Most of you are familiar with RangeMe as an online product discovery platform that helps emerging brands boost their exposure with retail and foodservice buyers. But what you may not know is that RangeMe also gives brands the opportunity to pitch their products in-person directly to buyers.
That’s right – RangeMe subscribers can get private, pre-scheduled and distraction-free meetings as part of two unique initiatives: RangeMe Live and RangeMe Discovery Hub, both of which are held at parent company ECRM’s category-specific Sessions.
RangeMe Live is for Pro subscribers, and offers three free 20-minute face-to-face meetings annually as part of the subscription benefits. RangeMe Discovery Hub is available to RangeMe subscribers of all subscription tiers, and delivers the complete ECRM Session experience with a full schedule of private buyer meetings at special pricing for first-time RangeMe brands.
Together, these offerings enable RangeMe subscribers to bridge the divide between digital and in-person buyer engagement, and provide a natural progression for brands as they grow their reach from local distribution to regional, national – and eventually – global distribution.
“To get in front of buyers at retailers this big is huge, and you literally have a room with them face to face,” says Sophia Karbowski, Co-Founder of realsy, who participated in a RangeMe Live at ECRM’s Snack Session last year. “It would take a long time for me to get in front of these retailers on my own.”
In this post, we’ll provide an overview of both RangeMe Live and RangeMe Discovery Hub, and what brands can expect from each. But before we get into it, let’s take a step back and give you an overview of ECRM Sessions, as they are where these meetings are hosted.
What is an ECRM Session?
ECRM’s Sessions are a completely different animal than your typical expo or conference. ECRM is all about making sure that the right retail and foodservice buyers are connected with those brands that best fit their category needs and objectives by providing tons of opportunities for quality facetime together.
This facetime is broken up into two parts: First, there are the highly-curated, private, prescheduled face-to-face meetings between buyers and brands, during which there are no distractions or interruptions. Prior to the Session, we learn each brand’s products and capabilities and then match them up with the buyers’ needs and objectives for the category, creating a schedule of meetings in which buyers and sellers are perfectly aligned. The number of meetings can range anywhere from 20 to 50+, depending on the category.
In addition, there are tons of opportunities for networking and building relationships with each other outside of these meetings, such as during meals – which are held on location – as well as cocktail receptions, live entertainment and offsite dinners at some pretty cool places! Click here to see what happens at these Sessions, and how it all works, from start to finish.
RangeMe Live – how it works
When a RangeMe subscriber upgrades to Pro, they are assigned a dedicated Customer Success Manager (CSM) who – in addition to giving them an overview of the subscription benefits (like direct submissions to retailers and free access to NIQ’s category-level data) – consults with the brand on which of ECRM’s 80+ category-specific Sessions would be ideal for their three in-person meetings.
Once the Session is selected, the CSM will curate the three meeting appointments by matching up the brand’s products and capabilities against the participating buyers’ needs and objectives to determine the best matches. Once these buyers are identified, the meetings are scheduled on one of the Session days.
The brand is also given access to the ECRM Portal and the preparation site for that particular Session. On this site, the brand can access their schedule, as well as details on the buyers with whom they will be meeting, including an overview of the buyer’s organization and what they are looking for from the brands, such as private label capabilities, sustainable packaging, etc. This information is provided to the brands weeks in advance of the meetings, giving them ample time to prepare. Following their meetings, they can follow up using the tools on the ECRM Portal, as well.
So far, 467 brands have participated in RangeMe Live Sessions, meeting with buyers from national and large regional chains, distributors and foodservice operators.
Some, like Stiles Apiaries, initially dip their toe in the water with RangeMe Live, and then go on to the RangeMe Discovery Hub. Stiles makes infused honey products with a focus on hot honey, and John Valentin, who represents the brand, participated in RangeMe Live buyer meetings during ECRM’s Condiments, Sauces & Spreads Session this past February. “In those three meetings, we were very successful, and are in the process of coming up with a deal from one of them.”
Based on the success of those meetings, as well as getting a tour of how ECRM Sessions work, he signed up for the RangeMe Discovery Hub at ECRM’s Private Label Food & Beverage and Foodservice Sessions held recently in Chicago, as well as the Condiments, Sauces & Spreads Session coming up this summer.
“Just being able to speak with a buyer directly without having to put bait out and hoping they bite, has a lot of meaning,” he adds. “Everyone’s time is valuable, and at the RangeMe Discovery Hub, you just set everything up and pitch the buyers.”
The RangeMe Discovery Hub @ ECRM
The RangeMe Discovery Hub is part of the full ECRM Session that’s available to all subscribers participating for the first time, and offers a deep discount off of other registration options. In addition to the buyer meetings, brands also have access to the full slate of opportunities available, including education and networking.
As with the RangeMe Live meetings, suppliers get advance notice of the buyers with whom they will be meeting and details on each buyer’s goals and objectives for the Session. There are also online tools to help prepare for and follow up from each meeting. So not only is ECRM bringing the buyers directly to suppliers, but it arms those suppliers with the information and resources needed to squeeze every ounce of value from your time at the Session.
Plus, since RangeMe Discovery Hub participants lodge at the Session hotel, there are tons of networking opportunities before, during and after your scheduled meetings, giving them two to three days of solid engagement with buyers.
What’s included with RangeMe Discovery Hub registration
Following is a breakdown of everything that comes with a supplier registration at an ECRM Session. As you will see, it’s a lot!
- Hotel accommodation: All supplier registrations include sleeping rooms for the duration of the Session.
- Meeting spaces: A dedicated buyer meeting space that includes a meeting table and display tables that can be set up any way you like.
- Meals: Sessions include breakfast and lunch each day, as well as cocktail receptions and a big dinner function, which typically includes live entertainment, complimentary chair massages (to ease tired muscles after a long day of buyer meetings). Occasionally this is an off site dinner at a top restaurant or fun location like TopGolf, PinStripes and Howl at the Moon.
- Freight: Since ECRM literally brings the buyers directly to a supplier’s meeting space, there is no need to build an elaborate and expensive booth, or to deal with the hassle and costs associated with shipping it. With ECRM Sessions, these meeting spaces can be as fancy or simple as one likes. All suppliers have to do is send product samples and setup materials to the hotel, and they will be waiting at the meeting space when they arrive!
- Super High-Touch Service: All suppliers get a dedicated Client Success Manager that they can call or email anytime. The CSM gets them up to speed on all of the prep and follow up tools on the ECRM Portal and share best practices on how to get the most out of your experience with us. At the Session, ECRM team members are everywhere, and each meeting area has dedicated staff who are on-hand at all times to guide participants and address any issues. “I was shocked at the level of personal care,” says Daria Novak, Owner, Mushroom Maiden Farm. “The ECRM staff were kind, knowledgeable, and the system was so well-ordered.”
What’s not included – extra fees and hassle
Indeed, the only thing that is not included in your RangeMe Discovery Hub registration is the added hassle and costs of doing everything on your own. We find the relevant buyers, we set up your meeting schedule (and ensure that every meeting takes place), we provide your meeting space, help you prep for the meetings and give you some awesome tools to help you follow up from your meetings and a dedicated customer service representative.
All you have to do is focus on what’s most important – your buyer meetings and networking.
“I don’t have to worry about creating a crazy trade show booth, driving traffic to my booth or trying to set up meetings myself,” says Jeff Henretig, CEO of PZAZ, who participated in the RangeMe Discovery Hub at ECRM’s Impulse, Front-End & Checklane Session. “ECRM does all of that hard work for me so that I can just focus on being present and crushing the meetings that I’m in.”
Ready to start pitching buyers? Click here to learn more about RangeMe Live and the other benefits of a Pro subscription, and you’ll find more details and contact information for the RangeMe Discovery Hub here!