I was in a Dilworth's Coffee House expecting to get a plain old cup of coffee, but the first thing I saw was a display of Indie beauty products made by Moondance Soaps in Raleigh, North Carolina. Forget about the coffee! I want some soap!
It started me to thinking about how so many great products are competing for space on the same old spa and boutique shelves, when there are so many other places to pitch the same products without having to compete so intensely. Do you have a coffee inspired soap? Imagine how many local coffee houses in your city might make perfect prospects. How about a great lip balm? Maybe there are some music stores with customers whose lips could use some TLC from all the horns, tubas, clarinets and other instruments they play. Or maybe a wonderful hand cream? Perhaps a local needlework shop would like to carry a cream to soothe customers' hard working fingers.
So here's the tip: Check your local phone book or chamber of commerce for the stores less traveled. You're more likely to get your foot in the door faster and can more easily pitch your products.
