Sales channels to reach your customers
Selling through retailers, wholesalers and other distributors
Selling through an intermediary may be a more cost-effective way of reaching your end-customers than selling to them directly.
If you are targeting business customers who prefer to deal with large suppliers, selling directly to them may not be a realistic option. Instead, you might aim to supply wholesalers who have existing relationships with those businesses.
If individual consumers buy low value quantities of your products, the best option might be to target retailers that sell similar products. Or you might choose to focus your efforts on a relatively small number of wholesalers who can in turn supply your products to many retailers.
Other distribution channels may also reach your end-customers. For example, technology suppliers often sell to resellers who can configure and install the technology to suit end-users’ particular needs.
Managing your distributors
You need distributors who will value your product. If they sell competing products, what will make them push yours?
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Think about how you set your prices. Distributors will be more enthusiastic if they can make a large profit – but setting too low a price will eat into your own margins.
Effective advertising and promotions can be vital. As well as marketing to the distributor, you can promote your products directly to end-customers. Distributors will be keener to stock and sell products that their customers are asking for.
The key terms of the supply relationship should be covered in a written contract. Key issues might include:
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how much stock the distributor will hold
what the distributor will do to promote your products
how quickly you can resupply and minimum order levels
whether the distributor has exclusive rights to your product (for example, in a particular territory)
what happens if either you or the distributor want to end the relationship
Business ideas, Marketing and sales , promotions and advertising ideas , articles
Business Resources
This page gives you a plethora of business resources that have been tested and selectively chosen for you. These business resources are best of the breed.
Your #1 Ongoing Resource
Your #1 ongoing resource is our Business Resource ezine. It is published monthly and gives you the latest resources for starting and running your successful business. Every month it is packed full of ideas for new business opportunities, the latest business resources, or business tools I have found. Some months you will find a great source of marketing information. Other months you may receive a list of low-cost business ideas or strategies for financing your business. Whatever the subject it is always packed with information to help you start and run your business successfully.
Business Tools
Accounting Software Comparison
Click here for an Accounting Software Comparison
Shopping Cart and Merchant Account Company
If youll be selling online, youll want to get a shopping cart hooked up to your website. I recommend 1ShoppingCart.com. I dont recommend PayPal typically because the customers information is then stored on their site, not yours and they dont accommodate for recurring charges and billing, which youll need most often.
Youll need a merchant account company.
Virtual Phone and FAX service and 800 Numbers
I have found a complete, hosted phone and fax system for your business.
RingCentral Online
RingCentral Online gives small businesses and mobile professionals a more professional image by combining toll free and local numbers with advanced call management features. Set up departments, assign extensions, record greetings, and manage how calls are handled for each extension. Track all incoming/outgoing calls and faxes online. Plans from $9.99/month.
RingCentral Fax
RingCentral Fax includes a toll free or local number to send and receive faxes by email or in your RingCentral account. Send faxes from any application. Plans from $7.99/month; includes 300 pages every month. Free fax editing software included.
Branding through Garment Printing
One very inexpensive way to brand your company and products is with printed t-shirts and other garments. In the old days small companies were shut out because screen printers required large minimums as well as setup charges for each job. Big Frog imprints garments digitally. Its an eco-friendly system and they require no minimums, they dont charge for artwork, there are no setup charges, and they have a 24 hour turnaround time. I have personally had many garments printed there and their graphic designers are great and very easy to work with. Their garments never crack, separate or peel and the print will last as long as the garment! They offer a great selection of high quality products and 100% satisfaction. Their prices are also very reasonable. They will also ship nationwide. You can also check them out on facebook.
Back-Up Solutions
I also recommend signing up for an online data backup system because you never know when your computer might crash. You dont want to rely on backing up yourself or it wont get done! I recommend Mozy with unlimited backup for $4.95 per month or 2GB Totally Free Online Backup! Compliments of Mozy.
Mozy Unlimited Backup $4.95/Month!
E-Mail Promotions
Whether youre looking to send an e-mail newsletter, a high-impact e-mail promotion, an e-mail event invitation, or an online survey, or if you are looking to build your e-mail list, discover how Constant Contact can help you get it done. You can test them for free for 60 days. Build your business with Email Marketing and Online Surveys from Constant Contact. FREE 60-Day Trial.
Online Stationery Company
MOO is an online stationery company. They print custom Business Cards, mini Business Cards (they like to call them MiniCards), Postcards, NoteCards, Greeting Cards and StickerBooks. Each product you print with MOO can be fully customized using images uploaded directly or imported from sites like facebook and Flickr. MOOïs Printfinity technology means that every card or sticker in a pack can use a different image or photo for the front. MOOs products are loved by small businesses.
MOO Business Cards, MiniCards, Postcards. Create unique cards using your own photos or designs to help your business stand out!
Other Business Resources
Sage provide practical advice, tips and guides on how to start a business for new sole traders and business startups.
Learn how to sell your product to any major retailer at BoostMyProduct.com This website has invaluable information about selling your product to stores such as Wal-mart, Target and Costco.
Secret Strategies never before told about how to make your fortune at Trade Shows, Exhibitions, your in-house events, and even Flea Markets.
Learn how to Run your Business
Learn QuickBooks Quick IAC University
Nolo is the nations leading provider of do-it-yourself legal and business solutions for those of us without law degrees or MBAs. Since 1971, Nolo has offered affordable plain-English books, forms and software on a wide range of legal issues, including employment, intellectual property and starting and running a small business. Nolo.com
Legal Forms for Starting & Running a Small Business. The legal documents you need on any given day! Like most small business owners, you probably cant afford to hire a lawyer to draft the legal documents you need in the course of your day-to-day business.
Now theres an affordable solution Legal Forms for Starting & Running a Small Business, which provides you with over 60 legal forms and documents and all the step-by-step instructions you need to use them.
This collection of essential legal and business documents helps you:
create contracts to buy, sell, rent or store goods
hire employees and consultants
protect your trade secrets
create noncompete agreements
prepare an LLC operating agreement
borrow and lend money
buy a business
lease commercial space
prepare corporate bylaws
record minutes of meetings
buy real estate
and much more
Businesses You May Want to Start
Build your own business with low and attainable start up costs and minimal overhead. Work in a positive environment, with positive, outgoing people who have similar goals. Thrive in a recession and be personally mentored by me. Look at my business model!
The Asphalt King Business Opportunity is simple and straight forward. All you need is the desire and a few dollars (under $6000) to get it started and you have to be willing to work hard and follow the Asphalt King operating system.
Books I Can Recommend
Below you will find books I can recommend on leadership and on mental attitude in general. Think & Grow Rich is the first book I give people when they start their own business. So much of the work has to be done between the ears; Napoleon Hill studied the hugely successful business owners of his time and came to some very valuable conclusions. You can use the same tools that the greats used by following the instructions in his book.
Directories
Finance Shopis a directory where you will find useful websites in the areas of Accounting, Business and Financial Services, Business and Society, Business opportunity, and Customer Service.
Another Resource
Another source for business help is your local SCORE office. SCORE is a part of the Small Business Department of the federal government. SCORE advisers are usually retired businesspeople who are willing to give entrepreneurs free and confidential business advice. Find your local SCORE office.
One Last Resource Just for You
My purpose and passion is to help people start their own businesses. If you have gone through this website and need my personal help, contact me and describe as fully as you can what help you need. I wont give you money or invest in your business. On the other hand it wont cost you a penny. I would be happy to try and help you with advice.