Hey Philip, welcome to the community! Love the initiative you're taking stepping out on your own.
On the sales side, a few pointers that come to mind when working with small retail chains:
1. Ask for the owner's hours upfront when you call or walk in. Many shops most likely have specific days/times when the decision maker is actually on site
2. Warm walk-ins tend to beat cold emails. Just like your planning, bring your samples, charisma, and short clear pitch.
3. And of course, leave with the shop's upside if they choose to have your products on their shelves. Owners care most about what sells and how quickly.
Just to share a bit of context as well: Jobber is a software platform built specifically for home service businesses (think HVAC, plumbing, lawn care, cleaning, etc.) to help them manage scheduling, quoting, invoicing, and payments. While it’s not designed for retail or wholesale distribution, you’re still very welcome to be here and learn from how other small business owners think about growth, sales, and operations!
Appreciate you jumping in, and best of luck building this out 🙌