GROW — Direct Retailer Engagement
Direct Retailer Engagement
FOTS gives brands direct access to a database of retail buyers and decision-makers across multiple sectors, so we can communicate with relevant audiences through targeted email and WhatsApp campaigns. Whether you are launching a new product, promoting a trade offer, supporting a retail campaign or putting your brand back in front of buyers, we build and distribute the communication quickly and cost-effectively.
Put your brand directly in front of the buyers who matter.
The problem we solve.
Reaching retail buyers one at a time is slow and expensive, and broad advertising rarely lands with the person who decides what a store stocks. The objective is simple: get the right message in front of the right retail buyers without the cost and time of traditional sales outreach.
How direct retailer engagement works with FOTS.
- 01
Define your audience
Tell us who you want to reach. We help identify the relevant buyers by geography, store type, sector and retailer profile.
- 02
Build your campaign
We work with your existing assets or help structure the message: copy, images, promotional videos, product information, offers and calls to action.
- 03
Target your buyers
Your campaign goes to the relevant audience within the FOTS buyer database — tailored to specific buyer groups, not a generic message to everyone.
- 04
Get your brand seen
Your message lands directly with relevant retail buyers by email and/or WhatsApp — a fast, cost-effective way to put your product or promotion in front of potential customers.
- 05
Measure and optimise
Where campaign data is available, we report on delivery and engagement so you can see how your communications are performing.
What you get
- Promotional messages and sales messages
- Product launches and new product announcements
- Trade offers and retail opportunities
- Promotional and product videos
- Product information
- Campaign and brand updates
Where we deliver it
- Targeted by geography
- Store type and retail sector
- Retailer profile
- Product category
- Buyer type
- Delivered by email and WhatsApp
How we measure it.
Every campaign reports against the numbers a commercial team actually uses.
- Campaign delivery
- Engagement, where data is available
- Audience segments reached
- Enquiries generated
Key benefits.
Targeted
Reach relevant buyers based on geography, store type, sector and other audience criteria.
Direct
Communicate directly with retail buyers rather than relying solely on broad advertising.
Flexible
Send promotional messages, videos, product launches, offers and campaign updates.
Cost effective
Reach a large number of relevant buyers without the cost of traditional one-to-one sales activity.
Fast
Get campaigns into the market quickly and communicate important updates at scale.
Scalable
Build campaigns around specific audiences, locations or retail sectors.
What can you use Direct Retailer Engagement for?
New product launches
Introduce a new product directly to relevant retail buyers.
Trade promotions
Communicate promotional offers and commercial opportunities.
Retailer recruitment
Reach potential new stockists and encourage them to consider listing your products.
Campaign updates
Keep buyers informed about new products, promotions and brand activity.
Seasonal campaigns
Target relevant buyers with seasonal products, offers and campaigns.
Product videos
Put short promotional or product videos directly in front of relevant buyers.
Geographic campaigns
Target buyers in specific cities, regions or areas.
Sector-specific campaigns
Build campaigns for convenience, independent retail, foodservice, wholesale or other relevant sectors.
Your buyers are already in our network. Let's put your brand in front of them.
Direct Retailer Engagement combines FOTS's buyer network with targeted email and WhatsApp communication to help brands reach relevant retail decision-makers quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.
What is direct retailer engagement?
It is retail buyer outreach at scale: FOTS sends targeted email and WhatsApp campaigns to retail buyers and decision-makers in our database, so brands can promote products, launches and trade offers directly to the people who decide what stores stock.
How does it fit with field sales?
Field sales visits retailers in person; direct retailer engagement reaches retail buyers digitally. Used together, a buyer can hear about your product by email or WhatsApp before a representative walks through the door.
Works well with
If your objective is
Frequently asked questions.
- Who receives the campaigns?
- Retail buyers and decision-makers only — independent, convenience, foodservice, wholesale and other relevant sectors. This is not a consumer email or WhatsApp marketing service.
- Should I use email or WhatsApp?
- It depends on the audience and the message. Many campaigns use both: email for fuller product information, WhatsApp for short, timely updates and videos.
- Can I target specific retailers or regions?
- Yes. Campaigns can be segmented by geography, store type, retail sector, retailer profile, product category and buyer type.
- What do I need to supply?
- Your existing marketing assets — copy, images, videos, product information and offers. If you don't have them ready, we help structure the campaign message.
Talk to us about direct retailer engagement.
Tell us your objective and we'll tell you what we'd do first.