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Getting Started* Join the Mr. Checkout Distribution Network!!* What forms and supplies do you need to start your business?* What is included in the Starter Package for new distributors? * Do I need a DBA company name and business checking account to start my business? * What insurance coverage is required? * Do I need a desktop computer? Copier? Fax Machine? * What training and support is provided to help start my distribution business? * How do I process my first orders for product and rack displays? * When and how often should I re-order product? * What's the best way to get your first 5 customers in one day? * How do you put to rest any fears potential new customers may have about you and the products you are distributing? * What are the best racks to use to expand your business quickly? What forms and supplies do you need to start your business? The only form you need is a 2-part invoice (8x11), which can be created and maintained with a spreadsheet program. Sample invoice copies and spreadsheet files are provided with the starter package. Other supplies include clip boards, handheld calculators and a marking gun for adhering price tags to all product packages not pre-marked. Back to top What is included in the Starter Package for new distributors?
Do I need a DBA company name and business checking account to start my business? Not really, because in just one day you can create your DBA (Doing Business As) company name and 2-part invoice and begin setting up accounts. After you have 10 to 25 accounts you should register your company name, i.e. Your Name Distributing, All Snax of Your City and establish a regular business checking account. You will start receiving checks payable to your DBA Company name and these should be deposited into a business checking account. Back to top What insurance coverage is required? Commercial liability coverage's for all vehicles running routes is required. Also a General Liability policy protects your company if you, or a service driver, injures someone while servicing accounts. This policy is normally required when servicing a large convenience stores or supermarket chains. A one million-dollar policy costs approximately $200 per year. All product liability is provided by Mac's Snacks, the manufacturer. Any problems a customer has with a product, i.e. breaking a tooth while eating hard cracklin, must be referred to the manufacturer's insurance carrier. You can request copies of this product liability insurance coverage from Mac's Snacks. Back to top Do I need a desktop computer? Copier? Fax Machine? A desktop computer is not needed. You can easily get someone to create your 2-part invoice master form for you if you do not have a computer. A copier/fax/printer combination unit is recommended. Mac's Snacks accepts product orders by fax and you can always make copies of your invoice if you run out of 2-part copies. Back to top What training and support is provided to help start my distribution business? Your starter package includes a step-by-step guide on how to start and run a pork rind distribution business successfully. Using this guide you will learn this business very fast as you prospect and set-up accounts. Every contact you make in this business is a learning experience. Back to top How do I process my first orders for product and rack displays? First you need to be setup as a new vendor with Mac's Snacks and Stainless Metal Products. The credit application forms for each company are faxed or emailed to you when you are ready to place your first orders. These completed forms are then faxed with your first product and rack display orders. The quantities and mix of products & racks is based on the number of new accounts you plan to setup. Sample completed order forms are included in the Starter Package. Back to top When and how often should I re-order product? The best rule to follow for inventory management is: 1) Immediately fax your next order to the factory, ordering at least the same quantity and mix as your last order. 2) Do this the same day you receive an order from the shipper. Following these two rules guarantees that you'll never forget to place an order. Before I started this ordering process myself, I would forget to order and be waiting for a delivery truck the following week. When I called the factory asking where the truck was, I was told I had never faxed an order. I let myself, my account owners, and their customers down by being forgetful. Follow these two rules to insure this inventory problem never occurs. Back to top What's the best way to get your first 5 customers in one day? Start the day with a handful of 2-part invoices, 50 display strips (1 case), 10 pork barrels, 20 cases of pork cracklins and 20 cases of pork skins. Choose a busy street that has a large number of beer stores, convenience stores, gas stations or a combination of all three. Start at one end of the street and go down one side, stopping at every store. Walk in a store with at least four bags of product. If the owner is not there politely ask when is a good time to return. Do not leave any products, or your invoice at the store. Just go the next store on the street. If the owner is there, introduce yourself, present your products and make an offer to leave your products on display in the store, at no charge, for a 2-week trial period. If they say OK then:
Back to top How do you put to rest any fears potential new customers may have about you and the products you are distributing? A business owner's main fear is that you will never return to their store once they pay you for the product. So, you have to offer them a 2-week trial period during which they don't have to pay for the product until you return. You say to the owner; "Let's allow the customers to determine if these products are good sellers in your store". It's not right for a business owner to make this decision exclusively. Have the business owner sign both copies of your invoice and give them a copy. When you return you have the signed copy in your hand so they can remember the original deal (2-week trial period). This process should eliminate this fear. What do these business owners have to loose. A few businesses will insist on paying you right away, so take their money if they offer it. Back to top What are the best racks to use to expand your business quickly? Single strand display strips take up very little space and can hang in many different places in a store. Each strand has 12 clips, and each clip holds at least 2 bags of a product, i.e. 2 cracklin bags or 2 skin bags. It's important to display only one product type per display strip, i.e. 24 bags of plain cracklin or 15 bags of hot pork skins per display strip. If you hang 4 display strips in a store, you can display four of your best selling products, i.e. plain cracklins, hot cracklins, plain skins and hot skins. When you return to service the account carry a spinner or floor rack. Most of the time the store owner will be satisfied with the sale of your products and request a rack display. After installing a rack be sure to keep your display strips hanging in the store to complement the rack. These display strips allow you to display products at different locations throughout the store. A free case of single strand display strips (50) will be shipped by Stainless Metal Products to you when your first pork rind & jerky order is shipped. You should also use cardboard pork barrels when setting up new accounts. They make good initial displays for any new product you want to introduce. You can also hang 2 to 4 display strips on the sides of these barrels. Back to top Join the Mr. Checkout Distribution Network! If you are starting a new distribution business, or already running a distribution busienss, your should consider joining an established network of successful distributors. Their are more than 200 Mr. Checkout distributors operating all across the country and many have recently started distributing our pork rind products. Please click on the banner below to learn about the Mr. Checkout network and all the benefits of becoming a member. 
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Home :: Products :: Displays :: FAQ's :: Contact Us
