- Understand you client: Before you spend a lot of time and money creating a product, you should know if anyone will want to buy it. Learn more about Market Research
- Learn if it’s protectable: Know if you can defend your product against cheap copies if it gets knocked off. Learn more about Copyright and Patent your product
- Test your product: Make sure that there’s a demand for your product and the customer understands what you are selling when it’s on the shelf and nobody is there to explain it. Learn more about Product Testing
- Perfect your pitch: Before you speak to decision makers, know your numbers, know your retailer and know your logistics in and out. Learn more about Pitching Your Product
- Don’t do it alone: If you haven’t been successful in retail before, a secret of success is that you can’t do it alone. Having great sales staff, customer support and marketing partners can take you from zero to success faster than if you tried on your own. Learn more about Retail Partnerships
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Founded in 1977, HSN, formerly Home Shopping Network, is an American free-to-air television network owned by the Qurate Retail Group, which also owns catalog company Cornerstone Brands. Based in the Gateway area of St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, the home shopping channel has former and current sister channels in several other countries. HSN also has an online outlet at HSN.com.
HSN also operates retail outlet stores in Orlando, Brandon, Bardmoor, Tampa, and St. Petersburg. HSN is live 24 hours a day, 364 days a year (it has previously tested carrying recorded programming during some graveyard slot hours, but unsuccessful). During live broadcasts the word “LIVE” is inserted above the on air graphic on the top-right corner, which is now always the case. HSN’s hosts stay on the air for 2 or 3 hours and feature 5 to 10 products at a time. The channel usually ends live broadcasting for the Christmas holiday at about 4:00pm EST Christmas Eve, and returns live at 11:00pm EST Christmas Day.
There are two channels via which you can get your products to this company. The company has two platforms on its website that can help you pitch your products to a larger audience. These platforms can be accessed via: this link and that.
On it supply chain code of conduct, the company notes that: “All vendors that provide products to HSN are required to certify to HSN’s Supplier Code of Conduct (the Code), which forms a part of the legal terms and conditions for each order that HSN places, and which provides, among other things, that HSN’s suppliers may not use any form of child, involuntary, or slave labor in the manufacture of the products that we sell. HSN extends this restriction to the manufacturers of finished goods that are produced for HSN’s suppliers.”
Other essential information about its supply chain can be accessed via HSNWebsite.
This company basically deals in the retail world. Its television network is also reflective of its retail origins. It shows discount sales, massive clearance sales, and a lot of steep sales on its network. The network has been a major show in several countries of the world.
As a supplier, you can get to work with this company on showcasing your business. You may have to get into contact with the company via its website or the physical office. The shows of this company are widely viewed.
HSN has been able to reach many households within and outside the United States. It has been able to develop a television network out of retail and has further helped a lot of people with buying decisions.
However, they ensure that their products are of top quality and are n compliance with several regulatory standards.
Contact Home Shopping Network (HSN) Buyer
Do not trust any “list” of buyers.
Typically retail buyers change either companies or positions every few years. This strategy helps retailers know that their buyers are not taking “kick-backs” and are selecting the very best product for the very best position each time.
Buyers are typically held to a very rigorous standard of sell-through volume that they must hit and because of this they are risk averse. Your job as a supplier or vendor is to convince them that the buyers going into the stores not only know about what you’re selling but are actively seeking the product in the store currently.
Step 1
Contact Home Shopping Network (HSN) Buyer
Sometimes easier said than done, however you must get on Home Shopping Network (HSN) radar.
Call the Home Shopping Network (HSN) corporate phone number and ask for the names of the buyer and assistant buyers in your category.
Always leave voicemail with whomever the dispatch will connect you.
Use that information to connect with them on LinkedIn, RangeMe and any other professional social platform.
Ask your representative at your trade bureau to connect you to the Home Shopping Network (HSN) buyers as they will potentially have a better history.
Step 2
Get On Home Shopping Network (HSN) Radar
Use advertising, public relations and marketing to make your brand known to Home Shopping Network (HSN) buyer through 3rd party websites & industry media sources.
Be everywhere that they look, the key is to position your brand as the obvious choice when Home Shopping Network (HSN) is looking to either refill a slot or create a new category.
Latch on to the news of the day and any trend that will make your product fill that niche whether that be Non-GMO or Vegan Leather for example.
Investing in your brand can only benefit your opportunities in the future. As being “top of mind” will have a ripple effect when you physically present your product at a Home Shopping Network (HSN) buyers meeting or trade show in the future.
Step 2
Step 3
Use Hard Facts
Home Shopping Network (HSN) buyers typically got to their position by picking “winners” and know how to see through the fluff.
Focus on the numbers, know your bottom dollar during a negotiation and how fees and chargebacks may cut into your position.
Know that long term success may outweigh short term sales, however financing large purchase orders from Home Shopping Network (HSN) when the net result is negative is not sustainable.
Understand the playing field and the other brands that are in your space, what they are offering as promotion and pricing and how you can stand out against them.
By knowing that each buyer at Home Shopping Network (HSN) probably knows more than you do, take an active listening approach to sales and understand that no is a perfectly acceptable answer that may have saved you millions of dollars on the backend.
How to Submit a Product to Home Shopping Network (HSN)
There are several ways to get a product placed in Home Shopping Network (HSN). However, most entrepreneurs only dream about getting their product distributed to major retailers, few actually do it. We have experienced a significant rise in interest since the show Shark Tank started airing on NBC. Mr. Checkout has had the pleasure of working with a few Shark Tank success stories such as KISStixx and 180 Party Cups which are now currently being distributed around the country to stores like Walmart, Target, Kroger, 7-Eleven and more.
If you envision your product would be a good fit for Home Shopping Network (HSN), we have a few steps to help you get your product on their shelves.
Let Us Know About Your Product
Here are the 6 steps you need to taketo have your product placed in Home Shopping Network (HSN).
1. Start with the right questions.) Before you try distributing your product to Home Shopping Network (HSN), you need to ask yourself a few basic questions. Do you need to build demand for your product, or is there already a demand for it? Do you know that Home Shopping Network (HSN) would be interested in selling your product? If you can strike a deal with Home Shopping Network (HSN), can you handle the production volume? Do you want to sell directly to Home Shopping Network (HSN), or do you want to license your product to a manufacturer that will handle distribution?
2. Be prepared to profit.) Does your product offer enough of a profit margin for Home Shopping Network (HSN)? Can you sell your product at a reasonable enough profit to cover the packaging, shipping, commissions, marketing and wholesale distribution? Check Home Shopping Network (HSN) guidelines for other fees that you will have to build into the cost of your product in order for you to be able to turn enough of a profit to make the effort worth your while. If you work with a discount retailer, they will try to strip your profits down to zero in order to keep their prices as low as possible.
The typical breakdown of margins are: If a products costs $1 to produce, that product will retail for $4. That product that retails for $4 will wholesale for $2 to distributors and stores that purchase direct. Big box retailers like Home Shopping Network (HSN) may offer to pay $1.25 to the manufacturer if the product costs $1 to produce. That is the typical profit margin.
3. Determine if Home Shopping Network (HSN) is the right store for your product.) The relationship between you and Home Shopping Network (HSN) starts with you browsing their store for competing products. If Home Shopping Network (HSN) already has a similar product, it is going to be very difficult to get your product picked up. Spend some time at your local Home Shopping Network (HSN) to see what kind of products they are selling, speak to the manager and see if he thinks your product will sell well in their store. Picture in which zone your product would best fit on the shelf and keep in mind that the most precious asset that these big box stores value are their shelf space. Keep this information in mind when you are preparing your presentation to Home Shopping Network (HSN).
If your company is minority or women owned, check Home Shopping Network (HSN) website and see if they offer specific opportunities for those designations.
4. Pitch your product to Home Shopping Network (HSN).) Decide whether it will be you or a representative to present your product to Home Shopping Network (HSN). Your presentation depends heavily on your strengths as a businessperson as they will most likely ask financial questions and logistics questions.
It’s common for companies to hire a broker to pitch their product to Home Shopping Network (HSN), as it will be more likely that your product will make it to the next stage if the individual pitching your product has industry knowledge or a personal relationship with Home Shopping Network (HSN). The percentage of commission verses, however generally a broker will take around 5% to represent your product to Home Shopping Network (HSN).
We at Mr. Checkout have experience dealing with brokers and know that there are several retail brokers that have poor business practices that can potentially damage your brand. If you are seeking a legitimate Home Shopping Network (HSN) broker, please give us a call for a recommendation. It could save you a huge headache and a lot of money.
5. Complete the required Home Shopping Network (HSN) paperwork.) Often Home Shopping Network (HSN) will have you go through an application process. However, before submitting the paperwork required by Home Shopping Network (HSN), you should contact a buyer at Home Shopping Network (HSN) and let them know your intentions. Having a contact inside of the company will potentially move your application more smoothly through the process.
6. Anticipate the need for increased volume.) Having Home Shopping Network (HSN) agree to stock your product will most likely mean a significant increase in volume. You should be prepared to ramp up your production and informing your manufacturer of this opportunity.
Having production, logistics and distribution to sync is not only difficult, it requires a significant amount of time invested in customer relations. Also, Home Shopping Network (HSN) may have stipulations in the contract that may penalize you for delays in shipping and production. Have an attorney explain all contracts to you if you don’t understand the terms.
If you’re looking to sell your product to Home Shopping Network (HSN), be sure to thoroughly assess the marketplace, carefully prepare for production growth, and take full advantage of resources available to help you grow your business.
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