How to Distribute to Boston

Boston is the capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. With a 2020 population of 710,195, it is the largest city in Massachusetts and the 21st largest city in the United States. Boston is currently growing at a rate of 1.11% annually, and its population has increased by 14.99% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 617,594 in 2010. Spanning over 90 miles, Boston has a population density of 14,692 people per square mile.

Boston is considered to be a global pioneer in innovation and entrepreneurship, with nearly 5,000 startups. Boston’s economic base also includes finance, professional and business services, biotechnology, information technology, and government activities.

In Boston alone, there are a total of 45 colleges – this adds massively to its economic growth and vibrancy. Thus, it is not surprising that the average income rate is one of the best in the country. The average household income in Boston is $101,310, with a poverty rate of 20.18%.

A manufacturer who wants to enter the Boston market can do it directly or indirectly. Distributing directly is done when the manufacturer connects with the retailer without a distributor coming in-between. Distributing indirectly is through the use of distributors.

To fully understand the distribution products to Boston, it may help to look at distribution to the areas in Boston. This will help us to understand the distribution of products to the entire city.

Distribution to Allston

Allston is an officially recognized neighborhood within the City of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It has a population of almost 30,000. Young adults (age 18-34) make up 78.3% of the neighborhood’s population, this is mainly due to the continuous influx of college students into the area.

Allston is home to numerous small businesses and restaurants. Brighton Avenue, between Packard’s Corner and Allston Street, boasts various ethnic and national cuisines worldwide. Harvard Avenue hosts a number of furniture stores, thrift shops, and stores that offer resale items due to the large student body and high residential turnover.

To enter the Allston, Boston market, it may help to work with a distributor. Being a large area with a lot of potential, it will help to work with an experienced and established agency like a distributor.

Distributors take the stress off the necks of manufacturers. A distributor works to get products into stores. To do this, the distributor has to forge several business relationships with retailers. The distributor understands the distribution network and knows what sells faster in certain areas.

Moreover, the distributor handles inventory and logistics. The manufacturer can focus on product development and production. Among several other reasons, these are why manufacturers prefer to use distributors to enter an area like Allston, Boston.

Distributing to East Boston

East Boston is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, with over 45,000 residents. It was mainly an immigrant city – and this helped its population growth. This is a large neighborhood, and it may help to network with the retailers in the area to get your products into the neighborhood.

To reach retailers, you can go via retail associations. Retail associations have retailers as members. They are geographically based, and many of them are niched – they are focused on particular products. Through these associations, you can narrow your search to retailers who sell your type of products and network with them. This allows you to pitch directly to retailers. And who better pitch a product than the manufacturer?

Some of the retail associations in the area are the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Package Stores Association, and the Boston Association of Retail Druggists.

Distributing to North End

North End is the oldest neighborhood in the city as it has inhabited since the 1630s. The community has nearly one hundred establishments and a variety of tourist attractions. This makes it one of the most visited areas in the city.

Boston is one of the most visited cities in the country. Every year, it gets well over 20 million visits to the town – its figures are over that of Washington. This influx of tourists or business visitors adds to the prosperity of the city. And this means a lot for trade. It means billions of dollars are brought into the city every year, and marketing gets a substantial part of this.

A manufacturer can choose any of the distribution methods to get products into the city. Whatever method is employed is dependent on the type of product to the distributed. Many manufacturers have found success in dealing directly with retailers – as it brings them closer to the final consumer. They can easily get feedback and track inventory.

In the same vein, some products are better distributed by a distributor. When looking at the cost of handling the distribution process, it may be too much for the manufacturer to control.

Things to Note When Distributing to Boston

Large Market

Boston is the largest city in Massachusetts and the 21st largest city in the United States. What this means is that there is a large market in Boston. However, as with every large market, there is also stiff competition to deal with. You may have to work more to project a unique selling point. This is what differentiates you from other brands.

Marketing

This is as essential as the products itself. It is what projects your brand messages to prospects. Being a large city, you can employ both mass and internet media. Without marketing, it may be hard to convince distributors, wholesalers, and retailers to even your products. Retailers, most of the time, ask for in-store merchandising items to still market the products.