How would I get my product into G&M Oil Co.?
G&M Oil Co. Inc. have been trading since 1969 and have a number of locations throughout the California area. They have two signature brands; their fuel and their convenience stores although usually both can be found together. Their biggest commitment is towards making every customers visit a pleasant and rewarding experience and they work hard to achieve this goal. Could your product be a fit for this company?
G&M Oil have a wide range of products at any given store. Besides fuel they also do tobacco, hot and cold snacks, hot and cold drinks, fresh produce, pre-packaged snack foods and – unlike any of the others so far – they also sell beer! G&M have a license to sell alcohol, making them the number one choice for convenience for everyone aged 21 or over in California. They also offer business cards, promotions and fuel loyalty cards, all of which are aimed at enticing new custom and keeping the ones that they already have.
G&M Oil source their own supplies – which is good news for us. One must apply to them in writing, using their online process to be selected as a new supplier. Your product will go through any and all tests required and needs to be of the very best quality to withstand it. They will look at fresh produce, any car related paraphernalia that you might expect to find at gas stations (such as motor oil, WD40 or air fresheners), they are open to any food products that have an edge over what they already use and they will even experiment with new brands of fuel now and again. The best way to get this firms attention is to focus on unique items that are not everyday. For example, offer them Mediterranean vine tomatoes instead of regular round ones; or present them with a hot drink that is made with the minimal of fuss that might revolutionize the way they plan and serve their hot drinks… get their attention by thinking outside of the box.
If you are interested in submitting your product for reviewal with G&M Oil then you will be delighted to know that there is an online form you can fill out. However, take note of our guidelines for optimal results:
- Only approach G&M Oil if you are part of a registered business, they will not take you seriously otherwise.
- Make sure you have selected the ‘Vendor’ option on the form.
- Ensure you have full product public liability insurance before you submit.
- Visit one of their stores and compare your item to anything they already sell. IF they sell extremely similar items then find a way to make yours better.
- You should be in possession of all documentation and it should be up-to-date.
- All food products must be FDA approved, they will be laboratory tested to ensure compliance so don’t skip this step!
- Only apply by following their online instructions – do not send any price lists with no attached explanation. The chances are it will be thrown in the bin!
How to get your product into G&M Oil Co.
- Understand you client: Before you spend a lot of time and money creating a product, you should know if anyone will want to buy it. Learn more about Market Research
- Learn if it’s protectable: Know if you can defend your product against cheap copies if it gets knocked off. Learn more about Copyright and Patent your product
- Test your product: Make sure that there’s a demand for your product and the customer understands what you are selling when it’s on the shelf and nobody is there to explain it. Learn more about Product Testing
- Perfect your pitch: Before you speak to decision makers, know your numbers, know your retailer and know your logistics in and out. Learn more about Pitching Your Product
- Don’t do it alone: If you haven’t been successful in retail before, a secret of success is that you can’t do it alone. Having great sales staff, customer support and marketing partners can take you from zero to success faster than if you tried on your own. Learn more about Retail Partnerships
Contact G&M Oil Co. Buyer
Do not trust any “list” of buyers.
Typically retail buyers change either companies or positions every few years. This strategy helps retailers know that their buyers are not taking “kick-backs” and are selecting the very best product for the very best position each time.
Buyers are typically held to a very rigorous standard of sell-through volume that they must hit and because of this they are risk averse. Your job as a supplier or vendor is to convince them that the buyers going into the stores not only know about what you’re selling but are actively seeking the product in the store currently.
How to Submit a Product to G&M Oil Co.
There are several ways to get a product placed in G&M Oil Co.. However, most entrepreneurs only dream about getting their product distributed to major retailers, few actually do it. We have experienced a significant rise in interest since the show Shark Tank started airing on NBC. Mr. Checkout has had the pleasure of working with a few Shark Tank success stories such as KISStixx and 180 Party Cups which are now currently being distributed around the country to stores like Walmart, Target, Kroger, 7-Eleven and more.
If you envision your product would be a good fit for G&M Oil Co., we have a few steps to help you get your product on their shelves.
Here are the 6 steps you need to take to have your product placed in G&M Oil Co.
1. Start with the right questions.) Before you try distributing your product to G&M Oil Co., 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 G&M Oil Co. would be interested in selling your product? If you can strike a deal with G&M Oil Co., can you handle the production volume? Do you want to sell directly to G&M Oil Co., 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 G&M Oil Co.? Can you sell your product at a reasonable enough profit to cover the packaging, shipping, commissions, marketing and wholesale distribution? Check G&M Oil Co. 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 G&M Oil Co. 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 G&M Oil Co. is the right store for your product.) The relationship between you and G&M Oil Co. starts with you browsing their store for competing products. If G&M Oil Co. already has a similar product, it is going to be very difficult to get your product picked up. Spend some time at your local G&M Oil Co. to see what kind of products they are selling, speak to the manager and see if he thinks your product will sell well in their store. 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 Costco.
If your company is minority or women owned, check G&M Oil Co. website and see if they offer specific opportunities for those designations.
4. Pitch your product to G&M Oil Co..) Decide whether it will be you or a representative to present your product to G&M Oil Co.. 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 G&M Oil Co., 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 G&M Oil Co.. The percentage of commission verses, however generally a broker will take around 5% to represent your product to G&M Oil Co..
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 G&M Oil Co. 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 G&M Oil Co. paperwork.) Often G&M Oil Co. will have you go through an application process. However, before submitting the paperwork required by G&M Oil Co., you should contact a buyer at G&M Oil Co. 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 G&M Oil Co. agree to stock your product 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, G&M Oil Co. 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 sell your product to G&M Oil Co., 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.
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