How would I submit my product to Western Refining Inc?
Western Refining Inc. started off as two separate oil refineries who were situated in the same town. In 2000 the same company bought both refineries and became Western Refining. Since then they have expanded to own four refineries in the USA, to supply fuel via pipeline to other companies and their own stores and have developed their own range of products and services via a chain of convenience stores. This is a firm with a solid plan and a vibrant future, who were recently bought for the price of a cool $6.4 billion USD – but trading has continued as normal.
Western Refining primarily focus on oil and fuel, but thankfully that’s not all they do. You can submit a series of convenience store type products to them for reviewal quite easily – but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. They have the same rigorous product tests that everyone else has, courtesy of the FDA. All foods must meet the standards and all products must pass panel reviewing. They must also be tested by the company itself to ensure maximum longevity/durability/taste etc. When you buy from Western Refining you can be sure of a premium product for a low price, and that is something you should try to adhere to if you plan on working with them.
Western Refineries has a series of wholesale, retail, oil refinery and other fuel products. Selling them crude oil is subject to some pretty strict regulation but it is possible; just make sure you are the legal owner of the land where you found it… Otherwise contact them via online form to submit a product. They value produce that is cheap to make but high quality. They have their own logistics company which oversees delivery of all of their stock and helps keep costs low. They are a global operation but they have a focus in the American South-West, so if you area purveyor of fresh or snack type produce in said area, this might be a great company to aim for.
If you can get your product into Western Refining Inc. you will find it quickly transported to numerous southern states and your notoriety quickly rise. All you need is a solid product and a firm foundation they can build on, and you could be one of their vendors.
There are a few guidelines to sending your product to Western Refineries:
- Registering your interest as a supplier does not necessarily mean your product will be accepted. Once you have submitted your inquiry someone will be in touch with you.
- You must have the proper insurances in place before you pitch to them.
- Your product must meet all FDA requirements if it is to stand a chance of being considered.
- Honesty and integrity are some core values of this company, so your character needs to be as clean as your product’s is.
- Make sure you have done your research and development properly. Sending them a perfected end product will greatly increase your chances of success.
You can follow the links on this page to register your interest in becoming a Western Refineries Inc. supplier.
Submit Your Product to Western Refining CO Foods
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How to get your product into Western Refining 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 Western Refining 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 Western Refining Co.
There are several ways to get a product placed in Western Refining 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 Western Refining 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 Western Refining Co..
1. Start with the right questions.) Before you try distributing your product to Western Refining 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 Western Refining Co. would be interested in selling your product? If you can strike a deal with Western Refining Co., can you handle the production volume? Do you want to sell directly to Western Refining 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 Western Refining Co.? Can you sell your product at a reasonable enough profit to cover the packaging, shipping, commissions, marketing and wholesale distribution? Check Western Refining 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 Western Refining 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 Western Refining Co. is the right store for your product.) The relationship between you and Western Refining Co. starts with you browsing their store for competing products. If Western Refining 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 Western Refining 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 Western Refining Co..
If your company is minority or women owned, check Western Refining Co. website and see if they offer specific opportunities for those designations.
4. Pitch your product to Western Refining Co..) Decide whether it will be you or a representative to present your product to Western Refining 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 Western Refining 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 Western Refining Co.. The percentage of commission verses, however generally a broker will take around 5% to represent your product to Western Refining 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 Western Refining 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 Western Refining Co. paperwork.) Often Western Refining Co. will have you go through an application process. However, before submitting the paperwork required by Western Refining Co., you should contact a buyer at Western Refining 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 Western Refining 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, Western Refining 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 Western Refining 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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