In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

The moment has finally arrived. You’ve connected with a retail buyer on RangeMe or at an ECRM Session, and after subsequent follow up meetings you’ve landed a large purchase order. All of the hard work – the numerous phone calls, emails, sending product samples out to various members of the retail organization – has finally paid off. Then reality sets in, and you ask yourself:

“How am I going to fulfill this order?”

With CPG brands under immense pressure, cash flow is continuing to be a major blocker for scaling revenue growth, and sometimes it’s difficult to find how to fulfill these orders. Having to cash flow a production run for up to 60-90 days, then waiting another 60-90 days to be paid by a retailer is grueling, and most growing brands don’t have a plan in place to manage this situation.  Even established brands like Dean Foods filed for bankruptcy in 2019 with a large amount of accounts receivable outstanding, which if paid could have helped avoid this situation. 

Up until recently, options were limited, either by receiving a personal guaranteed back loan, or giving up equity just to operate with day to day pressures of working with larger …

Read More

In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

Choosing a manufacturer is one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make for your beauty and personal care business. Whether you’re looking to produce hair care, face, body, or other types of products, the right partnership can make or break your brand. Following are some essential factors to consider when you are looking for a manufacturing partner.

1. Quality Assurance 

Quality should be your top priority. Look for manufacturers with strong quality control processes and certifications, such as ISO or GMP. Request samples and check if their products meet your standards. Consistency in quality is vital for building customer trust and loyalty.

2. Experience and Expertise 

Consider manufacturers with experience in producing the type of products you need. An experienced manufacturer will be familiar with industry standards and regulations, reducing the risk of non-compliance issues. They can also provide valuable insights and suggestions based on their expertise. 

3. Customization Capabilities 

Your products should reflect your brand’s unique identity. Ensure the manufacturer can accommodate your customization needs, from formulations and ingredients to packaging and labeling. Flexibility in this area allows you to create distinctive products that stand out in the market. 

4. Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) 

MOQ is a critical factor, …

Read More

In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
Why Insurance is Crucial for your E-Commerce Business

In today’s digital age, more people than ever are turning to the internet to shop and conduct business. This shift has led to a significant increase in e-commerce businesses. However, just like any other business, online retailers face numerous risks and liabilities that necessitate having proper insurance coverage. Here, we’ll explore why insurance is vital for e-commerce businesses and what specific protections it offers. But first, let’s start with the basics.

What is E-commerce insurance?  

The tremendous growth of the e-commerce space has prompted insurance companies to create policies specifically designed to protect e-commerce merchants. These policies cater to the unique risks that e-commerce businesses face. For instance, a company that manufactures its own products should include product liability insurance in its coverage.

E-commerce insurance separates itself from general commercial insurance by focusing on the specific challenges of online businesses, such as international shipments, customer relations, and online liabilities. These policies protect against risks unique to e-commerce, providing peace of mind for online business owners.

Why your e-commerce business needs insurance

Here are several compelling reasons why every e-commerce business should carry insurance:

Marketplace requirements

Many online marketplaces, including Amazon, now require sellers to have an insurance policy if they …

Read More

In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
What Can You Expect from Your RangeMe Subscription?

Whether you are a startup brand looking to get your products into retail or foodservice for the first time, or a more established brand looking to expand your distribution, at some point, you will come across RangeMe and ask yourself, “Is a RangeMe subscription worth it?”

The purpose of this post is to give you all of the information you need to answer that question for yourself, by making sure you are aware of all of the features, benefits and opportunities that the platform offers for your business across each of its subscription tiers. But I’m confident that, once you have this information, you’ll be able to answer the question above with a resounding, “YES!”

Here’s why: RangeMe is the smartest, easiest and quickest way to get your brand in front of thousands of retail and foodservice buyers. How does RangeMe accomplish this? It does so in several ways, by providing brands with:

An “Always on” brand exposure Exclusive retail discovery opportunities Data-driven insights and analysis Education and support resources

Below, we’ll take a deep-dive into each of these.

Always-on brand exposure

It all starts with your RangeMe Brand profile page. Your Brand profile is where you highlight your products, …

Read More

In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, CVS Health is at the forefront of innovation, bridging the gap between traditional healthcare and modern consumer needs. With over 7,500 stores nationwide, the retailer has become a pivotal player in not just retail but in how millions of Americans manage their health and wellness. As the healthcare industry continues to integrate more deeply with retail, understanding the strategies and vision that drive this integration is crucial for both emerging brands and established companies looking to make an impact.

In this fireside chat, ECRM & RangeMe SVP of Retail Wayne Bennett speaks with Zachary Dennett, CVS Health’s recently-appointed VP of Merchandising for Consumer Health Care, who shares valuable advice for emerging brands looking to break into the retail space. He takes a deep dive into how CVS’s omnichannel approach, operational excellence, and commitment to innovation are driving its success, and how emerging brands play a key role in serving CVS customers.

Watch the full video interview here!

RangeMe: Could you tell us a bit about yourself, what you do at CVS now in your new role, and maybe a little bit about your background?

Dennett: Sure. I’m at CVS Health in a role where …

Read More

In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
Sweet Success: How Patience, Persistence & RangeMe Premium is a Winning Combo for Sugar Bliss

When it comes to RangeMe, the more effort you put into the platform, the more you get out of it, and Teresa Ging, Founder of Chicago-based Sugar Bliss, is a perfect example of this. Since signing on as a Premium subscriber in 2022 to showcase the brand’s gourmet cookies, she’s submitted products to 15 limited time retail campaigns, and has made more than 50 direct submissions to retailers.

The results of her efforts speak for themselves; Sugar Bliss has already onboarded with Compass for distribution at 500 foodservice operations nationwide, and her products are now at every KeHE distribution center around the country (she was one of the Golden Ticket winners from KeHE’s TRENDfinder initiative last year). 

In addition, she’s had more than a dozen recent face to face meetings – many via ECRM Connect – with national and large regional retail chains from introductions that began with one of these RangeMe submissions.

And Ging continues to submit products every opportunity she gets, because she knows that when it comes to getting onto retail shelves, the process is a marathon, not a sprint, and consistency over the long term wins.

From Wall Street to Main Street

While Sugar Bliss may …

Read More