A vital link

Whether you’re a global giant or a small independent, all retailers face challenges when it comes to expanding their customer base, driving sales, and building their brand. Sales and marketing companies have the expertise required to deliver the right strategy to fit your business’s unique needs. As a champion for brands, these agencies provide key services for producers, suppliers, and retailers alike. A new approach might be exactly what your brand is seeking. With that in mind, here, we shine a light on some of biggest names in the business

Asales and marketing distribution agency that is the right fit for your brand offers a veritable plethora of advantages for brands. With years of expertise in the field, their know-how has the potential to find long-lasting customers in an irresolutely fast-paced market. For many brands, it is a challenging proposition to find the right market all whilst continuing to keep an eye on competitors and ensuring that their NPD keeps pace with all the latest consumer trends. This is where an agency with excellent, specific marketing expertise can step in to help take your brand to the next level.

Web Writer Spotlight’s Alexis Davis has outlined several key advantages of using agencies which are useful when deciding which one represents the right fit to distribute your product.

Customer satisfaction guaranteed

The number one benefit on this list is costeffective customer services. As Davis points out, for a new or up-and-coming brand – or simply one which is reaching out to a new geographical market – investing financially in the hiring of your own distribution team, could prove an onerous and costly affair – in terms of both time and money. This is particularly true when it comes to training staff in providing a high standard of customer service. Unfortunately as new staff they simply might not be able to answer, comment or solve customer queries in the early stages. This could have a potentially severe knock-on impact in terms of reputational damage to your brand. In comparison, a sales and marketing agency with a strong track record, is used to working with retailers on a regular basis and their thorough understanding of the market will allow them to navigate this terrain efficiently

Indeed as champion sellers, they have firmly established retail networks and they know what will appeal to specific retailers. This means they will have a firm grasp of how to showcase your brand, paying careful attention to your ‘brand story’ which will resonate with your target audience and make your brand catch retailers’ attention as a memorable and worthwhile addition to their shelves.

A full-service distributor can also do much more than just sell your product; they can also train and educate retailers’ personnel, set up signage, and launch in-store promotions as part of their service. An agency can also educate the retailer’s team and store employees about how to effectively communicate with the customers and tell them about the products.

Substantial savings

As Davis concludes, all of the above pointers have one thing in common and that is you are going to make huge savings supplying and selling your products in the market. Before you even roll out a marketing and advertising campaign for your product, you are sure that the product will have already been distributed and accessible to interested people and businesses in your market. You can then use the money you have saved for more product research and development, making improvements to the product, its quality, the packaging, and social media campaigns. Ultimately, this work could make your product an ever greater hit and so hiring an experienced agency really is a move that can truly result in a win-win scenario all-round.

Ampersand

Fact file

Address: Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, D22 XN73

Phone: 01 4130100

E-mail: info@ampersandsales.ie

Web: ampersandsales.ie

Key brands

Sonas Sweets, Cleeve’s Irish Confectionery, Ballymaloe, The Irish Biltong Company, Aqua Vape, Agio, Villiger, Davidoff Cigars, Montecristo, Partagas, Trinidad, Villa Dominicana, Clipper, Djeep, Swan, OCB, Newport, Santa Carolina, Rioja Vega, Cecilia Beretta, Pasqua Wines, Edmond de Rothschild, Cecilia Beretta, Paco & Lola, Coral Reef, Faber Non-Alcoholic Wines: See website for full list.

Ampersand is a family-owned business that has been in operation since 1947 and is recognised as Ireland’s leading FMCG sales and marketing distributor to the convenience and off-licence channels. The company derives its name from the “&” symbol, which is used as a link between paired words, reflecting its core business as a link between brands, retailers, and consumers.

Ampersand’s product portfolio is sourced from over 50 suppliers based both in Ireland and all over the world. Specialising in confectionery, snack foods, cigars, tobacco accessories, vaping and wine, Ampersand trades with all retail groups and offers a broad range of services and specialities to get cutting-edge brands onto the market and into the hands of consumers. The company provides nationwide distribution, serving over 3,000 direct accounts across the Irish market, spanning every town and shop format in the Republic of Ireland.

SHS Sales & Marketing

Fact file

Address: Unit Q1, Aerodrome Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin

Telephone: 01 401 6200

Email: info@shs.ie

Web: www.shs-sales.ie

Company description

SHS Sales & Marketing is one of Ireland’s leading sales, marketing and distribution companies. The company provides an outsourced solution which encompasses sales, marketing, invoicing, credit control, logistics and quality assurance. With offices in Belfast and Dublin, SHS Sales & Marketing has become a dominant player within the FMCG marketplace since its inception in 1975 SHS Sales & Marketing manages a wide portfolio of blue-chip grocery, household and healthcare brands throughout Ireland.

Key brands

Askeys, Benylin, Biobag, Bonjela, Bottlegreen, Brasso British Pepper & Spice, Cara Matches, Calpol, Calgon, Carefree, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Cricket Lighters, Crucials Sauces, Deep Heat, Deep Freeze, Dettol, Disprin, Duni, Durex, Dylon, E45, Finish, Gaviscon, Got2be, Greenpolly, Irish Popcorn, Harpic, Jammie Dodgers, Lemsip, Listerine, Live XXL, Lyons Biscuits, Johnson & Johnson Baby Care Range, Jordans Cereals, Maguire & Paterson Matches, Marigold Gloves, Marigold Cloths & Scourers, Mars Cookies, Maryland Cookies, Meridian, Primula, Napisan, Options, Optrex, Organix, Ovaltine, Ryvita, Scholl, Shloer, Sheen, Strepsils, Steradent, Silvo, Terry’s Chocolate Orange, TommeeTippee, Twinings, Vanish. Veet, Vileda, Wagon Wheels, Windolene WKD Woolite, Zip Ignition products

Passionate sales team

Ampersand has a passionate sales team of ten highly experienced representatives on the road who offer nationwide coverage in all trade sectors supported by an internal telesales team of three The sales team have built great relationships and trust with their customers and have full product knowledge, offering tailored presentations, promotions, and a product offering that best suits each store and their individual needs.

Ampersand also offers expertise in key account management with strong relationships with retail head offices. The team have a wealth of experience in both trade and consumer marketing, and they work closely with all their brand partners to develop brand building activities that will appeal to the relevant target markets.

Ampersand’s approach and expertise in brand distribution, sales and marketing, make it a trusted and reliable partner for brand owners looking to grow and develop their brands in Ireland.

Shelton Distributors Ltd.

Fact file

Address: Unit K7, Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Dublin, D24T858

Phone: 01 401 8455

E-mail: info@shelton.ie

Web: www.shelton.ie and www.sheltondistribution.com

Key brands

Look-O-Look, Walkers Toffee, PEZ, Zaini Chocolates, Hamlet Chocolates, Red Band Jellies, Trolli, Lutti, Cavendish & Harvey, Anthon Berg Chocolates, Belfine Sante Healthier Options, Go-On Protein Bars, Yummy-Lix Pops, and WOM Novelties.

Type of business

Brand management, sales, marketing and distribution of premium confectionery and grocery brands to the multiple, wholesale, symbol and independent retail grocery trade Shelton strives to provide exceptional customer care and service through its field sales personnel, telesales and online support.

Key contacts

Managing director: Shay Barber

Director: Jim Barber

General manager: Eric Barber

Finance: Bernard Forrester