In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
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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RangeMe Pro Subscriber Big Guns Coffee and Farm landed Walmart right out of the gate from it’s very first in-person buyer meeting. Even more impressive: it was the brand’s 10-year-old CEO did the pitch! The meeting, which came from an Immediate Opportunity submission, was held at ECRM’s Coffee Tea and Cocoa Session in Vegas last year.

That was followed by more wins from the RangeMe Live meetings it had at that Session (three in-person meetings are part of the RangeMe Pro subscription). And still more from ECRM’s Diversity & Minority Owned Food & Beverage Session.

In addition to Walmart, they have landed deals with Sprouts Farmers Market, The Exchange, and several other retailers and distributors.

This past February Charli and her dad, T.Shane Johnson (who refers to himself as “Charli’s assistant” on his business card) participated in a full schedule of meetings at ECRM’s Winter Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Session, and were a big hit with buyers. More deals are sure to come.

T.Shane: Motivational speaker & ‘madman’

The company has a unique origin story: T.Shane is a Marine Corps Veteran, serial entrepreneur, motivational speaker, madman (according to his bio), author, philanthropist, and world record athlete (he held the record …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
What’s in a name? A Lot, if You Ask RangeMe Top Brand Yes Honey

Nobody wants to enter “naked chicks” into their browser search while they are on their work computer. But that’s what people had to do to find the honey-sweetened sodas and drizzlers created by Yes Honey Founder Heather Mincer, when her company was originally called Naked Chicks Pasture. 

When you know the brand’s origin, the name makes sense. It sold pasture-raised chickens with no chemicals or antibiotics on a small farm in Norwood, Mo. It had no online presence, and most of its sales came from word-of-mouth. Even when it started making honey-sweetened soda and drizzlers, the products were initially sold only at local farmers’ markets, so the brand name worked. It was catchy. (In fact, Heather still retains the title of “Head Chick” in her LinkedIn profile!)

Mincer

But as Mincer’s sales grew and she looked to reach a broader audience of consumers and even retail buyers, it launched a website and became a RangeMe Pro subscriber. 

That’s when things got a little … weird. 

Let’s just say website searches for Naked Chicks Pastures pulled up A LOT of unwanted results. And on RangeMe, buyers searching for honey-based food and beverage products may have been a tad bit confused when …

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RangeMe’s ‘Warm Handoff’ Helps i-XTECH Enter New Retail Channels

For many brands trying to expand distribution into new retail channels, traditional methods of prospecting and outreach can be ineffective, if not outright frustrating. Trying to locate buyers via online searches, then making endless calls and sending cold emails results in a lot of time wasted and no solid leads. 

This was certainly the case for John Adiguzel, Sales Executive at i-XTECH, a brand which markets audio equipment and solutions for creators, gamers and podcasters. “I would go on the retailer’s website and find a few people to email,” he says. “I had a CRM system to keep track of who I reached out to, and would often reach out to 10 people at that retailer. Nobody would respond.”

That all changed once Adiguzel signed up for a free RangeMe account last August and uploaded three products to his newly-created i-XTECH brand profile page. He landed a retail deal shortly after, then immediately upgraded to RangeMe Premium, after which he quickly landed one more. And as of the time of this writing, a third is in the works.

“When you are running a business, there are two types of sales outreach you can do,” says Adiguzel. “One is cold outreach, …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

For CPG brands scaling through RangeMe, reliable supply chains are critical. But with today’s landscape filled with delays, logistical challenges, and unforeseen events, supply chain disruptions can hit brands hard, causing costly setbacks, strained retailer relationships, and lost revenue. 

With the right protection, however, you build resilience, manage risks, and maintain momentum even when disruptions arise. Following are several key types of insurance essential for emerging brands.

Business Interruption Insurance: Protection for Your Bottom Line

How Business Interruption Insurance Protects Your Business: 

A disruption in your supply chain can bring production to a standstill, cutting off revenue and threatening your cash flow. It covers lost income and essential expenses when a covered event—such as a fire or natural disaster—halts your operations. With this support, your brand can stay afloat during downtime, ensuring your business continues even when production pauses.

Why CPG Brands on RangeMe Need This Coverage: 

As you expand through RangeMe, maintaining consistent inventory is crucial to meet retail demand. Business Interruption insurance provides the financial stability needed to recover quickly, so you can continue building strong relationships with retailers, even if you encounter an operational setback.

Contingent Business Interruption (CBI) Insurance: Extending Coverage to Your Supply Chain

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