Distributor Search
Find and contract the right distributors in markets abroad
Finding distributors might be straightforward, but convincing them to work with you can be a challenge!
With our Scan-Launch-Grow approach we make this task significantly easier for you! Our local teams have a vast network of distributors and retail channels, know what is important to them and can reach out easily.
Let one of our experts contact you!
Our structured approach for finding distributors
Alliance experts has a proven methodology to start or increase your sales in a new market. Our local teams in over 30 countries help you define your pitch and to find and convince the right sales channels or clients. The scan phase can be short, but is essential as preparation. The Launch phase may take several months, depending on the country.
Scan the market
- We learn about your offering and what target group you want to approach
- You receive a first list of potential agents, distributors, partners or direct clients
- Together with you we draft a localised pitch document
- We discuss recommendations for next steps with you
Launch your product
- We approach the companies on your list and find the right decision maker
- We send your pitch and follow-up several times
- We connect interested parties directly with you and join you in the first call
- We guide negotiations and support you till your product starts to sell
Grow your sales
- We help you search for more distribution channels or clients
- We evaluate existing sales channels on their performance
- We can do troubleshooting in case of complaints or logistic issues
- We suggest new markets to expand your business in
Let us find the right distributors
Our local teams in over 30 countries are there for you!
We know the market from inside-out
We work with local teams who already know the market, have a great network, speak the language and know the business culture.
We know how to get the right attention
We help you to formulate a message specifically for the companies that you want to target, because we know what is important to them
You Reduce your risks
We help you avoid cultural misunderstandings, compliance issues, and other risks associated with entering a new market.
Customer Experiences
Vitello Benevetti
Harley Davidson
Jing Zhang
Kamtec
James Martin
Brabantia
Mehmet Aksoy
RR Engineers
Francis Huang
Würth
Nouraldin Banaeinejad
CAN Home appliances
Companies we have helped with distributor search
Frequently asked questions
Orient on a new country by going there and understanding the business culture, for example by attending a trade show. Once you understand the market structure, you can describe your ideal distribution partner and start searching for these kind of companies.
A distributor search abroad always start with some market research. What is het normal sales channel for your product or service and what distributors (or possibly big retailers) are involved? Only if you know the target, you can search and approach them, and pitch your product or service.
Where it comes to logistics, there is a number of companies that can help you globally. Where it comes to sales, most distributors or retailers work locally or on a country-by-country basis. In that case you have to set up a search in multiple countries, find the right companies and decision makers and convince them to sell your product.
Distributors are risk averse, they know the portfolio they have and tend to be happy with it. They can’t just add a product or service to their range, since it will cannibalize on others. So in order to convince them, you need to give them the data they need, and if the contribution margin is higher than for the current products they have, they may give it a try, if you support them enough with marketing materials and actions.
Distributors are often hard to find, and except for a few niches there is no database where they are listed. This means that per country you have to find them using local networks and people. Once you have identified the companies, have them approached by a local person to enhance your chances to find and convince the right decision maker.
The best way to check foreign distributors is to engage a local person who can visit can premises, access published financial information and who can talk to various stakeholders, such as other manufacturers.
No, there is no specific search engine to find distributors. Also because distributors can profile themselves with general names as trader, reseller, dealer, importer and that in various languages.
There are various companies offering a wholesale distributor search service. We do this in over 30 countries, and we can find the good distributors, but also approach the right decision makers and pitch your product or service in the local language.
Wholesale distributor can not always be found easily on the internet. And option is to do a backward search: contact the shops where you want to have your product, and ask what distributors they work with now.
We mostly don’t recommend to grant a distributor exclusive distribution rights directly, or at least not with conditions, such as a minimum sales volume.