Signing up sales reps

Re: [spiers] Signing up sales reps

In a message dated 2/4/2005 1:04:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, danfickett@aol.com
writes:

I'm beginning a textile import business. many of the
>pieces of the puzzle are in place ( designer, contacts abroad) but I'm in need
of
>developing the marketing arm of my venture.

Now, of course, I teach to start the biz from the other side..get your customers
first. Without the names of retail store buyers ready to place orders for your
designs, everything else is going to be a lot harder.

>Working with marketing reps seems to be a logical direction to approach the
>various regions of our country. Any ideas on how I can locate good reps that
>would have an interest in my products? Is there some sort of marketing rep
>directory to reference?

***Yes, reps are best, yes there are directories, and yes, they'll all be glad
to look at your line, and then there will be much time and expense getting to
the point where they say "naw..not for us." And they won't be able to say quite
why, just "no". Now what?

better to experience a problem in clothes, get retailers to say it is a good
idea and does not exist, etc, what i lay out. But since we are not there, the
best thing to do is hope for a home run and go straight to the retailers you
hope would be your customers, walk into the stores, and hand the first person
there you garments and your card and say "please see that the buyer sees this,
here is all my information. Then disappear." If the buyer likes it, he'll
call. And you can ask for the name of a good rep. If the buyer does not like
it, you have 1/2 a chance the buyer will call and chew you out and demand you
come get the samples. And you can ask why not like, and perhaps get some
feedback.

the problem her eis you have a designer, and some contacts, but they may not be
the ones that can serve teh needs of your customers. On the other hand, once
you know the custoemrs and what they want, it is very easy to find the best
people to supply them.

Reps know nothing about what WILL sell, but they respond to retailer feedback.
There is no reason why you cannot meet your customers first, and in fact I think
it is critical. It is the step no one else teaches, except of course the people
actually thriving in business.

Get to those custoemrs now, and get direct feedback, and take it from there.

John

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