Our retail academy is a series of on-demand webinars designed for entrepreneurs interested in selling their products to retailers. In these webinars, you’ll learn if you are truly ready to sell to retailers as well as learn how to price, market, advertise, and promote both your company and your products for business success!

All our training material is developed by consultants who are former retail buyers. This gives our training its practical approach. This ongoing experience in the real world of retailing, coupled with our instructors’ ability to go “off-script” gives our training its unique value.

You will need internet access as well as Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 loaded on your computer to enroll in any of our webinars.

Step 1 – Select the webinar that most interests you
Step 2 – Upon receipt of payment, you will get a confirmation email on which times slots are available
Step 3 – Pick a time slot that is most convenient for you and get ready to learn!

Are You Ready For Retail webinar	Webinar – Are You Ready For Retail? Description: Do you know what things you must have completed before contacting a retail buyer? How can you break through the competition and capture the retail buyer’s attention. Find out key tips and strategies from an actual retail buyer! Cost:  $59.99 (non-member) $44.99 (member) Not a member yet? Click here to learn how to join Date: 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month
How To Price YourProducts For Retail webinar	Webinar – How To Price Your Products For Retail Description: This webinar offers a look at the mechanics and key considerations in putting together your pricing strategy with selling to retailers. You will also receive a Microsoft Excel-based pricing calculator to help you figure out costs and gross margins. Cost: $59.99 (non-member) $44.99 (member) Not a member yet? Click here to learn how to join Date: 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month
Retail Marketing And Promotions webinar	Webinar – Retail Marketing And Promotions Description: This webinar goes through the basics of retail marketing and what strategies as a retail supplier you must need to know to promote your product at retail. Cost: $59.99 (non-member) $44.99 (member) Not a member yet? Click here to learn how to join Date: 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month
	Retail “How-To” Books Retail Bound: Learn How to Sell Your Products to Retailers By Yohan Jacob Pages: 68 Size: 6 x 9 ISBN: 978-0-595-53438-8 Published: October 2008 Paperback   $10.95 E-Book       $6.00 **BUY NOW from iUniverse**

Should You Call or Email?

If you decide to contact the retail buyer yourself, then you should do by telephone. Unless you’re approaching a small retailer, it’s unlikely that a retail buyer will answer directly; the first contact will probably be with the retail buyer’s assistant or the department’s receptionist. The assistant retail buyer or the receptionist can direct your inquiry to the retail buyer of the particular product category that you are interested in pitching. By the way, use your landline telephone to contact the retail buyer, not your cell phone. I recently had a prospective vendor call me on her cell phone, and it was very irritating when the call went in and out due to the strength of the signal. I couldn’t make out the conversation of this prospective vendor and finally hung up on her.

Be aware that a screening procedure may be in place to prevent immediate contact with the retail buyer, but it’s usually possible to make an appointment if you take my advice. It is important that the appointment be made with the actual retail buyer and not the assistant retail buyer, who does not usually have the authority to buy. Do not try to discuss any aspect of the product over the telephone. Remember that the purpose of the call is to get an appointment to see the retail buyer. Examples of appointment-making phrases are:

Be aware that a screening procedure may be in place to prevent immediate contact with the retail buyer, but it’s usually possible to make an appointment if you take my advice. It is important that the appointment be made with the actual retail buyer and not the assistant retail buyer, who does not usually have the authority to buy. Do not try to discuss any aspect of the product over the telephone. Remember that the purpose of the call is to get an appointment to see the retail buyer. Examples of appointment-making phrases are:

• “I have an interesting product opportunity that I would like to discuss with you.”
• “I have a product opportunity that will increase traffic into your stores and would like to show it to you.”
• “I have a unique product ideally suited to [store name] and would like an appointment to discuss it with you.”