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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
RangeMe ‘Brings the Food Show’ to Maddie’s Market

IN BRIEF:

Maddie’s Market, an independent gourmet foods retailer in Highland Park, Ill., sought new pantry items for its assortment that were not available at local chains The retailer worked with RangeMe on a sourcing campaign that delivered product submissions from 320 qualified brands across several categories Owner Maddie Yastrow selected more than a dozen unique products for placement on its shelves, and is planning additional campaigns for the spring

“I never have to go to any food shows, because RangeMe brings the food shows to me.”

Madeleine Yastrow, Owner of Maddie’s Market, is not lying when she says this. As the first independent retailer to participate in a RangeMe sourcing campaign, she was able to evaluate more than 320 qualified brands, sample products from 86 of them and select more than a dozen for the shelves of her store – all without having to spend time away from her business. And as we all know, time is precious for an owner of an independent retail operation.

Indeed, Maddie is always on hand for her customers. If one of them mentions that she likes split pea soup, it’s available in Maddie’s Market the next day. That’s the kind of customer-first …

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5 Effective Strategies for Landing New Retail Accounts in Q4

To pitch or not to pitch… THAT is the essential sales question for food, beverage and taxable grocery brands during the months of October, November and December. We all know that the fourth quarter can be a season of high revenue for retailers and brands alike, but also understand that most wholesale buyers put a hard stop to bringing in new products once they’re sleeves are rolled up and heads down during the busy holiday season.

As a brand with limited time, money, and energy, what should you focus on during this time? If you’re itching to pursue more shelves during this season, use my five effective strategies for landing new accounts and executing your last chance pitch this month. 

1. Evaluate your product’s relevance for the holiday season before pitching

When it comes to gearing up for a busy sales season like the holidays, you’ve got to ask yourself: does your product scream festive cheer or year round staple? Seasonal relevance can greatly influence the success rate of a pitch to potential new accounts. 

At times you might feel that throwing in a red bow or adding a festive slogan to your product can be enough to make it …

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Optimizing Packaging for Consumer Appeal and a Positive User Experience 

Welcome back to our consumer packaged goods (CPG) marketing series! In our previous posts, we gave an overview of the most important elements you need to know to influence retail buyers and break through the branding clutter. The first post was a step-by-step journey on how to leverage the power of strategic marketing to get your products onto retail shelves. The second explored how to use branding to create an emotional connection with your target audience and convey the value proposition of your product

In the third post in the series, we’re getting into the nitty gritty of package design and how digging deeper into the preferences of your audience can help ensure you have a product that merchandisers will want to invest in.

Let’s get started!

Why is packaging so important?

Packaging is more than just a protective covering for your product. It’s a powerful tool to attract consumers and, equally importantly, merchandise buyers who want to feature your product in their stores.

Quality packaging is a crucial factor to consider for your business because “52% of consumers say they would likely return to a business for another purchase if they receive products in premium packaging.”

In the competitive …

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The Power of Your Brain Trust

Historically, I would spend hours preparing to moderate roundtable discussions with diverse groups of senior executives. I would present emerging trends, new research, best practices, and lots of provocative questions meant to elicit personal reflection and engagement within the forum community. I mistakenly believed my role was to be the primary educator and inspiration of the gathering, but quickly realized that the participants contributed a collective insight that was far more valuable than any personal contribution. 

This is the power of your brain trust. Some of the wisest leaders I know are experts at harnessing the whole room. They thoughtfully create a brain trust of advisors to test ideas prior to finalizing their thinking. The smartest person in the room – is always the room.

In the last twenty years, only two of Pixar’s twenty films have flopped. They have created some of the most successful, innovative, and commercially relevant films of the last two decades (Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, Brave, and WALL-E). How have they done it? Co-founder of Pixar Animation, Ed Catmull, says it’s simple: the brain trust.

In his bestseller, Creativity Inc., Catmull says, “For all the care you put into artistry, …

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ECRM & RangeMe SVP of Retail Wayne Bennett held a virtual fireside chat with Jake White, Vice President of Merchandising, Consumer Health and Wellness | Supplemental Benefits at CVS Health to discuss its omnichannel approach, innovations in its assortments, shifts in consumer behavior post-pandemic and how the chain seeks to become “the front door to healthcare in America.”

White also shares why emerging brands should want to do business with CVS, as well as recommendations on what they need to have in place before approaching its buyers.

Read full Q&A below!

Full video interview with Jake White of CVS

ECRM: Tell us a little bit about CVS Health’s journey to becoming a much more digitally centric retailer, and how are you succeeding in your omnichannel strategy as it relates to delivering health and wellness products and services?

White: This is something that’s really on the top of our mind every day. Our leaders, Michelle [Peluso, EVP and Chief Customer and Experience Officer of CVS Health] and Musab [Balbale, Chief Merchant, CVS Health] have come from very digital backgrounds. So I think it’s really in the DNA of the people that are at the head of the business as well as …

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Ethical Sourcing Storytelling: Why it’s Important for Retailers and Brands

Fair Trade month is observed in October to raise awareness about fair trade practices and products. It’s a time to celebrate ethical and sustainable shopping and support products that prioritize fair wages, safe working conditions, and environmental responsibility. When products are sold as Fair Trade Certified™, a fraction of the sale returns to the producer communities as Community Development Funds. These funds allow farmers and workers to invest in development projects that address their community’s greatest needs, such as water, education, housing, and healthcare.

Fair trade empowers producers and enables businesses to support sustainable livelihoods, safe working conditions, protection of the environment, and community development.

Fair Trade and workers’ protections

Farmers, fishers, and factory workers often face challenges. In 2022, the United Nations reported that nearly 3 million people around the globe die every year due to risk factors in the workplace, including accidents, work-related diseases, and extreme working hours. The benefits of strong workplace safety standards are immeasurable for workers and their families.

When a company’s safety standards are verified through a reputable third-party organization, brands, retailers, and traders can source their products with confidence, improving traceability and credibility for their business and align with consumers who care …

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