Women and Minority

Attention Women and Minority Owned Product Businesses...

Do You Have a 'Retail Ready' Product That Is Perfect

For Major Chain Store Retailers?

If So, Enter This Life Changing Retail Training program

and Get Your Products Directly In Front of Chain Store

Buyers in the Next Few Weeks or Months!

Retail MBA™ has partnered with programs of the Small Business Administration (BEC and SBDC) and the World's Largest Chain Store Retailers to pilot a retail vendor training program for women and minority owned product businesses!

The purpose of the Retail Vendor Program is to help women and minority owned businesses understand the necessary requirements needed to win chain store business as well as to help prepare these women and minority owned businesses to become actual chain store vendors.

How the Retail Vendor Program Works....

1. Participants will receive extensive training on how to become a chain store vendor (see syllabus below for details on the program) as well as monthly Q&A calls and a final product review from a retail expert to ensure that participants are ready for chain store business.
2. In addition, participants will be assigned a business consultant from the Small Business Development Center to become women and/or minority owned certified as well as get additional support in funding and overall business strategy. 
3. Once the Retail Vendor Program is completed, participants will be able to have their products reviewed by the Top Fortune 1000 Retailers (List of Participating Retailers Announced Soon!) Retailers included in the Retail Vendor Program have all agreed to review products by certified participants.

In order to have products reviewed by these retailers, participants must have completed the Retail Vendor Program, become women and minority owned business certified and receive a product review from a retail expert and adjust their product accordingly if products are not deemed ‘chain store ready.’

All submissions to retailers will be sent once a month through the Retail MBA™ system (so that the participating retailers will not get inundated with submissions).  And although there are no guarantees of becoming a chain store vendor through the Retail Vendor Program, participants will receive invaluable training and support which will ultimately help them with their business.

Cost for the Retail Vendor Program is a one-time flat fee of $495. This includes extensive retail vendor training, monthly Q&A calls, a retail expert product review, and personalized SBA support as well as product submissions to participating retailers.  

Retail MBA™ Syllabus

Chain Store Fundamentals

• Chain Store Basics
• What Chain Stores  Expect From You
• How the Buying Process Works
• Who’s Involved in their Buying Decision
• Product Categories and What You Need to Know
• Local, Regional and Corporate Buying Offices
• Common Misconceptions and How to Get Started

Preparing Your Product For Chain Store Success

• Essential Research to Help You Win
• Detailed Competitive Analysis
• Packaging and Displays
• Infrastructure and Operation Capabilities
• Retail Math: Pricing For Retail
• Logistics, Warehousing, Shipping and FOB
• EDI, UPC, Liability Insurance, SKU’s, Planograms and More
• Funding and Financial Resources
• Marketing and Branding Expectations
• Certifications

Preparing Your Pitch

• Developing a Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
• Analyzing Your Target Audience
• Fundamental Competitive Research
• How to Create Great Sell Sheets and Line Sheets
• Elements of a Perfect Product Website
• How to Create Great Product Videos

Finding the Right Buyer For Your Product Type

• Complete Tutorial on How to Find the Right Buyer For Your Product Type
• Online Resources vs Offline Resources Available Today
• Free Options vs Paid Options
• Pros and Cons of Resources Available

Pitching Your Product to Major Retailers

• What is the Best Way to Approach Major Retail Buyers
• How to Get a Meeting With a Buyer
• What is the Most Effective Way to Get a Buyer to Review Your Product
• What to Do When a Buyer Says ‘No’ to Your Product
• The Importance of Feedback and How it Can Help You

The Face to Face Meeting: How to Rock the Buyer Meeting

• What to Expect During a Buyer Meeting
• How to Prepare in Advance For a Great Meeting
• What is the Best Way to Present to Buyers
• Top 10 Things to Include In Your Presentation
• What to Bring to the Meeting

What to Expect From a Major Retail Order

• What to Expect From Your First Purchase Order
• How Much Quantity Will a Major Retailer Buy
• How Long Does it Take to Get Paid By a Major Retailer
• How to Get Paid Faster By Major Retailers
• Retail Marketing  and Promotion Strategies Once You Get an Order To Ensure Success
• Promotional Calendars For Additional Sales and Marketing Strategies
• Maximizing Assortment Plans and Product Lifecycles For Major Retailers
• Chargeback’s,  Returns, Markdowns, Rebates, Fees And Ways to Avoid Them
• The Importance of Vendor Compliance
• Retail Ethics and What You Need to Know

Working with Distributors

• What to Expect When Working With Distributors
• How to Know If You Need a Distributor
• How to Prepare to Work With Distributors
• Where to Find Them
• How to Get a Distributor to Represent You
• How Much Do Distributors Charge
• Best Practices For Picking the Right Distributor For Your Product

Hiring a Manufacturer’s Rep

• What to Expect When Working With a Manufacturer’s Rep
• How to Find a Great Manufacturer’s Rep to Represent You
• How Much Do Manufacturer’s Rep Typically Charge?
• Best Practices For Picking the Right Manufacturer’s Rep For Your Product

Selling at Trade Show

• Selling at Trade Shows vs. Selling Direct
• Should You Spend the Money at Trade Shows?
• When it Makes Sense to Sell at Trade Shows
• Best Practices For Making Big Money at Trade Shows

Selling Products to Catalogs

• What to Expect When Selling to Catalogs
• How the Buying Process Works
• How they Differ From Major Retailers
• Best Way to Pitch Catalogs
• Preparing Your Product For Catalog Success

Selling Products to Smaller Retailers

• What to Expect When Selling to Smaller Retailers
• How the Buying Process Works
• How they Differ From Major Retailers
• Best Way to Pitch Smaller Retailers
• Preparing Your Product For Small Retail Success

About Retail MBA™: Retail MBA (www.retailmba.com) is a company dedicated to providing invaluable training systems for product companies interested in becoming chain store vendors.