#020 - Executing lean and agile retail growth for your startup or SME, with Benjamin Ertl of Retailbound, USA

The Hardware Entrepreneur · 5 Apr 2017 · 25m

What this episode covers

Benjamin Ertl, Director of Business Development at Retailbound, explains how his company acts as an outsourced retail team for hardware startups, managing 'sell-through' and channel management to keep products on shelves. He details Retailbound's 'Managed Retail Marketing' service, which costs $800 a week plus commissions, helping international clients navigate complex retail environments without hiring full-time staff. Ertl advises startups to adopt a 'slow burn strategy,' focusing on online channels and specialty retailers first to build sales history before pursuing big-box stores like Best Buy or Walmart. He also discusses the importance of retail coaching for early-stage companies and the cultural adaptations required when working with global clients from regions like Russia, Hong Kong, and Germany.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Product Startup · 21m

    183: Getting a New Hardware Product into Retail Stores

    Yohan Jacob, founder of RetailBound, explains how emerging hardware brands can leverage retail stores for legitimacy and volume, drawing on his 30 years of experience as a buyer for Sears and OfficeMax. He argues that retail is not dead but has evolved into an omni-channel model, offering physical touchpoints and impulse buy opportunities that online sales cannot replicate. Jacob advises startups to start small, perhaps via retail marketplaces like Walmart or Best Buy, to prove sales velocity and supply chain reliability before negotiating broader shelf space. He emphasizes that long-term profitability comes from scaling volume to negotiate lower manufacturing costs, rather than expecting high margins on initial small orders.

  • Product Startup · 26m

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  • Product Startup · 21m

    094: How New Startup Products Get Into Big Retailers

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  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 55m

    Bonus: Getting Into Retail & Tips from a Buyer

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  • Product Startup · 23m

    156: The Evolution of Sales Channels for Hardware Products

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