How We Choose the Best Manufacturers
The Challenge of Turning an Idea into a Business
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in America with innovative people coming up with ideas for smart, useful products each and every day. Unfortunately, many manufacturers don’t know how to translate their ideas into a truly successful business.
Here’s the problem: Many manufacturers approach us with the “best product in the world”. They put their heart and soul into creating it – but now they have 10,000 units sitting in a warehouse, a shiny new website, and no sign of any interested buyers. They don’t have a practical knowledge of how to market, package and ship their product or even how to process payments. As a former buyer, I know what you really need to have in place in order to be successful. Rather than write these manufacturers off, I work with them to implement the processes and systems they’ll need to be successful.
How We Help
Many of these manufacturers who approach us are surprised to learn they will need to make a substantial investment in packaging, marketing and technology. We take time to explain why each element is necessary in order to work with quality buyers.
For example, we help companies streamline their production process. We discuss what kind of product liability insurance they will need. We also help familiarize them with electronic fund transfers and other payment technology they will need to make purchases run smoothly.
We also cover packaging concerns, helping the manufacturer to see how they can package their product in a way that ensures it can make its way through your distribution platform without being destroyed by the time it gets to the customer. In addition, we help the manufacturer create packaging that is attractive and functional in the space it takes on the customer’s shelves.
As a buyer, you’ve probably seen manufacturers who aren’t really ready for ‘prime time’. We’ve seen it all! We apply decades of experience on both ‘sides’ of this relationship to make sure the manufacturers we introduce to buyers are prepared to deliver.
The Best Manufacturers have a Marketing Plan
One of the most important areas where we help manufacturers are with a practical, realistic marketing plan. Buyers can rest assured that the manufacturer has thought well beyond the purchase, e.g., that packaging and shipping concerns have already been taken care of. This will turn our manufacturers into a dependable source for the best new products.
Obviously, this process takes time, but we believe in thinking long-term. All of the manufacturers we work with have a stellar line of products, but they also have a plan that covers the buyer’s concerns from the time the product is produced to when it sits on the client’s shelves. We are in it for the long-haul so instead of offering up cheap, low-end products, we can guarantee quality and service, all the time. These are our priorities.
