Finding Quality Manufacturer Reps
When you ask business owners what problems they have growing their
business, many of them will "people". Good people, that
is. In today's world, good people are just plain hard to find. So
how can you find manufacturer reps to sell your products?
Internet
A lot busiensses using reps for the first time are start-ups or
small businesses they want to expand. These types of businesses
typically do not have a large budget or dedicated staff to recruit
reps. Larger companies may have more opportunities based on their
financial capabilities. Most large manufacturers also have a dedicated
sales manager that manages their network of reps.
In either case, the fastest and least expensive way to locate new
or experienced reps is using a web-based service such as Manufacturers
Representatives. This niche web site is specifically dedicated
to connecting manufacturers from all industries with independent
manufacturer reps throughout the United States and Canada.
You are able to post your company's sales opportunity on their
web site, which includes your available product lines and sales
territories as well as your educational and years of experience
requirements.
Reps are able to complete an online profile, that acts as an abreviated
resume, and submit a sales inquiry to opportunities that interest
them. When a rep submits an inquiry, their complete rep profile
is sent via email to you for review and you are able to respond
to the rep directly. To learn more about their service, please visit
Manufacturers
Representatives.
Industry Trade Shows
Most large industries will have an association that coordinates
annual conferences or business conventions. If you have the budget
and can take the time to travel to and attend a conference, they
are a great source of information about news and trends in your
industry. They are also a great way to meet people working specifically
in your industry, including reps. You can quickly develop a network
of contacts attending conferences and conventions. If you have the
resources, you can setup a table or place an ad seeking reps in
conference publications.
While these are very worth while, they can be difficult for new
and small businesses to attend because of cost and the time involved.
Most industry conferences average three days in length. Your travel
expenses may include airfare, car rental and hotel for two or three
nights. Plus, the cost of attending the conference itself may cost
anywhere from $500 - $3000 depending on your industry.
Print Ads
Industry publications also another way to target reps in your specific
industry. You are usually able to place ads seeking reps in the
back of the publication. Typically, most industry publications have
a classified section on the last few pages of their publication.
You may also be able to place an ad within the publication's actual
content such as alongside articles, however, these ads are much
more expensive and you usually have no control over which page your
ad is displayed on.
Industry publications are typically published on a monthly or quarterly
basis and it can be difficult to determine who is actually reading
their publication despite what their readership statistics may state.
Overall, we recommend using the combination of a web-based service
such as and trade shows. The internet has become the fastest way
to reach target audiences from any industry, including manufacturer
reps. Using Manufacturers
Representatives, you can quickly locate reps on a national level
and expand your business in to new and untapped markets. As your
business grows, it is very beneficial to begin attending annual
conferences for your industry. You will gain valuable insight into
the challenges your indsutry is facing and build a personal network
of contacts including manufacturers, suppliers and reps.
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