I can’t remember where I heard this but it has stayed with me for years and now seems to be the time to share it with you. Natural products retailers are about relationships… and this is a good thing. We discover a new product or company, we nurture it (like raising a child) and watch it grow, and then all of a sudden it blossoms and becomes ready to leave us (or as I was told… goes off to college.) But wait! We don’t want to let go! 

The thought of them moving off to the mass can make us feel betrayed somehow. Just think of everything that we did for that product or company. Whoa! It’s okay. We are a new products industry, right?  It really comes down to good business decisions. I believe that we need to keep our fingers on the pulse of product movement in our stores and decide when additional attention is needed to lift product sales and when it’s time to cut the apron strings.

Here’s the good news. We have the incredible ability to help small companies bring their sweet products to life and then decide when or if it’s time to say good-bye.

Some very successful vendors choose never to leave us. They grow and support our industry like my friends at PetGuard. I’ve known the owners for 20+ years and they are committed to the industry and to the retailers. They don’t sell to pet supermarkets (even though they’ve been invited to may times)… they ARE the original “industry loyal” pet food company! (Check out the online sale circulars from pet supermarkets to see who is loyal to our industry.)

I recently asked a retailer why they offered a certain pet line in their store even though it was sold at the pet supermarket plus the product is owned and produced by Purina, and the retailer told me because of a free fill. Oh my! 

Okay time for more good news! If you are reading this and need some new ideas for staying strong during these tight economic and competitive times, please register to attend one of my upcoming FREE Merchandising and Marketing TeleTrainings or plan to attend one of my Trade Show Presentations.  It would be my pleasure to meet you and share some of my how-to TIPS designed to support you and your business.

If you have some stories or comments that you’d like to share… please do!

Until next time, here’s wishing you a great day!

Debby

askDebby.com