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Via Karen Hayes--specialties Commercial Leadership; International Expansion; Global Marketing Strategy, former The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and Omnicom: "I’ve worked with amazing distributors and also with… a couple not-so-great distributors. While there are many advantages to signing directly with a retailer, there are a few scenarios when a distributor may make sense in your business model -- here are a few of my favorite use cases: ?? When you are entering a region with multiple countries, currencies, regulatory requirements and a decentralized retail landscape. The Middle East is a great example. Operating across the GCC countries is very complex and having a local, centralized partner on the ground – independent of a specific retailer – is highly advantageous. ?? If your channel strategy is to go broad rather than deep. If your near-term vision is to partner with just one or a handful of key retailers in a market, your team can likely handle these relationships directly. Alternatively, if you aim to be in as many points of distribution as possible across diverse channels (specialty-multi, department store, medspas, facial bars, etc.), a distributor can be a force multiplier. ?? Related, some distributors specialize in a specific channel, such as medspas, doctors offices or independent beauty shops. Even in the U.S., if you are trying to reach a niche as a complement to your primary channel, a distributor can help you go further, faster. Other benefits: ?? A local distributor allows you to have stock on the ground so you will be able to replenish retailers more quickly when demand spikes. ?? Distributors provide boots on the ground for field training, store checks, VM updates and more. If you are not prepared to hire local field support as well as marketing support in the form of a PR and influencer agency, a great distributor partner can provide these resources for the brand. As with any multi-year partnership, It’s so important to carefully vet prospective distributors before you sign. I help brands navigate this process to make informed decisions, helping to evaluate the prospects, contracts and plans." Connect with Karen + 220 more TOP EXPERTS to shorten your learning curve, via THE BOARD.

BOARD Member Grace (Fooden) Correy, Beauty & Fashion Brand Executive (Formerly: Ralph Lauren & Spanx) talks about making the shift from being a designer to being a merchant. If you or your company is at an inflection point, consider an OFFICE HOUR with a MEMBER of THE BOARD who can answer your questions based on experience and expertise. THE BOARD: Experts on Speed Dial.

THE BOARD is known for DREAM TEAMS. Experts in the marketplace working together. Consider the recent social media firestorm around YSL blush. Stacey Marty, fashion, retail and wellness brand marketer and member of THE BOARD talks inclusive brand marketing and customer centricity. Lane Timian, CBO and branding expert dials into what a brand can do next. Leverage our collective expertise- by following THE BOARD and connecting with us to help your brand grow (and avoid any missteps that become TikTok front page news!)

"Discoverability is the superpower of TikTok Shop, which is key for the cold starters. For bigger players, it’s a new channel that offers scale for incremental business and acquisition they would?struggle to achieve elsewhere. When done effectively, you can find your people and productively interact with them, no matter the size of business." - Pete D. This is one quote from our latest BOARD BRIEFING featuring insights from Karen Hayes Rachel Roberts Mattox Anna Vale Evan Fox Jeanne Meyer christine morrison For industry insider deep dives alternating with a curated collective of ideas: Subscribe so you never miss a moment from THE BOARD.

What can THE BOARD do for you? Ask Caldera + Lab ! On a recent project, a 7-member dream team was assembled for luxury men's skincare brand?Caldera + Lab to ideate & workshop their brand & growth strategy. We pulled together experts across branding, brand marketing, & retail partnerships from our BOARD roster, including: April Uchitel Alisha Goldstein Kelly St. John David De Nino Jamie Rosen Glisten Cieslak Anna Vale Over 30 days, BOARD experts collaborated to deliver a comprehensive summary of strategic recommendations.?Two participating members are now working on the proposed brand refresh, and the team remains at the ready to deploy for additional support. Stop banging your head against the wall, wasting hours and dollars trying to go it alone. Bring in a fractional dream team and KNOW you're going in the right direction. That's the power of THE BOARD. Book your Blue Sky brainstorm now. #LuxurySkincare #BrandStrategy #GrowthStrategy #RetailPartnerships #BrandMarketing

Crisis management expert and communications coach?Jeanne Meyer?has advice that applies to both b2b and b2c companies: anticipate scenarios that could possibly impact your reputation. Over-prepare for these situations. The second you become aware of something that the media or social community might pick up on, prepare a "desk drawer" statement. Before any external stakeholder asks about. Then, (although every situation is different), you might take a reactive posture and only provide a statement in case you are asked for comment by a reporter. That's what Costco did to push back on allegations that they were Diddy's go-to for buying baby oil in bulk. If your brand touches pop culture, and you want to be prepared, members of THE BOARD like Jeanne, plus other execs with backgrounds ranging from legal and product development to HR and finance are on speed dial. @pagesix @tmz?#crisis?#diddy?#costco?#communications?#fractional?#talent?#speeddial?#crisismanagement?#diddyindictment?#mediarelations?#mediastatement

Check out BOARD Member Summer Nilsson's Op-Ed, where she unveils the power of storytelling. With a 25-year career in publishing, media, marketing, and branding, she breaks down how storytelling shapes connections & builds trust across industries. Need expert guidance? Our stellar roster at THE BOARD is here for all your needs.????

Why follow THE BOARD? For access to expertise across a range of experts and industries. Members of THE BOARD possess battle-tested expertise and always have an eye out for what's next. Follow us across social for thoughtful deep dives on what's trending and what you need to know!

Amazing personal advice from BOARD Member & Advisor Natacha Hildebrand during her conversation with Lucy Bethell Reynolds on her Collective Wisdom Podcast. Sharing learnings and knowledge are core pillars of our Community, and we highly encourage the collective bravery it takes to be truly transparent and vulnerable. These values are rarely rewarded in fast paced corporate settings, but as our journeys evolve, and we seek deeper impact and meaning from the work that we do, this human-centric focus is what sets us apart. As we shed the armor and ego needed to move up the ladder - we can authentically meet leaders and founders in this vulnerable space of uncertainty to holistically assess their challenges while deepening the connection so the experience of partnering with us, is as meaningful and rewarding as the outcomes. "Working with THE BOARD was a transformative experience for our young and emerging brand....." " THE BOARD have been absolutely instrumental strategic partners to us over the past year in both evolving and bringing our strategy to life...." “Working with THE BOARD exceeded our expectations in every way...." "THE BOARD was integral in helping me to identify what and who I needed to grow my small business..." #vulnerabilityisoursuperpower #wearetheboard

Beauty Industry Leaders: Is India on your global expansion radar? ?? If it’s not at the top of your list (spoiler alert: it should be), then this opportunity is unmissable. BOARD member and India market expert David De Nino is offering a game-changing chance to be part of Custom House Brands' exclusive 4-day Trade Mission & Market Exploration Trip to Mumbai this December. ???? In partnership with the US and Indian governments, this unique program includes: ? Collaboration with Cosmoprof India ? Retail site visits with top industry players ? Speaking opportunities to amplify your brand ? And much more! ?? Application deadline: October 25 | Spaces available: 6 brands only. Don’t miss this strategic opportunity to enter one of the fastest-growing beauty markets in the world. More info & sign up: https://lnkd.in/dK-74f2B