June 2025

Mindy wrote this back in 2019! 

Here is a throwback recap showing that we are still dealing with similar issues in 2025.

This month, I am teaching a class on how to get in front of key buyers at NYCFTC, NYC Fair Trade Coalition. Over 25 years ago, when I worked full-time for a major retailer, selling was fairly straightforward. If you wanted to get your products in front of retailers, you signed up for open vendor day or rented a booth at a trade show. There weren’t many other options. You presented your items, hoped you hit the target margins, and waited to hear back via phone call.

Nowadays, sales professionals have to be very creative when trying to book appointments and land a sale. It is not enough to have best-selling, on-trend items. You have to have a strong mission statement, landed costs, cool marketing materials, and an exit strategy. Even then, you are still not guaranteed to get in front of the buyer.

Here are some of the buyers we will be seeing in the upcoming months:

Raley’s

Organica

Jimbos

Wegman’s

Mom’s