ECRM is a trade support institution with over 24 years of experience
Connecting Suppliers with US + International Retail Buyers
It is our mission to help TPOs and their manufacturing partners develop relevant connections with exporters, distributors, service companies and buyers to promote and facilitate foreign trade.
OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS
Ask us if you don’t see the retailer you’re going after!
Our Process
International suppliers effectively connect with buying decision makers through our preparation services, in person meetings and follow up support. The in-person meetings take place during category specific Efficient Program Planning Sessions (EPPS). Before, during and after an EPPS, you will:
Learn about US retail best practices, buyer goals and required deliverables.
Attend an EPPS and within 2-3 days meet with several relevant category buyers.
Follow up with ECRM’s patented software helps simplify and accelerate the follow-up process.
Imagine meeting with buyers just as they are preparing to make decisions for their category. Timing is everything and ECRM introduces buyers to suppliers right when decisions are being made.
“ECRM's sessions are turnkey solutions with an incredible format. The meetings are pre-scheduled, and the buyers are committed to show up. The quality of the meetings with the buyers, importers and distributors is the main reason for our participation.”
Fernando Spohr, Operations Manager for Apex-Brasil North America
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Best Practices
We often spend time selling our products to buyers by listing off features and describing how unique the product is without first understanding the retailer and what specifically the buyer is trying to accomplish. It is only when we align product information with buyer goals that we can gain interest.
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ECRM + RangeMe = Success
In addition to the support services and private meetings, each supplier registered for an EPPS gains access to a free RangeMe profile where buyers registered for the EPPS and thousands more can search for products 24/7/365.
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Success Story
Apex-Brasil, a Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, helps Brazilian suppliers discover and do business with markets in other countries. One of the ways in which the organization accomplishes this is by coordinating and supporting the participation of its member companies in ECRM EPPS meetings, where Brazilian suppliers have the opportunity to meet with retailers and distributors from the United States as well as around the world.
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Our best-in-class customer service team helps manage all details for a successful supplier experience before, during, and after an ECRM session.
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Understand the retailer and what the buyer is trying to accomplish in their category
We often spend time selling our products to buyers by listing off its features and how unique the product is. Without first understanding the retailer and what specifically the buyer is trying to accomplish, at times this information can pass right by the buyer. Only when we align our product information in a way that helps the buyer with their goals is interest gained.
Be prepared
Preparation level for any buyer meeting, phone call or webinar will provide the buyer an indication of how you do business and what it will be like to work with you in the future.
Honesty is the best policy
Buyers do not have time for guessing or incorrect information. If they ask something you do not know the answer to, let them know you will get back to them with the answer in 24 hours. If they ask you to do something you simply can’t do, be honest about your capabilities. Being upfront with a buyer will help you build a relationship built on trust. Trust relationships stand the test of time and will help you go far.
Know your category
At times buyers wear many hats, however you are the expert of your product and your category. Know both inside and out.
Creating interest in your products
With ECRM Connect, buyers can review your product line prior to your meeting so that meaningful sales progress can be achieved during your buyer interactions.
Determining how distributors fit into the process
Distributors play a different role in the US retail process than in other countries. ECRM sales experts can help you understand how to best utilize distributors and make the most of your EPPS meetings.
Understanding the nuances of the US retail landscape
Learning how business in the US differs from other countries can be the key to success at an EPPS. In order to arm you with as much information as possible, ECRM has created pre-session classes & videos to give you the information you need to succeed.
Connecting with the correct buyers
ECRM has done the heavy lifting for you by having researched the best companies in each category, connected with the buyers and reserved spots for them at our upcoming sessions, specifically to meet with you. You don’t need to connect with or even know who the correct buyers are; ECRM has done that work for you.
Obtaining buyer meetings
Buyers are busy and their available time is at a premium, which is why it can be difficult to obtain a face-to-face meeting. ECRM EPPS is a great way for buyers to maximize their time while meeting suppliers and learning about new products. Instead of waiting all year to meet with 1 or 2 buyers, let ECRM set up 30 – 40 buyer meetings just for you.
Showcase products to thousands of buyers
We make it simple to get your products in front of retail buyers. Our patent-pending technology will match your products to the correct category buyers on RangeMe.
Connect directly with buyers
When a buyer is interested in your product, a conversation will open up right on RangeMe to discuss next steps.
Gain insight into product performance
See how many buyers are viewing your product and receive valuable product feedback all on one dashboard.
Upgrade to RangeMe Premium to gain more buyer visibility, understand where products stand, and how to grow your business. With a Premium subscription, your products can become RangeMe Verified which is the industry standard to let buyers know you are ready to do business.
Dashboard
Verified brands appear on buyer dashboards above non-verified brands.
Badge
Buyers will see the RangeMe Verified™ badge on the brand and each of its products.
Filter
Buyers can filter their dashboard to only see verified brands and products.
RangeMe Verified™ brands get up to 7x more views over non-verified brands and are more likely to receive interest from buyers on the platform.
Insights into buyer activity with your brands & products.
Category Review Alerts for upcoming category reviews for our retail partners.
Priority Support gives your support tickets priority over others with expected response within 24 hours.
All-Access Content exclusively written by CPG experts.
Your product information will only be seen by verified retail buyers. RangeMe verifies all buyers to ensure confidentiality of information shared and the integrity of the platform.
ECRM & Apex-Brasil Help Brazilian Suppliers Find New Markets
Apex-Brasil, a Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, helps Brazilian suppliers discover and do business with markets in other countries. One of the ways in which the organization accomplishes this is by coordinating and supporting the participation of its member companies in ECRM EPPS meetings, where Brazilian suppliers have the opportunity to meet with retailers and distributors from the United States as well as around the world.
Apex-Brasil has teamed up with ECRM since 2015, and has brought more than 75 member suppliers to more than two dozen ECRM EPPS meetings across categories including food retail, general merchandise, and health and beauty care.
“It's a turnkey solution, and the format is incredible,” says Fernando Spohr, Operations Manager for Apex-Brasil North America. “The meetings are pre-scheduled, and the buyers are committed to show up. The quality of the meetings with the buyers, importers and distributors is the main reason for our participation”.
"The feedback that we are getting from the companies that are participating at all the sessions we have done – be at food, cosmetics, houseware, wine, and health – is that this is the best possible session for one-to-one meetings with potential customers," he adds. "So we recommend using ECRM and its solutions for trade promotion organizations.”
Apex-Brasil member Enova Foods
One such member company is Enova Foods, which manufactures a variety of healthy food and beverage products and has attended five ECRM EPPS meetings through Apex-Brasil. “Based on the participation in ECRM meetings, we have expanded our business into new markets including Fiji islands, the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, and Panama,” says Aline Campos, International Sales Executive for Enova Foods. “ECRM provides us with the opportunity to meet with the buyers from the big channels. It’s a big opportunity. I start the business here and then I finish when I visit them in their countries.”
TPOs identify the sessions that are right for their suppliers based on categories and location.
TPOs market the opportunity to suppliers. These efforts are supported by ECRM via conference calls, webinars and in-person visits.
Registered suppliers are assigned an ECRM Account Manager who offers support every step of the way.
Buyers, distributors, exporters and other service companies access supplier company details and product information to aid in meeting preparation.
A “Get Started” seminar provides suppliers with exclusive information to help them get the most out of their EPPS attendance. This educational opportunity is exclusive to TPO suppliers.
Suppliers set up a private meeting space with samples, displays and marketing materials.
Suppliers meet one-on-one with relevant buyers in 10 or 20-minute, pre-scheduled meetings.
ECRM’s proprietary software, Connect™, helps with organizing meeting notes, rating success of meetings and buyer product selection.
ECRM’s follow-up tool provides a complete solution to ensure buyer/seller communication is easy, efficient and ongoing.
Post session sales consulting helps suppliers effectively reconnect with certain buyers.
TPO suppliers receive exclusive access to upcoming sessions where they can continue to execute on their overall sales distribution strategy.