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Nicobi Foods is Proof That Success Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity

When Obi Linton gears up to submit products to a retailer via RangeMe, the former detective in him comes out. He investigates every aspect of that retailer: Its goals, values, the buyers in his category. He’ll purchase data to see what’s selling in the markets the retailer serves and how competitive products are moving. 

Armed with this information, Linton, the Co-Founder & CEO of Nicobi Foods will fill out the product submission form, highlighting why his line of seasonings and sauces should be on the shelves from the perspective of the category manager’s needs and objectives, and the white space those products fill.

When one of Linton’s submissions are approved and he moves onto an in-person or virtual buyer meeting hosted by ECRM, the people skills he developed conducting investigations on the streets of Baltimore come into play, only in this case they are deployed in building relationships and learning how he can best serve the retailer. 

Indeed, Linton’s law enforcement background has certainly worked well for Nicobi Foods, and by using them in conjunction with the tools provided by RangeMe & ECRM, this True Detective of the CPG industry has landed deals with the likes of Walmart, Wakefern and …

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From Pitch to Shelf: Why Small Business Insurance is a Must-Have for Emerging Brands

Your product is dialed in. Your packaging is shelf-ready. Your RangeMe profile is polished—and buyers are starting to take notice. You’re almost retail-ready. But before that exciting “yes” from a retailer turns into a signed PO, there’s one essential step many small brands overlook: business insurance.

Whether you’re selling vegan skincare, cold-pressed juices, organic supplements, or keto granola bars, insurance isn’t just a legal checkbox—it’s a smart business move.

Why insurance matters to buyers (and your brand)

Buyers love innovation—but they need assurance. Retailers want to know that if anything goes wrong with your product, you have the backing to resolve it responsibly.

In fact, many retailers require proof of insurance before they’ll agree to list your product.

If you’re looking to land in Whole Foods with your line of collagen protein bites or secure a shelf spot for your all-natural deodorant, not having insurance could hold you back.

What could go wrong? (Yes, even with great products)

Let’s make it real with examples that hit close to home for RangeMe suppliers:

Beauty & Skincare: A customer has an allergic reaction to your natural face serum and posts about it online. They later send a legal notice. Food …
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Tallow’s Making a Comeback, and Brands are Scaling up to Meet Demand

Sally Jo Reagor, New Products Coordinator for Palko Services, is on the hunt for tallow-based beauty products. Palko Services distributes to more than 2,000 natural products stores, and shoppers are increasingly asking for products made from this rendered animal fat such as soaps, shampoos and skin creams.

Indeed, tallow-based products across the food and beauty categories are all the rage nowadays. I get regular updates on Instagram Stories of some guy who has been using tallow on his skin for the past 55 days (as of yesterday). TikTok videos of people cooking up a steak in tallow. I’m hearing about tallow on podcasts. Reading about it in blogs. Tallow everywhere.

While the increased buzz around tallow may be new, its use in beauty products is anything but. It has a long history in skincare, dating back to ancient civilizations. It was used as a moisturizer, healing balm, and even in soap making. Cultures like the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and various indigenous communities recognized tallow’s moisturizing and protective properties, particularly in harsh climates. It was also used for candles as well as in cooking.

The reason for tallow’s recent surge in popularity is driven by consumers’ interest in natural products and …

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Walmart’s Open Call 2025 Applications Now Live Through July 25

Forty years ago, Sam Walton established a vision that still shapes its business today: to support American-made products and the small businesses behind them. This commitment lives on through Open Call — and as of today, applications for Open Call 2025 are officially open and suppliers are invited to submit their products through July 25!

This year’s event, taking place October 7-8, offers U.S. entrepreneurs the chance to pitch Walmart and Sam’s Club merchants for a game-changing opportunity: getting their shelf-ready product in stores or online, and in front of millions of customers.

Since 2014, Open Call has helped thousands of small and medium businesses grow their operations, expand their manufacturing footprint and create jobs in their local communities. It’s more than a pitch meeting — it’s a platform for long-term growth.

Innovation Takes the Stage at Open Call

This year, Open Call is expanding its application beyond just products, to search for innovative companies developing breakthrough technologies that enable or enhance U.S. manufacturing.

Fremstad

“America has no shortage of ideas — it’s the infrastructure and tools that are often the biggest roadblocks,” said Jason Fremstad, senior vice president, supplier development for Walmart sourcing. “We want to find innovations …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

Every CPG brand ultimately faces the problem of overstock or unsold inventory at one point or another. It’s a very common and inevitable problem; tracking customer demand and consumer trends is difficult and will never be 100% accurate. Because of this, it’s in your best interest to have a game plan in place for how to handle unsold inventory, especially if it’s short dated. 

For the average brand, between 20-30% of all stock is unsold, and many don’t recognize the hidden cost of surplus and overstock inventory until it is too late. Managing an overstock problem is expensive and emotionally draining. Short dated inventory is particularly stressful.

Overstock challenges for brands

Following are some challenges brands face with overstocks and the costs associated with them.

Discounting

Many brands start with discounting to tackle their overstock problem. However, perpetual discounting is harmful long term. It’s cannibalizing and contributes to brand dilution. Discounting, clearance and sales need to be done with strategy in mind not just as a reaction to inventory that isn’t moving. Discounting on online platforms like Amazon is especially harmful: consumers pick up on brands who consistently discount and you may not recognize the damage to your brand’s image …

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There’s a certain allure to big box placement—your product gleaming under fluorescent lights, stacked high in national chains, your brand name echoing across the country. But behind the gloss lies a reality that can quickly outpace even the most prepared entrepreneurs. Demands are steep, the margins are thin, and the risks are high. What looks like a milestone can quietly become a misstep.

Starting with independent retail, however, offers a smarter, more sustainable path. It’s not a detour—it’s a deliberate strategy.

Benefits of launching your brand with independent retailers

Independent retail gives your brand the space to breathe, learn, and adapt. You’re not locked into inflexible terms or drowning in compliance. Instead, you get real-world feedback, direct communication with decision-makers, and the opportunity to refine everything—from your packaging to your pitch—before scaling. These stores become your proving ground, your test market, your brand’s first true believers.

Early wins in this channel build leverage. When your product performs well in independent stores—when it moves, resonates, and returns—those metrics become your currency. You walk into big box meetings not with a concept, but with a case study. Not with potential, but with proof. That changes everything.

Use independent retailers as your test

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