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This will be the key to my success and I have no idea how to start--any help would be greatly appreciated...

2007-01-26 06:04:34 · 4 answers · asked by willberich 1 in Business & Finance Small Business

It is essentially a retail business--I want to get the items in stores--upscale boutiques, departments stores, sephora!! As far as paying and treating my employees well, there is not a problem there--the sales pay would be 20% commission and of course I would treat my people well--I just need people period, lol!

2007-01-26 06:16:27 · update #1

4 answers

Ok, I'm going to try to explain this as I understand it. From what it sounds like to me, You hire people to sell your goods to stores.
In that case you are NOT a retailer. You would be a WHOLESALER or A DISTRIBUTER. It's very important to make these distinctions and to know where you fall in the chain of a line of sales. The people that you are hiring to sell your products are called SALES REPRESENTATIVES or SALES REPS for short.

From what you have written it is my understanding that you do NOT have a boutique of your own, right? What you are trying to do is get your product into UPSCALE boutiques and stores, true? OK.
Here are your options.

1) You CAN hire REPS to beat the streets and TRY to get in to see the BUYER at the stores, but generally you will have to go thru a "corporate" office at any "chain" store like Sephora. It's not always true, some of these stores do have their own buyers in-store and they are allowed to choose their own products. At smaller boutiques, you can walk-in; that's called a "cold call" and try to sell your product.

For the kind of sales I have described above you need to advertise in the newspapers or trade mags for "experienced comissioned sales reps". In the ad put down the requirements that they have maybe 5 years of selling exp in bath and body products. Don't worry. You'll get calls. When they come in find out either thru a written application or by interview what they have been getting paid. That old question on the application "required salary" is there for a reason. Of course you will pay them on a comission. It's probably around 15%-20% but that's probably after they have proven themselves. But always ask.
Don't be afraid to just go into stores and ask at counters what the people get paid in their comissions. It might be helpful. Tell them what you are doing and ask them for help. They are usually pretty friendly and helpful.

2)Your second option is to look into Trade Shows. If you can afford it get a booth by yourself. If not try to find someone who wants to share their booth. You may have to attend one show as a customer the first time to meet other wholesalers. Then you may find someone who needs a partner to share their booth for the next trade show. Maybe someone whose products compliment yours, but do not compete with yours. Like a line of Bed linens. If you can show your products at a show, you can get orders AND you can meet people who are willing to Rep your products. There are always Reps at these shows looking for new lines to "rep". You can put the word out at the show too that you are looking for reps.

I looked this up for you on Google by searching Bath and Body Trade Shows. Good Luck Honey. Trade Shows are a blast. give it a whirl if you can afford it.

2007-01-26 07:07:33 · answer #1 · answered by themerchantprincess 2 · 0 0

A good sales person should be friendly, well spoken and knowledgeable about your product.

When you interview these people, do a little role playing and have them pretend to sell you something. If it's bath oil, I would think it would be pretty easy to understand what bath oil is.

The more imaginative and creative they are with their pitch (whether the information is correct or not) the better they will be as a sales person.

2007-01-26 14:14:33 · answer #2 · answered by 14b32bbdog 2 · 0 0

Pay more and demand more. Look for older (I mean, not high schoolers) employees who use the products. I don't understand why so many business owners don't realize the key to hiring and retaining good help is pay and how they are treated.

2007-01-26 14:10:58 · answer #3 · answered by r_leucht 2 · 0 0

What does your business do? Manufacture, or retail? Retail and business to business sales are two completely different beasts.

2007-01-26 14:09:50 · answer #4 · answered by M O 6 · 0 0

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