1. Build a network
Before the products can sell, retailers must find co-packers who are willing to supply the proper quantities, says Trish McGovern, owner-operator of St. Paul, Minn.-based c-store retailer Boomshack. The key to this, she says, is getting to know the distributors. “You really have to network with a lot of people who are willing to work with you when deciding on the products you need,” she says. “[Then] I pitch the manufacturers to take me on to influence certain flavors.” Boomshack’s private-label sellers include bottled water, jerky, nut and fruit mixes, and even health and beauty products.