Distributors can be a powerful sales channel. They expand your reach, understand the local market, handle logistics, and even introduce your products to new customers. But they won’t push your products just because you want them to. They prioritize what sells well and delivers strong margins.
So, how do you make sure your products stay at the top of their priority list? The answer is simple: give them the best product data.
Speak Their Language—Literally
If you work with international distributors, localizing product data isn’t optional. It’s a must.
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Language Matters: Imagine you’re selling industrial equipment in Germany, but your specs are only in English. Your distributor will push a competitor’s product with translated specs instead.
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SEO for Distributors: Distributors optimize their listings for their local market. If you supply them with product descriptions with localized keywords, they’ll rank better on marketplaces and search engines, which means more sales for both of you.
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Market-Specific Data: Different countries require different details. For instance, a clothing distributor in the US might focus on inches, while a European one needs centimeters.
Make Compliance Automatic
Many industries have strict compliance requirements. If your product data doesn’t meet local regulations, your distributors will move on to other brands that do.
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Food and Beverage: A distributor handling organic products in France needs different labeling than one in the US.
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Electronics: Certifications like CE (Europe) or FCC (US) must be clearly included in your product data.
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Medical Devices: A missing compliance document can mean your product never gets listed.
Automating compliance checks within your product data ensures your distributors always get what they need.
Keep Pricing Consistent
Nothing kills distributor trust faster than price conflicts. If a distributor sees your product selling for less on your direct-to-consumer site, they’ll stop pushing your brand.
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Standardized Pricing: Ensure your pricing is consistent across all channels to avoid undercutting distributors.
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Promotions That Work for Everyone: If you run a discount on your own site, make sure your distributors can match it or offer an equivalent incentive.
Give Them Everything They Need to Sell
Your distributor isn’t just moving boxes—they’re selling your product. But they won’t do it effectively without high-quality product data.
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Specs, Images, and Descriptions: Ensure they always have the latest, most detailed product information. A missing feature in the description could mean a lost sale.
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Bulk Product Updates: If you launch a new variant or update a feature, push the new data to your distributors immediately so they don’t fall behind.
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Marketing Materials: Give them brochures, banners, and ready-to-use social media content. The easier you make it for them to promote your product, the more they’ll sell.
Track Performance and Adjust
Your distributors might not always tell you what’s working and what’s not. But your product data can.
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SKU-Level Insights: See which products are moving and which ones are collecting dust. If a product isn’t selling in a certain market, dig into the reasons—maybe the description needs localization or a key spec is missing.
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Feedback Loops: Create a structured way for distributors to share insights. If they get recurring customer questions about a product, update the product data accordingly.
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Regional Trends: If a particular region suddenly increases demand for a specific feature (e.g., eco-friendly packaging), make sure that information is front and center in your product data.
Empower Your Distributors to Win
A distributor that feels supported will sell more of your products. It’s that simple.
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Exclusive Access: Give top distributors early access to new products and data so they have an edge over competitors.
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Live Data Syncing: Instead of sending them static Excel sheets, use a Product Information Management (PIM) system that allows them to pull the latest updates anytime.
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Custom Product Feeds: Allow distributors to download product catalogs tailored to their region, customer type, or marketplace.
Sales Layer PIM software enables you to syndicate data across your distributor network, ensuring it stays updated so you and your distributors can succeed in the market together.
The Bottom Line
Distributors will push the products that are easiest to sell. If your product data is clear, accurate, and optimized for their needs, they’ll choose you over competitors. By localizing content, automating compliance, maintaining pricing integrity, and giving them real-time insights, you’re not just supplying a product—you’re giving them the tools to win.
And when your distributors win, they keep coming back for more.
