Import and distribution - health products
cocis91 started this topic @ 18:32 on 09/06/2004
I help run a small company that imports some health related and skin health cream products into the UK.
For the last 4 years we have imported the products and retailed them to customers via our website. However, we now want to look at getting the products into health food shops. I do not really know where to go to achieve this. Possible options include :
Supply the products direct to shops on a wholesale basis and arrange to send them to the shops via business post. This seems like a lot of hassle given that the health shops already deal with a few major established distribution companies.
The alternative, and I would think the better, approach would be to talk to distribution companies and get them to buy the products from us wholesale and then sell on to their wholesale customers. However, there seem to be some risks in going down this line.
Many distribution companies stock some branded products on an exclusive basis - they have contracts with the source suppliers in the country that produces the product. If we approach distributors, I feel they will like the products but will want to side-step us and deal direct with our own suppliers.
We do not have any exclusivity agreements with our suppliers abroad but our business relationship is good and we may be able to get one.
Please could someone with experience in this area please give me the benefit of their experience. Any advice would be much appreciated. Also, any advice with dealing and negotiating with established distributors would be very much valued.
Thanks
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RE: Import and distribution - health products
afam | 10/06/2004 10:56 PM
If you don't enjoy any exclusivity arrangement and know how possible it is for major distributors to side track you then I guess you have your options clear enough. Either get exclusivity contracts or continue the business online. Afterall the bottom line is to make sales.
I do not think risking losing your major suppliers is something you should be toying with.
The ball is in your court. Your decision entirely to safeguard your business unless you have other plans.
All the best.
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Afam Nnaji
Just Web Services.
http://www.justwebservices.com">href="http://www.justwebservices.com">http://www.justwebservices.com
RE: Import and distribution - health products
Aristotle | 11/09/2007 08:29 AM
I can only agree with the last reply, however are health food shops your only outlet opportunity? What is your website address?