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Wholesale suppliers are your business partners. A great one will propel you to success and a bad one can shut you down.

Few manufacturers will sell direct so to find wholesalers contact a few of the leading manufacturers in your industry to learn the leading wholesale dealers. Ask them for a recommendation and then follow-up with your own research. Merchandise cost and shipping speed are essential things to look for.

In order to buy items wholesale, a wholesale license is required. Depending on the state where the business is located, the license can be called a seller’s permit, a resale ID, wholesale ID, retail ID or a resellers license.

The wholesale industry is large and about 50 of the largest wholesale distribution facilities generate 25% of industry revenue. Wholesalers serve retailers and other service businesses through a variety of distribution channels and supply chains. At the top of the chain are manufacturers which include importers or exclusive distributors who also sell to wholesalers. Next are wholesalers or regional distributors who distribute the goods locally and brokers or jobbers who deliver goods to local small businesses.

A wholesale purchase is almost always done in bulk. Because of that the wholesaler pays …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

Last year, Sugar Bliss was accepted into the Compass Group accelerator program from a RangeMe submission, and A LOT has happened since then!

In this video interview with Joseph Tarnowski at ECRM’s Foodservice Session in Chicago, Sugar Bliss Founder & CEO Teresa Ging shared an update on how it’s going, including:

An intro to Compass Group’s Levy Restaurants, which got Sugar Bliss cookies, cake puffs, brownies and Rice Krispy treats into Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears. Entry into grab and go and convenience locations through Compass Group’s Food Works Group and Canteen North America (her 2 ounce cookies and 5 ounce bags of cookies).

All from one RangeMe submission!

She was also accepted into the new Convenience Store News collection on RangeMe for Diverse-owned and emerging brands.

The RangeMe Blog…

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
Strengthen Your Tactical Demand Planning with These 7 Steps

As brands grow, demand planning evolves from a monthly or batch-based spreadsheet chore into a reality that can make or break a fiscal quarter. With sales channels multiplying, supply chains still shaky, and consumer behavior moving fast, your ops need to be nimble even when you don’t have perfect data. 

Following are 7 steps you can take to secure your supply chain.

Step 1: Get Granular With Your Forecasting

Forget historical averages. They’re too blunt. You need to understand demand by SKU, channel, geography, and time period. “Brand X will sell 1,000 units next month,” isn’t enough. Think:

“Brand X 12oz will sell 400 units through grocery, 200 through e-comm, and 150 through club—mostly in the Northeast.”

That level of detail lets you plan for everything from restocks to influencer pulls to spoilage write-offs. It also helps you spot what’s predictable (and what’s not). Stable best-sellers? Use classic forecasting models. Seasonal or volatile SKUs? Different playbook. New launches or discontinued items? They need their own lane entirely.

Try grouping products by forecastability, not just revenue. Your “A” items should be the ones you can confidently plan for—even if they’re not your top sellers.

Step 2: Connect Your Data Pipes

Most …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
From Corporate Exec to Brand Owner – and Straight Onto Walmart Shelves

One of the things Alex Yale loves about being an entrepreneur is that whatever work he invests into the business, he gets back. Every action he takes is one meant to directly benefit the brand. He’s not pulled into other people’s projects, and his calendar is not filled with other people’s meetings.

Yale

At the same time, the challenges are all his own. If a problem arises in the middle of the night, it’s up to him to solve it right then. And of course, it can be difficult to unplug. Indeed, there are no traditional office hours when you are a brand-owner.

But it’s in Yale’s blood to be an entrepreneur. After all, each of his parents is a small business owner, and after a career in the corporate world that spanned a consulting firm, teach company and an e-commerce business, he felt the need – or calling, if you will – to launch household cleaning and chemicals brand Uncle Todd’s, and with a small investment of time on a RangeMe submission, ended up on the shelves of 2,000 Walmart stores to date.

Who is Uncle Todd?

We all have one of those people in our lives. The person …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
Navigating the Tariff Challenges: How RangeMe & ECRM Can Help

It seems as if Liberation Day has been anything but liberating for those in the retail and foodservice industries. President Trump’s reciprocal tariff strategy launched on April 2 has led to buyers and brand-owners scrambling to adjust their sourcing practices in an effort  to minimize the impact on their businesses.

As some countries try to engage in bilateral negotiations to modify some of these tariff rates, and some exemptions are being made, the fluidity of the situation makes it difficult to predict what the final outcome of these tariffs will be. As a result, retailers and foodservice operators are now paying much closer attention to where their products and ingredients are coming from. To help in these efforts, RangeMe and ECRM launched its new TariffSmart Sourcing initiative.

What is TariffSmart Sourcing?

TariffSmart Sourcing is a global sourcing initiative that connects buyers and brands based on Primary Country of Origin—helping retailers discover products from trade-friendly regions that align with their sourcing strategies, cost structures, and compliance goals. It  empowers buyers to navigate shifting trade landscapes and find the right products—made in the right places—faster. It also enables suppliers to gain exposure with buyers who are specifically seeking products from their region …

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Why Independent Retail Still Wins for Emerging CPG Brands

While many entrepreneurs dream of their products dancing beneath the fluorescent lights of a national chain, the reality behind those dreams often carries a cost. Hidden among the towering pallets and pristine endcaps are pitfalls that few discuss: slotting fees that siphon margins, chargebacks that gnaw at profits, and a glacial approval process designed less for innovation than for inertia.

In contrast, independent retail doesn’t shout. It whispers with weight. It listens. And most importantly—it acts.

These retailers are more than storefronts; they are sentinels of their communities. Each product on their shelves isn’t just another item—it’s a handshake, a recommendation, a vote of confidence. Step into a family-run corner store, and you’re not just entering a point of sale—you’re stepping into a story, often generations in the making. Every squeak of the wooden floorboards tells of endurance. Every worn countertop hints at a thousand exchanged smiles.

And this is where new products thrive—not because of glitzy packaging or a massive ad budget, but because of trust. A trust that’s built face to face, one conversation at a time.

Independent retailers know their customers

Independent retailers operate close to the customer. They don’t just know buying patterns—they know birthdays. They …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
How One CPG Distributor Casts a Wide and Deep Net for Retail Buyer Engagement

New York-based distributor Hey You faced a unique challenge. The company represents approximately two dozen emerging brands spanning the food and beverage as well as health and beauty care categories, and provides them with an array of services to ensure they are ready to do business with U.S. retailers. At the same time, it can offer retail buyers creative solutions that include multiple brands and leverage its distribution and merchandising capabilities.

The challenge was this: How could Hey You shine the spotlight on each of its brands within the retail buyer community, but also engage buyers in deeper level discussions during which it could highlight the various ways in which it could serve their needs?

The solution: A RangeMe Pro subscription paired with ECRM’s in-person Sessions. RangeMe Pro enables Hey You to highlight each of its brands with their own unique profile page, providing them with 24/7/365 exposure, while ECRM Sessions offer private, prescheduled in-person appointments with buyers, giving the distributor the opportunity to have more in-depth discussions and build long-term relationships.

During my interview and subsequent visit to its headquarters, Hey You owner Susan Darretta dove into the company’s background and the comprehensive services it provides to both brands …

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