How to Become a Distributor of Children's Educational CDs
Play is an important part of how children learn about the world. Many parents recognize this and buy educational products to stimulate their children's development. Now that children are much more technically inclined, educational CDs provide a way for kids to learn while enjoying their tech gadgets, making owning an educational CD distributorship a good business choice. Here's how to become a distributor of children's educational CDs.
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Instructions
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Locate children's educational CD companies that offer distributorships. Check with the Direct Selling Association (http://www.dsa.org), which lists companies that have distributor opportunities, or look at children's educational CDs in stores to find out which companies produce them, then contact those companies to see if they have distributorship opportunities available.
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Research the educational CD companies you find. Information you need to know includes:
- What is the cost to get started? What ongoing costs, if any, are there?
- How does the company operate? Does it work like a drop shipper in which you order only when you have a sale or are you expected to have an inventory?
- How are you paid? Do you receive excess from the sale or does the company pay you?
- What are the policies and restrictions? Can you market online? Will you be limited to a territory?
- What sort of support and marketing materials are provided?
- What is the return and refund policy for distributors and customers?
- Is the company a member of the Better Business Bureau or Direct Selling Association? -
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Verify any claims the company makes. Many distributorship companies will indicate they are a member of a specific association, have won awards, or that their products produce specific results. For example, an educational CD company may say its products raise kids' test scores by a full grade. Verify these claims by going to the source: the association, the company that gave the award, or the study that showed the results.
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Contact the educational CD company or a representative for additional information. If you can't find answers to questions from your initial search, ask them in person. Get references from the company's other distributors or business contacts and call them. Finally, ask for sample CDs and literature about the business so you can check the quality.
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Choose a company that fits your goals. Don't necessarily choose the one with the biggest profit potential; consider product quality and distributor support as well as how much money you can make. If you have access to children who use educational CDs, consider finding out which products they like best.
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Read the fine print before signing any paperwork. You won't always get all the details by talking to the company representative. The contract is a binding document. If you sign it, you are agreeing to its terms. You can't go back later and say the company didn't tell you something if the issue is outlined in the contract. Don't be afraid to ask questions or show it to an attorney if you need clarification on any issues.
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Set up your business. Find out from your local Small Business Administration office if you need a business permit or license. Because you're selling a tangible good, you may also need a sales tax permit. Some distributorship companies take care of this for you.
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Market your business. Contact schools and day care centers about purchasing your educational CDs. Determine the types of families that buy educational CDs for their children and create marketing materials (such as ads and brochures) that you can place where they will find them, such as in magazines or pediatricians' offices.
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