unique Selling Point (USP)
The USP of your product is what sets it apart in the retail store. To determine your USP, ask yourself critical questions like: “What problem does this product solve? How is it different from similar items on the market?” A strong USP can be pivotal in your sales pitch as you approach retail stores.
4. Choosing the Right Retailers for Your Product
Once you’ve identified your USP and done some market research, the next step is to find the perfect retail store for your food or beverage product. Look for a store or chain whose audience aligns with your target market. You may also consider stores where similar or complementary products are successfully sold.
5. Perfecting Your Pitch and Approaching Retailers
A strong sales pitch is critical when selling your product to retail stores. Think of it as the secret sauce that convinces sellers to welcome your creation onto their shelves. A compelling pitch should convey your product’s benefits, features, and USP. It should also highlight the problem your product solves and why it is a sound investment for retailers.
At DePersico Creative, we know how to create packaging that stands out and builds consumer trust to increase sales. Take a look at our new product portfolio and get in touch to create a brand identity that will help your product stand out from the crowd.
6. Understanding and Negotiating Terms With Retailers
Unfortunately, pitching isn’t always enough—you need to be ready to negotiate. Retailers might want to test your product first before any long-term commitments. This could be in the form of a “sale or return” agreement or a short-term contract. You should be prepared to offer a money-back guarantee if the product does not sell as anticipated within a given period.
Before you start pitching and negotiating, understand their terms of business. If the retailer only deals with exclusive distribution rights, you cannot sell online or through different stores. Make sure you are clear on all such restraints before committing.
7. Ensuring Quality and Consistency in Product Supply
Equally important is ensuring your product consistently meets quality standards. Supply chain issues often arise when there’s a mismatch between demand and supply or a breakdown in communication between suppliers and retailers.
Maintaining a steady supply of high-quality consumable products in retail stores is crucial. Potential customers are more likely to try items with a back guarantee or a free trial. They want to know that they are investing their money in the right product, and these guarantees and trials can give them the reassurance they need.
Furthermore, developing connections with local stores can be very useful in managing supply chain issues. Working with them allows you to create a more flexible supply chain and manage demand more efficiently. After all, some retail stores even accept pitches from local business owners intending to support local businesses.
8. Analyzing Sales and Customer Feedback for Continuous Improvement
While customer feedback can be vital in fine-tuning your product to better meet customer demands, it’s equally important to focus on sales figures. The two metrics together will give you a complete picture of how well your product is performing and where improvements may be needed.
Also, remember that customer feedback can come in many forms, some more formal than others. It could be through reviews on your web page, information collected during in-store promotions, or more casual comments made to store staff. All feedback forms are valuable and can provide insights into customer needs and preferences.
Above all, seeing your product on the shelves of a retail store is a significant achievement. While it can be challenging, it’s a milestone well worth the effort. So whether you are looking to approach retail stores, manage supply chain issues, or analyze sales and customer feedback for improvement, remember to stay focused, flexible, and open to learning.
Let DePersico Creative Help Get Your Products on the Shelves
Stand out from your competitors and get the attention your product deserves! At DePersico Creative, we specialize in product positioning, brand analysis, and package design to help your food and beverage brand make an impact in the marketplace.
Our SWIFI brand analysis assesses the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors, allowing us to identify where your product fits in and how you can elevate it. From there, we develop a product positioning strategy to resonate with your target audience. Our goal is to communicate the essence and value of your product in just four to six seconds. We distill its most significant benefits into key phrases and captivating images that intrigue potential customers and turn them into repeat buyers.
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with our team and contact us today.