Is your brand being weighed down by the distributor model?

The Value of Timely Truth

This emphasis on seamless data allows brands half the world away to get a real-time look into their business with a few clicks. This is a quantum leap better than the old model, where you sourced data from multiple sources, crammed it all into a spreadsheet and spent time trying to answer a simple question. Under this reactionary model, a brand risks being blind sided by a problem that happened in the past when it’s too late to fix it. This new ‘real-time’ model provides brand managers with accurate, timely data to help solve a small problem before it’s a big problem.
“Their online portal is very sophisticated” said Searancke, “I’m able to login from my office in New Zealand and see exactly what inventory is [in Evolution’s Canadian warehouse], what’s been shipped, what I get charged by Evolution for each shipment, what customer bought it and when we’ve been paid.”
“That level of transparency and timely reporting is critical to our brand fulfillment model” adds Martin, “Because – unlike the distributor model – the brand still owns the inventory. We may collect on invoices on the brand’s behalf, but they still own the accounts receivable. They want to know exactly what’s going on at all times.”
Good-Fit, Good Growth

Martin says a brand that is a good fit for Evolution is one that’s well-established in their home market and who wants to expand into North America while maintaining control over their brand’s growth. With interests aligned, everyone pulls in the same direction towards growing the business. Adds Martin “We want to be part of growing something great with [the brand]”.
For Searancke and Shandler, both Evolution customers, it’s a relationship that works well.
“I trust them and they’re accountable” said Searancke, “Evolution works for us in Canada. They basically are our shipping department.”
“We understood this model immediately” said Shandler, “It’s less hassle and it’s allowed us to get quickly established in the North American market. Our relationship with Evolution is working very well.”
Would you ever switch back to the distribution model, this writer asked Shandler: “Now and then we get contacted asked if we’re interested in the distribution model. I tell them, ‘no, thank you. We’re doing just fine’.”