In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

We’re all familiar with the phrase from the New York Lottery commercials of the 1980s, “You’ve got to be in it to win it.” Well, this goes equally well for RangeMe subscribers; those that are active on the platform and very responsive to buyer messages and requests are the ones who end up seeing retail wins. 

And for two RangeMe subscribers in particular, this responsiveness resulted in 7-figure deals with KMS Wholesale. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, KMS has spent nearly 50 years providing general merchandise to a vast network of independent and regional retailers across the United States.

To maintain its competitive edge, the wholesaler  actively sourced hard goods, electronics, appliances, kitchenware and health and beauty products, passing significant cost savings to their customers.

I met Juan Aguirre, Senior Buyer at KMS, in Chicago last week where he was participating in ECRM’s Hair Care; Household Cleaning, Paper & Disposable Food Storage; and Pet Sessions. And while KMS has long been a staple at in-person ECRM sessions (Juan has participated in more than 70 since 2022), the addition of RangeMe to its sourcing toolkit has yielded massive results.

“RangeMe has been a huge success for us,” says Aguirre. “In the last …

Read More

In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
Beverage Brand Osia is Elevating Moods – and Retail Sales – with RangeMe

The beverage industry is currently witnessing a paradigm shift. As wellness and longevity move from the periphery to the mainstream, the “sober-curious” movement has evolved into a full-scale demand for functional, sophisticated, non-alcoholic alternatives. No longer satisfied with sugary drinks or uninspired club sodas, modern consumers are seeking beverages that do more than just quench thirst – they want to feel something.

Enter Osia. Born from the vibrant event scene in Denver, Colorado, Osia (pronounced oh-see-uh) is not just another sparkling water. It is a lightly functional beverage brand designed to elevate moods through herbal tinctures and real fruit juices. 

Founded by the creative and strategic duo Isabella Hoag and Gabriel Walsh, Osia has rapidly transitioned from a local Denver pop-up experience to a retail brand with major wins, including distribution in Total Wine and a coveted KeHE Golden Ticket win via a RangeMe submission, as well as another retailer currently being onboarded.

The Accidental Empire: From Kitchen to Community

Unlike many CPG startups that begin with a rigid business plan, Osia’s origin was entirely organic. Hoag, coming from a background in brand design rather than beverage manufacturing, began experimenting with ingredients in her own kitchen simply because she wasn’t …

Read More

In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
From Farmers Markets to 4,000+ Doors: 7 Lessons from Nat’s Nuts on Scaling Your CPG Brand Organically

When I met Nat Harrington, Founder of RangeMe Starter Subscriber Nat’s Nuts, he was at ECRM’s Convenience Session taking meetings with buyers from the largest convenience store chains in the country, including 7-Eleven, bp and Casey’s. He was ready to take the leap to large accounts, as his products are already on the shelves at more than 4,000 independent retailers nationwide.

His brand’s gourmet roasted nuts span a variety of flavors, including Maple Bourbon Almonds, Cinnamon Whiskey Pecans, Vanilla Chai Cashews, Toasted Coconut Cashews and Salted Caramel Cashews, to name a few. I LOVED the Cinnamon Whiskey Pecans, by the way, which I devoured after taking the photo of Nat after the interview!

As with many entrepreneurial successes, however, when you peel back the curtain you learn what went on behind-the-scenes to get them to where they are now.  In Harrington’s case, it was 10 years of grinding, hustling organic growth, starting with farmers markets, then festivals, to local retail stores, slowly but steadily tweaking his products and growing his capabilities as he expanded regionally and then nationwide. 

What started with a handheld roaster is now a brand that now boasts an 8-million-unit annual production capacity and distribution in all …

Read More

In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
Emerging Brands Can Win Shelf Space Without Sacrificing Margins – Here’s How

For many small manufacturers, shelf space is treated as the ultimate objective. Placement becomes the milestone. Distribution becomes an achievement. Yet too often, the cost of that placement is not fully understood until long after the contracts are signed and the invoices begin to arrive. Winning shelf space should never mean surrendering sustainability.

National retail systems are structured to extract value before they create it. Slotting programs, marketing assessments, forced promotions, freight penalties, compliance fees, and chargebacks convert what appears to be growth into a margin erosion exercise. The manufacturer gains doors. The retailer gains protection. Over time, the brand gains volume but loses leverage.

The Path of Independent Retail

Independent retail offers a fundamentally different path. Shelf space in independent stores is not purchased. It is earned. Buyers evaluate products based on merit, fit, and confidence. They look for differentiation. They look for reliability. They look for brands that support their store identity rather than dilute it. This creates an environment where margins can remain intact.

Independent retailers understand that strong brands require healthy manufacturers. They are less inclined to force promotional cycles that undermine perceived value. They are more open to fair wholesale structures. They appreciate consistency over …

Read More

In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

Getting a product onto retail shelves is rarely a sprint; it is a marathon that takes place behind the scenes long after the initial pitch at the buyer’s office or at an ECRM Session. Emails. Sending Samples. Jumping on zoom calls with various departments. Back and forth, back and forth. And often in the mix – long periods of waiting. 

Chithra Kannan is the Founder of skin care and baby care brand Skin Centrick. She is a RangeMe Pro subscriber and has participated in several ECRM Sessions, and has landed about 10 deals from connections that were made at each.

I caught up with Kannan at ECRM’s Beauty Session in Dallas to pick her brain for some insights on what it was about her follow-up practices that helped her ink all of these deals. Here are the key takeaways from our conversation (you can watch our full interview on video below). .

1. Embrace the Long Journey

One of the most common misconceptions for new entrepreneurs is that a successful meeting leads to an immediate purchase order. Kannan emphasizes that the process is often measured in years, not weeks.

“You have to learn to be patient,” says Kannan. “You don’t …

Read More

In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
From Pitch to Purchase Order: How to Ace Your Next Retail Buyer Meeting

When it comes to getting your products on the shelf, securing a meeting with a buyer is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in what happens during your time together – whether at the buyer’s office, at an ECRM Session, or in a virtual meeting. To help brands navigate this journey, I sat down with Tia Ellis, founder of Wildflower Insight, during ECRM’s recent General Merchandise Sessions, which covered the categories of Impulse, Front-End & Checklane, Hardware & Automotive and Lawn & Garden.

Ellis is a veteran broker who has helped founders sell over $ 200 million worth of products across all 50 states. From health and wellness to food and beverage, Ellis has seen what works and what falls flat when it comes to buyer pitches. Her mission now is to empower founders to handle these meetings themselves. 

“I’ve found that a lot of the time founders don’t need somebody to pitch in the buyer meeting for them,” Ellis says. “They just need to understand the retail landscape, what buyers look for, what they expect, what they want to see, and what they don’t want to see.”

During the Sessions, she presented to an audience of inventors …

Read More