PODCAST: How I Got My Product into My First 10 Boutiques
Are you having a hard time getting your line in front of boutique buyers? Today is your lucky day.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk all about calling stores, road-tripping, sales strategies, hustle, patience, and retail buyers. I’m so lucky to have the chance to interview Meredith Banzhoff – an entrepreneur who’s not afraid to share her story. She even talks about the step-by-step strategies she used to get into her first 10 retail stores.
Meredith lays out her entire her “getting into retail stores” formula for you. I am awed and inspired by how much Meredith shares – she holds NOTHING back. You’re going to love her!
How to Get Your Product into Stores>>>
In this episode, we’ll cover:
- How Meredith tested her product when she started
- What she learned from home parties BEFORE she sold to stores
- How often you need to contact a store until you get a response
- How she took the show on the road
- Conversion rate of store visits vs. orders
- Why she didn’t quit when the going got tough
- 3,000 miles, 53 boutiques
- Pre-orders vs. stock
- The lead time to contact a boutique if you plan to visit
- What worked to get over the fear of contacting a store
Key Points from this episode:
- 1 out of 15 is OK
- Introduction first, selling later
- Every buyer likes to communicate differently
- Hustle counts
- Their turf works
- Be hungry, be passionate
- The deal with “pity buys”
- The 4 part buyer outreach system
- Reach out 2 weeks before your road trip
If you want to go deeper with this topic, Fashion Brain can help! Did you know we have a course for selling to boutiques? You can check it out here.
Now it’s your turn. Was this podcast helpful to you? If it was, click the LIKE button and share it with your friends. And tell me this… what was your biggest a-ha moment?
Let me know in the comments below! I’d love to know what worked for you.
As always, thanks for reading and listening!
Jane
10 Responses
I will be approaching boutiques next week with my line and was scrolling through your blog, Jane, to find sales tips and get some encouragement. I came across this podcast and it was exactly what I needed. It was so helpful to hear how someone else did it. Down to the wording of an email and dialogue with a boutique owner. I felt so unsure how to come across to boutiques – super professional/sales-y vs. more casual. I will take Meredith’s advice and start casual with an introduction. But also consistently follow up with different forms of contact. Excited and less scared than I was 30 minutes ago 🙂 Thanks Jane and Meredith!
Hi Megan! So glad the podcast was helpful! And I am thrilled to hear you are less scared and more excited than before you listened to it! Yahoo! That’s my goal.
amazing webinar!!!!! Thank you Meredith and Jane!
I know it was about selling to boutiques…but I found having your block for people to fit so helpful for my trunk shows! And the points of contact are so helpful for me getting ready for my road trip to stores 😀
Meredith – you are awesome! Thanks for sharing your story. Good luck in your business and you are going to do just fine!
Great talk, Ladies! You’ve bumped up my courage for approaching more shops this season :). Wish you both all the best this season!
You know what they say about motivation (and courage)… It’s like taking a shower. You can;t do it on Sunday and expect it to last until Thursday! Keep geeting a “fix” of courage whenever you need it. You might like this video clip about getting over your fear of selling: https://fashionbrainacademy.com/blog/selling-your-fashion-product-getting-over-the-fear-that-stops-you/
Out of the few podcast for small business startups that I follow, Jane, yours is the one I look forward to the most. I know that the content you supply to your followers is clear and comes from years of experience from both sides of the spectrum.
This Podcast was exactly what I needed to hear. I did a “soft” intro to a few boutiques in Charlotte not too long ago but have yet to follow up.
I am now motivated to make multiple contacts and be consistent. I am also ready to invest in one of your courses. So excited for the next step!! Many thanks and blessings .
– Kiara
Awwww, thanks Kiara! Means a lot to me. Great idea to do the soft intro, now it’s time for the other steps. Wishing you loads of success.
Jane
Thank you so much for this podcast. I just launched the website for my new leather goods company and am starting to look for boutiques to carry my line. This podcast couldn’t have come at a better time. I feel like I am more equipped to start reaching out, knowing that it takes multiple forms of communication and 10-15 tries before starting a relationship with a buyer. I think I will be less sensitive when it comes to lack of response, knowing that that is the norm.
Sarah,
So glad this helps you. I think way too many of us give up too soon. It takes HUSTLE to get the sale. Good luck with it (and have fun too)!
Jane