High-end Kitchen Gadget. Where to Sell?

[RahKnee]

Hi Everyone,
During a product search, I've come across a great high-end kitchen gadget. Think in the price range of $150 to $200. I'm not very interested in selling it direct to consumers myself. I'm much more interested in supplying businesses that will then sell to consumers.

My question is: Which businesses should I be talking to?

I've contacted buyers at Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma with mixed results. Surely these two aren't the only players in the expensive kitchen toys racket. Any other suggestions?

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[ZCP]

Put it out there for sale to the consumer. Show a track record. They may or may not find you. They will definitely be more likely to listen.

 

[ZCP]

Airline sky magazines?

 

[Bigguns50]

@RahKnee ... Would you brand this product, then wholesale to retailers ? If not, what would stop the retailers from finding the manufacturer and buying direct ?

I agree with @ZCP . I spoke with someone high up in a huge retail chain who loved my product. He basically told me to do 'X' tradeshow/s and if I get enough buyers or interest, then contact him. They want to reduce their risk.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Carnage]

You should do the dirty work first.
Sell direct to customers to get sales/profit data to show that the product is in demand and that it's profitable.

 

[RahKnee]

Sorry for the delay in response. I find myself busier and busier each day and checking in here gets pushed to the bottom of the the To Do list.

Thanks for the input. To answer a few questions/comments, I have the opportunity to negotiate an exclusive distribution contract with the manufacturer. If I go through with that, I would be the only source in the US. They are agreeable to this because they don't know the market here, don't speak English, and we have distant family connections. I would only be hesitant to do this if I didn't think I could sell the product. I don't want my potential incompetence to negatively effect someone's business and cause them to lose out on a huge opportunity.

I have considered selling the product myself through online presence and even trade shows. I am reluctant to do either. There would be more $ to be made per product sold in that approach, but I would essentially be starting from scratch. If I managed to get a large store to purchase the product, I could move more in a few weeks with them than I would be able to move myself in an entire year. They've already got the infrastructure, distribution, and marketing in place. Why reinvent the wheel?

So now I find myself hounding buyers at SLT and WS, looking for others to bother as well, and putting together a website to sell through as a back up plan. I think that is a good approach for now, but I'm always eager to here what the forum has to say.