The US is now over 3 weeks into the Coronavirus outbreak. Plenty of information on how this is affecting our individual and personal lives, yet how is it affecting the Independent Rep Industry? Since we talk with hundreds of reps and principals every week, we are seeing some definite trends taking place. There are many […]

The question of selling into Big Box accounts for the first time is one of the most frequent questions which comes up. It’s a pretty simple answer yet has several components to it. Many, many reps and rep agencies have great connections with category buyers at Big Box accounts. To find reps who can get […]

Independent sales reps are an extremely important factor for any manufacturer who wants to sell products to retailers. They can boost your business an amazing amount, but how do you know if manufacturer’s reps are the right thing for you? You’ll have to examine your business and determine your goals. First of all, it’s important […]

Hi, Tom Metsa your friendly 1099 rep expert here: Many companies have attempted at one time or another to hire a “full commission”, “1099”, or “independent rep”. This could be an individual, an agency, a distributor, reseller, etc. Regardless of their structure, there are 5 major reasons why these folks chose to not take on […]

Recruiting a new rep is similar to bringing on a new client, there are a lot of similarities. Some companies view that the rep should feel fortunate that they are reaching out or talking with them. Yet reps are approached every day by all sorts of different companies. Good reps can pick and choose their […]

The Independent Rep industry continues to grow along all business segments and is expected to hit new highs in the next 3-5 years. Many companies have heard of Independent Rep/Full commission reps yet are not sure if they would be a good fit for their organization. The key to a good Independent Rep or Rep […]

A question which comes up in many conversations is what should I look for in an independent rep or Rep agency? The most common misconception is that the rep should have solid experience or be carrying another line within my category of product or service. The reason this is a misconception is that if the […]

I get asked about many issues which come up when a company is considering adding Independent Sales Reps to their organization: Where to I find them? Are they a good fit for my business? What should I look for in a rep? How long before I am seeing sales? Do I need a rep agreement? […]

One of the most popular questions we receive as “what is a fair commission to pay an independent sales rep?” In this post I will present a guideline that you can use to come up with a fair rate, regardless of the industry or market. You will have to make some assumptions; the steps below […]