Convenience store suppliers are the gateway between manufacturers and convenience stores. By purchasing a distributor list from cstoredistributors.com these manufacturers can get a leg up in the business. Since it is notoriously difficult to compile the information necessary to build a substantial distributor list, this site is a boon to any company. The C Store Distributors list has over 950 store distributors as well as the top 100 store chains in the United States. This database has been collected over the past 10 years and is the most comprehensive in existence.
Convenience store suppliers are very difficult to find. It requires a lot of contacts that most people simply do not have. What is even more difficult is finding a database with email addresses directly to the buyers for the companies. Wholesalers can reach a lot of convenience stores with their routes, even one sale can reach between 300 and 3,000 convenience stores, but getting a foot in the door is more difficult. There is a wide range of products these stores will stock from: beverages; food items; novelties or tobacco.
The list of convenience store suppliers includes the designated buyer’s names, addresses, phone numbers and personal email addresses. The list from cstoredistributors.com also includes 200 Rack Jobbers (these are smaller convenience store distributors) with contact information. There are also 950 Big-Box (Target, Kroger) store buyer contact information. There is also contact information for 14,000 supermarkets (with buyer emails). Also the contact information for the top 40 brokers in the convenience store industry is available in this list. As a bonus, there is an introduction to the owner of checkstandprogram.com who can get your product on the front counters of between 200 and 5,000 convenience stores. Noting the constant flux of information, the product provides free updates every six months.
For the uninitiated, potential convenience store suppliers, there are some ideas they should consider when promoting their brand to new buyers. Getting the contact email is only so effective. While you might have your email read, you have to spark the interest of the person reading it. The best way to do that is to put your best product forward. Having services or products with a high turnover and strong profit margin will be more attractive to the buyers. Simple items like air fresheners, batteries, lighters and travel size personal care items are attractive.
Some product inventors are not necessary the best sales persons. Hiring their own convenience store suppliers could be a good option as well as www.fmcgexperts.com. There are hundreds of distributors to contact who could potentially sell your merchandise and you need a skilled liaison to do it. A supplier should be able to get the case quantity and distributor pricing. These suppliers should be able to negotiate for profitable sale in retain stores by offering special pricing for distributors. Improving the services provided is a must. Delivering more than expected will earn trust with the buyers and will make them more willing to buy from you as time goes on.
Once the best foot is forward, variety is the spice of business. Convenience store wholesalers should be ready to present multiple products to distributors if they ask. These products may even be alluded to in the initial sales pitch. With a wide variety of products allows for the fluidity necessary in business. The ability to supply out of stock store locations makes a product increasingly attractive. New products should be ready to be released. Having an eye for quality can help build trust with distributors. Bringing this eye to the buyer will show them you have what it takes to build brand loyalty with customers.
Convenience store suppliers are essentially in the business of service. Being a reliable supplier in both amount and time of delivery is helpful. Giving yourself extra time for delivery can keep you in the good graces of your distributor. Helping store managers with merchandising can show commitment to profits which reflects well on your business as a supplier. Inventing and knowing point of placement merchandising implicitly is an attractive trait. When visiting store locations, proper maintenance and cleaning of the displays in addition to everything else you are doing shows you want to get the job done.
Convenience store suppliers have a lot to do in their first months and years of activity. Providing for 200 locations is not an easy task, but with the right planning with the distributors, it can be worthwhile. Proper service of 200 stores serving every two to three weeks can lead to having the best 75 or so stores being served on a weekly basis. If you reach this level you may just have made it and it is all thanks to cstoredistributors.com and the database you purchased from them.