BeverageTradeNetwork.com identifies eight important tips to stay close to your distributor and how it can help both you and your distributor grow your brand.

1) Communicate on a monthly basis via phone (yes, via phone – not email). You must call your distributor and create a rapport with them. Long term relationships are vital to your brands’ success. Distributors must like you as a person. (Read More)

2) Request depletion reports on a monthly basis and if you see high and stagnant levels of inventory, offer help right away. Check the report to see which SKU’s are selling and which are not. See how many accounts were created and if the number of new accounts are increasing.

If they are steady that may well mean that sales reps are not taking your brand out on their routes anymore.

That can be a good indicator to fly down and work the market before it’s too late […] Continue to read the full article on how you can stay close to your wine distributor partner (and why you should).