How do I find distributors for my product in the US or Canada?
Choose the partner type and territory first, then shortlist companies that already carry your category without a conflicting line. We book those conversations at up to USD $500 per attended meeting, with every fee listed in your written quote before you sign. Start with trade-association directories, line cards, branch locations and relevant trade shows. Check who can approve a new line rather than approaching every sales contact. For an industrial supplier, stock availability, support and regional coverage should be clear before outreach. This fits a manufacturer ready to supply the market; a product without required certifications or reliable lead times needs that work first.
Plan outreach for an industrial supplier
Is there a service that books meetings with distributors, and how is it priced?
Yes. We identify suitable distributors, confirm that a decision maker wants to review your line, and book meetings at up to USD $500 per attended meeting. The quote is set for your category and territory before you sign, with no setup fee and every fee disclosed in writing. You approve the partner criteria and working list before outreach. A meeting brief records the company, lines carried, territory, contact role and reason for meeting. This fits a manufacturer that can supply and support the target territory. If you need channel strategy or a distributor contract negotiated for you, a broader advisory project is a different scope.
See the attended-appointment model
Do you sell distributor lists?
No. We build an approved working list for your program and use it to qualify and book distributor meetings. The service is priced at up to USD $500 per attended meeting, and every fee is listed in your written quote before you sign. A directory entry is a starting point for research, not evidence that a distributor wants your line. We check category, territory, line-card conflicts and the person who can add a supplier, then confirm interest before booking. The meeting brief preserves those checks. This fits a team that wants partner conversations handled for it; a team seeking a database subscription to run its own outreach needs a data provider.
See the evidence in a sample handoff
What counts as a billable distributor meeting?
A billable distributor meeting takes place with a decision maker at a distributor, dealer, wholesaler, importer or manufacturers' rep agency that meets the written criteria. The price is up to USD $500 per attended meeting; a meeting that does not take place is not billed, and a wrong-fit meeting is replaced. The criteria name categories carried, territory, line-card conflicts and the authority to add a new line. The contact must agree to review your line before booking. Owner, general manager, purchasing, category or product manager can be eligible roles when named in the profile. Attendance evidence, review and rescheduling rules are agreed before launch, with every fee in the written quote.
Read the qualification and billing terms
What does a distributor look for, and how do I pitch my line?
A distributor needs a line that fits its customers, leaves a workable margin and can be supplied reliably. Lead the pitch with category fit and the buyer problem, then show distributor pricing, freight, minimum order, lead times and support. Bring a short line sheet rather than a broad company presentation. Explain where stock ships from, who handles warranty, what samples or training you provide, and which territory is open. Ask about competing lines before discussing exclusivity. We use those same category and territory checks when booking meetings. This works for a market-ready product; unresolved certification, supply or service questions should be settled before asking a partner to launch your line.
Prepare a useful distributor meeting brief
Distributor or manufacturers' rep: what is the difference?
A distributor purchases and resells your product, often holding stock; a manufacturers' rep sells on commission without owning the goods. We book meetings with either partner type at up to USD $500 per attended meeting, with every fee in your written quote. Choose a distributor when local inventory, delivery and customer support matter. Choose a rep when you need selling coverage and can handle order fulfilment yourself. Some channel plans use both, with the rep creating demand and the distributor supplying it. The contracts, margins and responsibilities differ, so the written target profile must name the partner type. Source: Trade Commissioner Service, Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting, Step 6 and Appendices, checked October 3, 2026.
Scope meetings for industrial sales channels
Can you book US distributors for Canadian companies, and Canadian ones for US companies?
Yes. We book US distributor meetings for Canadian companies and Canadian distributor meetings for US companies, using the category and territory you approve in writing. The price is up to USD $500 per attended meeting, with every fee disclosed before you sign. Choose states or provinces where you can supply stock and support the partner. We check relevant lines, branch coverage and purchasing authority, and show the meeting time in both time zones. Tell us if Quebec outreach needs French so language requirements can be confirmed in scope. This fits a business ready for cross-border distribution; product approvals, customs arrangements and local servicing remain work for your own qualified advisers.
Review meeting pricing before the fit call
How long does it take to sign a distributor, and should we offer exclusivity?
Signing a distributor takes longer than booking a first meeting, and there is no reliable universal timeline for a new line. We book the initial conversations; samples, commercial review, due diligence and the distribution agreement remain yours. Avoid promising a territory before checking coverage, competing lines, stock commitments and the resources the partner will put behind your product. Consider a limited territory or trial period with clear obligations before offering wider exclusivity. This fits a maker prepared to manage partner evaluation; an urgent need for an immediate stocking agreement cannot be solved by a meeting alone. Source: Trade Commissioner Service, Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting, Step 6, checked October 3, 2026.
Separate meeting terms from your distribution contract
Do I need a US importer to sell through American distributors?
You need to agree who handles importation before supplying an American distributor; booking a meeting does not settle that responsibility. A distributor may be an importer, but confirm the role with the distributor and a licensed customs broker for your product and delivery terms. Ask who handles customs entry, duties, documentation and category approvals, and record the answer in your proposal. We can target importers as well as distributors when that role is in the written criteria. This fits a supplier with a workable fulfilment plan. Resolve the import route before asking a distributor to stock your line. Sources: Trade Commissioner Service, Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting, Appendices; US Customs and Border Protection, Importing - Licenses/Permits, checked October 3, 2026.
Put supply and import questions in the meeting brief
We are outside North America. Can you book US distributors for us?
Yes. We can scope meetings with US and Canadian distributors for a manufacturer based outside North America, provided the product and supply plan are ready for the chosen market. Meetings cost up to USD $500 per attended meeting, quoted for your category and territory, with every fee listed before you sign. Tell us where you manufacture, where stock will ship from, which certifications you hold and who will support the partner. We use that information to qualify the distributor and brief the conversation in both time zones. This fits an exporter ready to supply North America; company formation, import clearance and legal representation are separate responsibilities.
Meet distributor prospects during a North American show