VENDORCO Blog

Webinars are interactive and useful if you are looking for knowledge about a specific topic. What should you look for in a webinar? First, look at the company/individual hosting the webinar. Are they reputable? What is their expertise? What is the subject matter? What is the length of the webinar?

A webinar with a broad topic, such as “Costco” that runs 30 minutes is not likely to provide detailed information. A webinar that is topic specific and lasts an hour will likely provide the details that you are looking for.

If you are looking for specific information about Costco, VENDORCO is proud to announce our brand new webinars. Our first webinar will walk you through the entire process of Costco Roadshows, covering the pros and cons, and providing a complete guide from presentation to tear down and follow up. This webinar is great for companies considering Roadshows, small companies interested in Costco relationships, or any company interested in learning about what a Roadshow is, and how it may help your company. Even if you have already proceeded with Costco Roadshows, you may find value in this informative webinar. No matter your timing in the process, you should proceed with caution and knowledge.  

Click HERE for more information

Upcoming VENDORCO webinar dates:
September 13, 2011 - 10:00 AM PST
September 28, 2011 - 11:00 AM PST
October 13, 2011 - 12:00 PM PST
October 28, 2011 - 1:00 PM PST
November 14, 2011 - 10:00 AM PST
November 29, 2011 - 11:00 AM PST
December 7, 2011 - 12:00 PM PST

A product broker eliminates the guess work for your company. An experienced product broker will know how to present, who to present to, and what to include in your presentations. They will know what packaging changes should be implemented, estimated quantities to produce, pallet requirements, process for shipping and delivery of your product, and more. They can assist you with forecasting and customer service on all levels. A product broker will know what hidden costs to account for and suggest how to get the most out of your retail program. Essentially, a product broker will work you through all of the ins and outs of a retail program. An expert should save you hours of research, headache, and hassle.

One of the obvious drawbacks or hesitations in working with a product broker is opening your business specifics to an outside company.  If a broker offers services to more than one retailer, be cautious. Serving more than one major retailer will take enormous effort and likely water down their expertise. 

How do you choose the right product broker for you? View our blog based on information we have required through our experience: http://vendorco.com/announcements/how-to-find-cost-effective-product-brokers.

Vendor guides refer to resources and expertise that you as an individual or as a company may utilize to drive your business. Having the right guides to success is extremely important to ALL businesses.  Suitable vendor guides may be in the form of in-depth research or through third party individuals/companies that are specialists in the field of your focus.

Relying on research can often be useful, but is time consuming and costly. Additionally, you may find that there is either too much or too little information on your subject of interest, making it extremely difficult to identify information that is truly accurate. You should also consider that the time spent researching a topic is time that you could spend utilizing your unique skills.  Consulting with an expert can save you hours of research, ensure that the advice and information you receive is solid and accurate, and allow you to focus your time on growing and improving your business.  When you can rely on experts we recommend that you do so. Vendor guidance from a reputable individual/company is sure to save you time and money in the long run.

Interested in retail vendor guidance? Keep up with our blogs for more information.

August - Getting Started!

The new business topic of the month is: Getting Started

By “Getting Started”, we mean preparing and initiating your retail relationships. As VENDORCO is a Costco focused company, we split this month’s category into 2 sub-categories: “Getting Started with Costco” and “Resources to Get You Started”.

Every week we will post a new topic that will help you understand Costco, as well as retail in general. In addition, we will introduce resources that you may utilize to achieve your maximum potential.

Be on the lookout for the following topics covered this month:

Resources to Get You Started:

-        Vendor Guides to Success – what vendor guides may you utilize to achieve retail success?

-        Product Broker – What is a product broker, and what are the pro’s and con’s of working with a product broker?

-        20 Minutes of Advice – What can you get out of 20 minutes?

-        15 Elements of Successful Product Placement – What are they? How can they help you?

-        Webinars –  How may webinars help you succeed?

Getting Started with Costco:

-        Costco Vendor Guide – How to sell to Costco

-        Costco Vendor – Who is considered a Costco vendor?

-        Costco Roadshows – What is a Costco Roadshow and is a Costco Roadshow the right fit for you?

In the meantime, visit www.vendorco.com/consulting for one-on-one retail guidance counseling from a Costco expert!