When was the last time you logged into the member area of the website? If it’s been a while, go there and check it out.
Most MANA manufacturer members go there to use the RepFinder®. They create a list of prospective manufacturers’ representatives to contact to see if they want to represent their company. For them, that’s all they get from the member area of the website.
But there is a lot more there. When you reach out to the MANA manufacturers’ representative members on the list you created, they not only want to learn about your product, they also want to learn how well you know how to partner with them. Come across as someone lacking experience and knowledge on how to work with manufacturers’ representatives and you end up signing agreements with those low on the performance scale.
To the right of the MANA logo at the top of the member area of the website, you will find the “Selling Through Independent Reps” program. If you are new to working with manufacturers’ representatives, we strongly recommend you invest some time and go through the resources MANA offers there. Focus on the first two steps first and work your way down the list as you grow your rep network. Let the manufacturers’ representatives you contact know that, while you are new to working with them, you made a commitment to learn the effective way to partner with them so it works well for both of you. You then get to sign up more professional manufacturers’ representatives that sell a lot more for you than those you would sign up otherwise.
Need legal help? Under the “Legal and Consulting” heading, we provide a list of rep-savvy attorneys. In addition to helping you create agreements that protect you, they also provide a free 30-minute consultation on general legal questions.
You can also access previous Agency Sales magazine issues. Use the search option to find articles that dealt with the issue on which you want information.
There’s more, so check it out.