5 ms·

Find a key person who knows the retail end of the consumer market. Having been there before, just the time invested in building simple relationships can be a m

by brk 15y ago

Find a key person who knows the retail end of the consumer market. Having been there before, just the time invested in building simple relationships can be a major resource suck if you're starting from zero. Plus, navigating all of the oddities of dealing with consumer products (from potential certification/testing stuff) to packaging/distribution/channel sales and so on is a world of its own. Based on my experience, also be prepared to give away a ton of product to buyers at potential outlets and spend lots of time discussing little nuanced things that will likely drive you insane :) Your other option is to setup a retail oriented website and sell direct. It will take longer to get from Point A to Point B, but will be less resource intensive. If you can generate some basic demand in that avenue, then you can pursue QVC or some of the "As Seen on TV" marketing companies for a distribution deal.

sigil 15y ago
> Find a key person who knows the retail end of the consumer market. Where's a good place to start? Most of our contacts are in live entertainment or distribution for live entertainment. We've gone to some industry conferences like LDI, but there's not much of a consumer focus. > Your other option is to setup a retail oriented website and sell direct. We're definitely considering this. If you had to do it over again, would you start here and move to retail channels later? Great advice, thanks!
- brk 15y ago
  Talk to an executive headhunter that specializes in the retail market. Look for people who have launched roughly similar (eg electronics, not fashion) products into large retail channels. Don't know enough about your product and company cash position to comment on the second question. If your product has the potential to hit huge sales, you have just enough time to hit stores in time for the Christmas shopping season. That would most likely be the ideal case. Another option I was just thing of could be the summer concert series. It sounds like you might have an ideal product for pre-concert shopping/food/drinks concession kiosks. This could also be a good test market.

by brk 15y ago

sigil 15y ago

> Find a key person who knows the retail end of the consumer market. Where's a good place to start? Most of our contacts are in live entertainment or distribution for live entertainment. We've gone to some industry conferences like LDI, but there's not much of a consumer focus. > Your other option is to setup a retail oriented website and sell direct. We're definitely considering this. If you had to do it over again, would you start here and move to retail channels later? Great advice, thanks!

brk 15y ago
Talk to an executive headhunter that specializes in the retail market. Look for people who have launched roughly similar (eg electronics, not fashion) products into large retail channels. Don't know enough about your product and company cash position to comment on the second question. If your product has the potential to hit huge sales, you have just enough time to hit stores in time for the Christmas shopping season. That would most likely be the ideal case. Another option I was just thing of could be the summer concert series. It sounds like you might have an ideal product for pre-concert shopping/food/drinks concession kiosks. This could also be a good test market.