Fitness Store Distributors
Distributing to Fitness Store Distributors is all about satisfying the store’s needs in what type of products their customers demand. Fitness Store Distributors want a product that has been established and will sell quickly. Contacting local Fitness Store Distributors is a good first step to get a feel for what products do well in that market.
Finding a distributor who already has an established relationship with independent specialty retailers is essential. The distributor and retailer relationship is important in product placement in Fitness Store Distributors. If a distributor has a good reputation with an independent specialty retailer the process of getting products into the store is a lot smoother.
Building a relationship and a positive track record is a very important part for the distributor. It is important for the distributor to do some research on what kind of specialty products do well in each specialty store, which can be dependent on where they are located. If a product does well in one independent specialty store the likeliness the distributor will put it in other stores is high. In Fitness Store Distributors and independent stores in general it is all about shelf space and what sells well will claim that shelf space. Products that do not, will be given less space or no space in order to move in a new product that sells well.
Fitness Store Distributors look for products that are innovative and will set them apart from competitors. So, new products have a better chance of making it into an independent specialty store vs. a big box retailer. An independent specialty store will have a stronger personal relationship and knowledge with products compared to big box stores as well. This is beneficial to everyone involved because having knowledge about the product in stores will improve sales.
In order to get a product into an independent specialty market contacting the correct distributor is the first step. The next step would be sending samples and other pertinent information to that distributor if requested. They like to see proof of sales and selling points of that product. Communicating about price points and minimum order quantities is very important. If the distributor likes the product and thinks it would be a good fit for their route they will purchase the product.
If the product does well in stores, the distributor will continually order more. Proof of sales will bring more orders and getting in contact with other distributors in other parts of the country is the next step. A product with proven sales in a few Fitness Store Distributors will make its way to Fitness Store Distributors all across the nation through different distribution channels. Establishing and building relationships with distributors is the best way to get products into Fitness Store Distributors.
List of Fitness Store Distributors
Fitness is one of the aspirations of many Americans. This is a dream void that deals little with age or social status. What wasn’t the case some decades ago is now the reality. We now have people in their 50s and 60s hitting the gym and paying close attention to their diets. They want to stay fit and look the part.
This is where distributors come in. Fitness store distributors get these items to the retailer who in turn sells them to gym operators or individuals. A wholesale fitness store supplier basically supplies a fitness store what it needs. One of the big issues with fitness equipment retailers is getting the right distributors.
Here is a list of fitness store distributors. Kindly note that there is no particular order or arrangement to this list; it is just to state the distributors in the niche.
Gym Source
According to the company, Gym Source has built more gyms for more people than any other company in the world. For 75 years the company has developed a reputation as the leader in the fitness field. As America’s largest commercial distributor of fitness equipment, it serves a wide range of clients- from the Fortune 500 to the FBI, Equinox to the Oval Office, and Dartmouth to Columbia. From Baltimore to Boston, New York to Naples, its proven commitment to our customers is unparalleled in the history of the fitness industry. With over 300,000 clients in all 50 States and over 50 countries, Gym Source is the recognized reliable authority.
BFT Fitness
BFT Fitness equipment factory offers full brand gym equipment products, commercial cardio treadmill, elliptical bike, spin bike etc. The company insists on consistent principle “Dedicated service seeks for better development, Excellent quality contributes to brilliant brand.” with the era of Digital Technology coming, the company makes use of its trends thoroughly to making connection of global business from all over the world. Having exported to Europe, South America, Australia and South east zone, it has been able to grow an international working relationship with retailers.
American Fitness
American Fitness has been in the fitness industry for over 15 years, and has served the needs of individuals, schools, and other organizations looking to shape up, lose weight, maximize strength and performance, and lead healthier lives.
American Fitness offers a broad range of top quality home and commercial fitness equipment from manufacturers across the nation. Its selection of cardio and strength equipment includes popular items, such as treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights, as well as equipment to support the latest exercise trends, such as CrossFit cross training and indoor cycling.
Johnson Fitness
Johnson Fitness & Wellness offers retail showrooms in every corner of the country, with each location staffed by certified fitness advocates dedicated to inspiring personal wellbeing at all ages and stages of life. It showrooms are staffed by certified fitness advocates who can help you engineer the perfect plan to get you where you want to go.
Here are the 6 steps you need to take to have your product picked up by a distributor.
1. Start with the right questions.) Before you try distributing your product, you need to ask yourself a few basic questions. Do you need to build demand for your product, or is there already a demand for it? Do you know that the distributor would be interested in selling your product? If you can strike a deal with them, can you handle the production volume? Do you want to sell directly to the distributor, or do you want to license your product to a manufacturer that will handle distribution?
2. Be prepared to profit.) Does your product offer enough of a profit margin for a distributor? Can you sell your product at a reasonable enough profit to cover the packaging, shipping, commissions, marketing and wholesale distribution? Check the distributor’s guidelines for other fees that you will have to build into the cost of your product in order for you to be able to turn enough of a profit to make the effort worth your while. If you work with a discount retailer, they will try to strip your profits down to zero in order to keep their prices as low as possible.
The typical breakdown of margins are: If a products costs $1 to produce, that product will retail for $4. That product that retails for $4 will wholesale for $2 to distributors and stores that purchase direct. Big box retailers like Walmart may offer to pay $1.25 to the manufacturer if the product costs $1 to produce. That is the typical profit margin.
3. Determine if the distributor is the right one for your product.) The relationship between you and the distributor starts with you browsing the store’s that they service for competing products. If the stores already has a similar product, it is going to be very difficult to get your product picked up. Picture in which zone your product would best fit on the shelf and keep in mind that the most precious asset that these big box stores value are their shelf space. Keep this information in mind when you are preparing your presentation to the distributor.
4. Pitch your product.) Decide whether it will be you or a representative to present your product to the distributor. Your presentation depends heavily on your strengths as a businessperson as they will most likely ask financial questions and logistics questions.
It’s common for companies to hire a broker to pitch their product to a distributor, as it will be more likely that your product will make it to the next stage if the individual pitching your product has industry knowledge or a personal relationship with them. The percentage of commission verses, however generally a broker will take around 5% to represent your product.
We at Mr. Checkout have experience dealing with brokers and know that there are several retail brokers that have poor business practices that can potentially damage your brand. If you are seeking a legitimate broker, please give us a call for a recommendation. It could save you a huge headache and a lot of money.
5. Complete the required paperwork.) Often a distributor will have you go through an application process. However, before submitting the paperwork required, you should contact them and let them know your intentions. Having a contact inside of the company will potentially move your application more smoothly through the process.
6. Anticipate the need for increased volume.) Having a distributor pick up your line will most likely mean a significant increase in volume. You should be prepared to ramp up your production and informing your manufacturer of this opportunity.
Having production, logistics and distribution to sync is not only difficult, it requires a significant amount of time invested in customer relations. Also, distributors may have stipulations in the contract that may penalize you for delays in shipping and production. Have an attorney explain all contracts to you if you don’t understand the terms.
If you’re looking to distribute your product through a distributor, be sure to thoroughly assess the marketplace, carefully prepare for production growth, and take full advantage of resources available to help you grow your business.