Have you ever tried to contact a Major Retailer to ask for a Buyer's name? I can almost guarantee that they wouldn't share this information with you! Major Retailers rarely share 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 Major Retail Buyer's contact information? Enclosed are a few tips, tricks and strategies to help you get started.
Before we get started, I want you to know that as a fellow Entrepreneur, I understand how challenging it is to keep up with all of the financial demands associated with starting a business. 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 Options:
The Chain Store Guide is a company that basically sells Buyer's names and contact information. They probably have the most comprehensive list of buyer's names as well as one of the most expensive (at least from my experience). However, they will save you a tremendous amount of time and headache! Cost is anywhere from $200 to $1000 for a list depending on what form you choose (ie book form vs. online form). At the end of the day though, the Chain Store Guide is an awesome resource to help you get started!
The Salesman's Guide is another great resource for getting access to a Buyer’s contact information. They sell Buyer’s name and contact information based on category. For instance, they have a book called ‘Gift and Houseware Buyers.’ If you have a gift item, this would be the perfect book for you! Ultimately, this is also a great resource for finding Buyer’s contact information. Cost varies as well, but starts around $200.
Please note that the main reason to spend money on these lists is that these lists will save you so much time and effort. The free option is great, but it does require that you invest a great deal of time and effort. Therefore, if you have the cash, pay for a list!
Free Options:
Go To Your Local Library: Depending on where you live, going to your local library can help you tremendously. Both the Chain Store Guide and the Salesman’s Guide are available at most public libraries! Unfortunately, you have to live in one of the larger cities in order for this to work, but if the books are available, then you can save yourself a tremendous amount of money by going to the library. Please note however, that you will not be able to check these books out (they are usually at the business reference desk), so be prepared to bring a laptop with you. But the great news is that there are inexpensive options to getting access to buyer’s contact information!
Tips and Strategies:
When reviewing these Buyer's lists, make sure that the information they provide is not older than one year. This is very important. Most people do not know that Major Retail Buyer's change jobs on a very consistent basis. 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!
Final Thoughts:
Finding Major Retail Buyer's contact information is actually pretty easy once you know where to look. Now that you have this information, you can contact Major Retailers and get your products on their shelves faster than you ever thought possible!