Walmart is not just looking to give emerging brands a foot in the door with the largest retailer in the world, it also wants to provide them with the education and resources to succeed once inside, according to Jason Fremstad, Senior Vice President of Supplier Development.  In this fireside chat with ECRM & RangeMe SVP of Retail Wayne Bennett, Fremstad shares how Walmart has created several tailored pathways for suppliers based on their origin, category, and maturity level and how its innovative programs, including its Growth Summits and Open Call events are designed to support suppli ..read more

Most of you are familiar with RangeMe as an online product discovery platform that helps emerging brands boost their exposure with retail and foodservice buyers. But what you may not know is that RangeMe also gives brands the opportunity to pitch their products in-person directly to buyers. That’s right – RangeMe subscribers can get private, pre-scheduled and distraction-free meetings as part of two unique initiatives: RangeMe Live and RangeMe Discovery Hub, both of which are held at parent company ECRM’s category-specific Sessions.  RangeMe Live is for Pro subscribers, and offers three f ..read more

Nothing irks a buyer more than a brand that goes into a meeting unprepared. In fact, the most common advice I hear from buyers with regards to supplier meeting prep is, “Do your homework.” You should have an idea about the buyer’s organization, the markets it serves, and – whenever possible – actual boots-on-the-ground experience at its locations. Then, present accordingly. Some brands take it a step further. They do all of those items recommended above, and then tailor both their pitch and their offerings to that particular buyer. When that happens, it’s gold.  2×4 Nutrition is a great e ..read more

Growing your business to a household name is the dream of every entrepreneur. However, achieving this level of recognition requires more than just ambition; it demands strategic planning, resource allocation, and often, significant financial investment. Access to capital isn’t always easy to come by, however. In fact, a study by U.S. Bank found that eighty-two percent of small businesses fail because of cash flow problems, and twenty-nine percent run out of cash. Without sufficient funds to invest in inventory, marketing, and infrastructure, even the most promising ventures can struggle to gai ..read more

Spritzal Cookie Company Co-Founder Taylor Elizabeth Walker leaves no stone unturned when it comes to growing her brand. Each morning at 8AM she’s on RangeMe checking out her profile insights to see what’s trending with buyers, and also seeing which retailers are conducting reviews in her category and what immediate retail opportunities are available. She’s also a huge proponent of submitting products to relevant RangeMe and ECRM Summits, which are available to all Starter, Premium and Pro subscribers (click here to see the benefits of each RangeMe subscription tier). As a certified women-owned ..read more

Emerging brands have to support each other.  This is the way we climb mountains. None of us can do it on our own. It takes a collective interest. How can we together move the needle? The key word here is “together.”  Our founders take on big CPG brands – bringing even bigger ideas and with much smaller bank accounts (we’re often just hoping to make payroll and pay the bills, right?). We are fighting for a seat at the table. This is the magic of the emerging brand. Our founders earn a seat at the table by their nature of being a change agent. By wearing the badge of an impact driver f ..read more

It’s one thing to know that you need insurance to keep your business safe, and it’s another to know what the coverages are and how they serve you. Manufacturer insurance is like a production line: there are multiple pieces and moving parts, but everything comes together to form a final product. There are lots of different coverages you can mix and match to build the perfect plan for your business. It can be tough to know which ones are right for you.  Here’s how you can use a customized manufacturing insurance policy to strengthen your business’s risk management strategy. Protecting Your ..read more

Expo West begins today, and for the next few days many brands will experience a whirlwind of networking, handing out samples, schmoozing at after-hours events, and starting potential business deals. Once it all wraps up, though, now what? Well, then it’s time to turn that momentum into tangible success. You’ve invested time, money, and energy into the event, and now the post-trade show phase is crucial.  Let’s break down the essential steps to ensure you make the most of your trade show experience (keep in mind that this is also relevant for brands wrapping up an ECRM session as well!). C ..read more

What makes a brand story sexy? What gives the appearance of a healthy and strong business? What gives friends and family the impression that you are killing it? Distribution gains. Fast and furious.  What causes you to lose sleep at night and wake up in cold sweats? Distribution gains. Fast and furious. Let me be clear. Fast growth isn’t the enemy. That’s not what I’m saying at all. Growth that is intentional and smart is the name of the game. Know what you are getting into. Be intentional with your decisions. Run the numbers. With every opportunity, with every retailer. If the economics ..read more

One of the benefits of being a RangeMe Starter or Premium subscriber brand is the opportunity to submit products to buyers who have immediate, limited-time opportunities that take place throughout the year. During these campaigns, retailers, distributors and foodservice operators invite brands that meet specific criteria to submit their products to be considered for placement on the shelf or in a menu.  The reason why this is such a great opportunity is a matter of timing. When one of these limited-time campaigns is held, it means the buyers are actually searching for a product in their c ..read more