The Heinzeroth Blog

MORE PLANNING IDEAS FOR SUCCESS IN PRODUCT LINE REVIEWS:

Considering the wide range of point-of-sale tracking tools available to help you prepare for your next Product Line Review (PLR), you may be missing the boat if you aren't equipped to address the metrics your merchant is most concerned about. Chances are, you may otherwise be inclined to go  over things that many buyers consider to be a waste of time. And even if you are bringing loads of information, perhaps it isn't presented in the way your buyer wants to view the figures. To help you plan for your next presentation, here are some thought starters you might keep in mind.

 

Topics: Merchandising, Consumer Retail, Market Research, Consumer Research, Brand Strategy, Line Reviews

Will your products sell successfully in another channel? It’s a common question and perhaps a tempting option to pursue if your products are nearing the mature stage of their lifecycle. Before you invest in a new channel initiative and get your team working on campaign materials, you might think first about how your business model would fare in another channel. If your company and brand strengths don’t transfer well, it’s likely that your products will need more than a marketing push. 

Topics: Consumer Retail, Brand Engagement, Integrated Communications, Brand Strategy, B2B Marketing,

Preparing for a product line review (PLR) with a major retailer can be a challenging process. In the early stages of planning, it's normally best to follow the outline of topics your buyer has provided in advance of the meeting. Still, if that outline is rather sparse, or you suspect there will be other important issues discussed, it's always good practice to have your bases covered if the meeting takes off in a completely different direction. Perhaps these ideas will help you do a pre-flight check.

Topics: Merchandising, Consumer Retail, Market Research, Consumer Research, Brand Strategy, Line Reviews

We often hear that our clients' retail buyers begin a product line review meeting with challenge statements, focusing on price and other issues that can cast a bit of gloom before you've had a chance to present your new products and merchandising. To steer the meeting your way and capture/hold the buyer's attention from the onset, it is important to frame your presentation with research.

Topics: Merchandising, Consumer Retail, Market Research, Consumer Research, Brand Strategy, Line Reviews

Another product line review? So soon? If your company’s channel marketing strategy involves big box retailers, it seems that there is nearly always a product line review on the dashboard. In our research and creative support for companies that have been participating in these annual (or more frequent) “trips to the shark tank,” we’re seeing a few things about the process that have been changing the past couple of years. Among those changes:

Topics: Consumer Retail, Purchase Cycle, Brand Strategy, Line Reviews