Have you ever tried to contact a large retailer like Wal-Mart or Best Buy to ask for a Buyer’s name? I can almost guarantee that they wouldn’t share this information with you! Most retailers rarely share the buyer’s contact information which can be very frustrating when trying to become a vendor for their stores. So how do you get access to a retail buyer’s contact information? Enclosed are a few tips, tricks and strategies to help you get started.
How do I know what are the best ways to find a retail buyer’s contact information? Well, I was a retail buyer for 2 large billion dollar retailers and I had hundreds of potential vendors call or email me. But before I was a retail buyer, I was like you, trying to sell consumer products made from a small factory in California to both retailers and distributors. I understand how challenging it is to get your products onto the shelves of large retailers. Therefore, I will include options that will require you to pay money for lists as well as free options, too. There are pros and cons associated with both options, but at least you have options!
Paid Option:
The Chain Store Guide (www.chainstoreguide.com) is a company that basically sells Buyer’s names and contact information. They probably have the most comprehensive list of buyer’s names on the market. However, this information is not cheap! Cost is anywhere from $200 to $1000 for a list depending on what form you choose (i.e. book form vs. online form). The lists are updated yearly so the contact information is very accurate. At the end of the day though, the Chain Store Guide is an awesome resource to help you get started! Note that while these lists will cost you money, it will save you so much time and effort. The free option below is great, but it does require that you invest a great deal of time and effort.
Free Option:
Visit your Local Library. Depending on where you live, going to your local library can help you tremendously. Most large public libraries carry the Chain Store Guide. Unfortunately, unless you live in a major city, your library may not have the Chain Store Guide. Also, since it’s classified as a reference book, you will not be able to check it out. Bring your pad of paper or your laptop to assist you with capturing as much information you can on the retailers you want to go after. But the good news is that you didn’t have to spend any money, other than your time, with getting the retail buyer’s contact information.
Tips and Strategies:
When reviewing these lists, make sure that the information they provide is not older than one year. This is very important. Most people do not know that retail buyers change jobs on a very consistent basis (I had 3 different buying assignments in 4 years!) Therefore, any list older than a year will not be very valuable to you because you will notice that a lot of the buyers’ names aren’t going to be accurate. So make sure you are reviewing guides that are less than a year old! Also, if you do get the name and phone number of the retail buyer you want to contact, make sure you don’t call on Mondays or Fridays. Those are the worst days to contact a retail buyer. Try Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday to ensure you get the proper time needed with the retail buyer.
Final Thoughts:
Finding a retail buyer’s contact information is actually pretty easy once you know where to look. Now that you have this information, you can contact your favorite retailer and get your products on their shelves faster than you ever thought possible
To learn how to talk to a retail buyer once you have made contact, visit https://retailbound.com.
