LBTC said:
:?
Yes, I am once again asking advice of the experts. I have sent out a LOT of hot sauce samples to stores (both On-line and physical) in the last month. I have heard back from one who is interested in carry my products. My question is, do I send follow up letters to the others and risk annoying them, or curb my impatience and wait to hear from them?
If they don't want to carry my products I would like feedback on the reason why so I can possible rectify the problem ie: price too high, packaging not eye catching etc.
Anyway any thoughts on the subject - I would value the advice
I sent one guy a box of my sauces, called to follow up about 2 weeks after he'd received them, and got the following reply...
"Your sauces are still in the box the came in, if you're lucky one of our employees will be knocking around in the back looking for something new, and your sauce will come out."
I have far too much self respect to waste my time chasing after people who are only going to check whether or not they want to carry my sauces on an if I'm lucky basis.
As far as I'm concerned, if I'm going to send out samples, I'm going to send them to the likes of Lin and Joe, Kato, Sweatnspice, Hans, etc. At the very least, these guys are going to taste my sauces and say what they think to as many people as will hit their website. Those guys I'll entertain giving samples to.
Distributors... I figure when enough buyers ask for my sauces, they'll start selling. I'll sell them myself until then.
You want to know what you're up against???
The vast majority of them won't even respond to your calls.
One guy told me he had an issue with my labels... That was it.
Lots of people told me they don't like our retail price, they don't think the sauces will sell... s'ok, THEY might not be able to sell them, we sell them just fine. As will be seen by our balance sheet at year end.
You're going to run into a lot of people who for all intents and purposes just want free hot sauce and they'll lie to you about what they want in return.
Fortunately; everyone here on this board, is either willing to trade or actually does give in return.
Speaking of which... I've got a US shipment going out on Friday... Are you and I going to set up a trade???
T