{"id":13092,"date":"2024-05-06T11:35:07","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T19:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rangeme.com\/blog\/?p=13092"},"modified":"2024-07-09T12:45:38","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T20:45:38","slug":"winning-pitches-2-ways-rangeme-is-bringing-brands-and-buyers-together-in-person","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rangeme.com\/blog\/winning-pitches-2-ways-rangeme-is-bringing-brands-and-buyers-together-in-person\/","title":{"rendered":"Winning Pitches: 2 Ways RangeMe is Bringing Brands and Buyers Together In-Person"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Most of you are familiar with RangeMe as an online product discovery platform that helps emerging brands boost their exposure with retail and foodservice buyers. But what you may not know is that RangeMe also gives brands the opportunity to pitch their products in-person directly to buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s right \u2013 RangeMe subscribers can get private, pre-scheduled and distraction-free meetings as part of two unique initiatives: RangeMe Live and RangeMe Discovery Hub, both of which are held at parent company ECRM\u2019s category-specific Sessions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

RangeMe Live is for Pro subscribers, and offers three free 20-minute face-to-face meetings annually as part of the subscription benefits<\/a>. RangeMe Discovery Hub is available to RangeMe subscribers of all subscription tiers, and delivers the complete ECRM Session experience with a full schedule of private buyer meetings at special pricing for first-time RangeMe brands.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, these offerings enable RangeMe subscribers to bridge the divide between digital and in-person buyer engagement, and provide a natural progression for brands as they grow their reach from local distribution to regional, national \u2013 and eventually \u2013 global distribution. <\/p>\n\n\n

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realsy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cTo get in front of buyers at retailers this big is huge, and you literally have a room with them face to face,\u201d says Sophia Karbowski, Co-Founder of realsy, who participated in a RangeMe Live at ECRM\u2019s Snack Session last year. \u201cIt would take a long time for me to get in front of these retailers on my own.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we\u2019ll provide an overview of both RangeMe Live and RangeMe Discovery Hub, and what brands can expect from each. But before we get into it, let\u2019s take a step back and give you an overview of ECRM Sessions, as they are where these meetings are hosted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is an ECRM Session?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ECRM\u2019s Sessions are a completely different animal than your typical expo or conference. ECRM is all about making sure that the right retail and foodservice buyers are connected with those brands that best fit their category needs and objectives by providing tons of opportunities for quality facetime together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This facetime is broken up into two parts: First, there are the highly-curated, private, prescheduled face-to-face meetings between buyers and brands, during which there are no distractions or interruptions. Prior to the Session, we learn each brand\u2019s products and capabilities and then match them up with the buyers\u2019 needs and objectives for the category, creating a schedule of meetings in which buyers and sellers are perfectly aligned. The number of meetings can range anywhere from 20 to 50+, depending on the category. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, there are tons of opportunities for networking and building relationships with each other outside of these meetings, such as during meals \u2013 which are held on location \u2013 as well as cocktail receptions, live entertainment and offsite dinners at some pretty cool places! Click here to see what happens at these Sessions<\/a>, and how it all works, from start to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RangeMe Live  \u2013 how it works<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When a RangeMe subscriber upgrades to Pro, they are assigned a dedicated Customer Success Manager (CSM) who \u2013 in addition to giving them an overview of the subscription benefits (like direct submissions to retailers and free access to NIQ\u2019s category-level data<\/a>) \u2013 consults with the brand on which of ECRM\u2019s 80+ category-specific Sessions would be ideal for their three in-person meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the Session is selected, the CSM will curate the three meeting appointments by matching up the brand\u2019s products and capabilities against the participating buyers\u2019 needs and objectives to determine the best matches. Once these buyers are identified, the meetings are scheduled on one of the Session days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brand is also given access to the ECRM Portal and the preparation site for that particular Session. On this site, the brand can access their schedule, as well as details on the buyers with whom they will be meeting, including an overview of the buyer\u2019s organization and what they are looking for from the brands, such as private label capabilities, sustainable packaging, etc. This information is provided to the brands weeks in advance of the meetings, giving them ample time to prepare. Following their meetings, they can follow up using the tools on the ECRM Portal, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far, 467 brands have participated in RangeMe Live Sessions, meeting with buyers from national and large regional chains, distributors and foodservice operators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some, like Stiles Apiaries, initially dip their toe in the water with RangeMe Live, and then go on to the RangeMe Discovery Hub. Stiles makes infused honey products with a focus on hot honey, and John Valentin, who represents the brand, participated in RangeMe Live buyer meetings during ECRM’s Condiments, Sauces & Spreads Session<\/a> this past February. \u201cIn those three meetings, we were very successful, and are in the process of coming up with a deal from one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on the success of those meetings, as well as getting a tour of how ECRM Sessions work, he signed up for the RangeMe Discovery Hub at ECRM’s Private Label Food & Beverage<\/a> and Foodservice Sessions<\/a> held recently in Chicago, as well as the Condiments, Sauces & Spreads Session<\/a> coming up this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust being able to speak with a buyer directly without having to put bait out and hoping they bite, has a lot of meaning,\u201d he adds. \u201cEveryone\u2019s time is valuable, and at the RangeMe Discovery Hub, you just set everything up and pitch the buyers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RangeMe Discovery Hub<\/strong> @ ECRM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The RangeMe Discovery Hub is part of the full ECRM Session that\u2019s available to all subscribers participating for the first time, and offers a deep discount off of other registration options. In addition to the buyer meetings, brands also have access to the full slate of opportunities available, including education and networking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with the RangeMe Live meetings, suppliers get advance notice of the buyers with whom they will be meeting and details on each buyer\u2019s goals and objectives for the Session. There are also online tools to help prepare for and follow up from each meeting. So not only is ECRM bringing the buyers directly to suppliers, but it arms those suppliers with the information and resources needed to squeeze every ounce of value from your time at the Session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, since RangeMe Discovery Hub participants lodge at the Session hotel, there are tons of networking opportunities before, during and after your scheduled meetings, giving them two to three days of solid engagement with buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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RangeMe Discovery Hub meetings at a recent ECRM Session<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s included with RangeMe Discovery Hub registration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Following is a breakdown of everything that comes with a supplier registration at an ECRM Session. As you will see, it\u2019s a lot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n