Brand Management

Star Marketing works hands-on with each manufacturer via one of our dedicated Brand Managers.

Your Brand Manager is a direct line to everything Star Marketing offers. Together, you will develop a specific plan, unique to the product, which defines target accounts, costs associated with market entry and promotional plans.

Through your Brand Manager you will remain up to date on the progress of the brand and market performance, as well as having access to:

• Detailed Sales Reports
• Distribution Reports
• Go-to-Market Strategies
• Forecasting & Business Planning
• Listing Process Procedures
• Trade Spend Management
• Promotional Calendar Development

Regardless of whether the brand is established, or new to the Canadian market, Star Marketing will assist with developing listing strategies, maximizing promotional plans, managing trade investment, providing detailed sales reports, and taking the time to guarantee each brand is being represented in the utmost professional manner to ensure long term success.

Distribution & Sales

Star Marketing has a team of more than 20 skilled Retail Sales Specialists working together with our network of retail outlets to ensure products are merchandised correctly, priced accordingly and restocked in a timely manner. These professionals also ensure promotional strategies are being executed accurately and are responsible for:

• Writing direct to store orders
• Ensuring distribution and schematic is correct based on listing base
• Establishing speed to shelf on all new listings
• Checking date codes and rotating stock to maintain the freshest stock
• Securing secondary displays against planned promotional activity
• Selling in shippers or display ready pallets
• Help in schematic set up at store level
• Retail audits on pricing
• Couponing or stickering of products
• Reconciling damaged or outdated products with store staff

Warehousing

The team of experts managing the Star Marketing warehouse uphold the highest industry standards when it comes to inventory control management, handling and shipment of products.

The Star Marketing climate-controlled warehouse houses a wide range of dry grocery products in ideal conditions. From the moment products are delivered from our principal partners to their arrival at the retail outlet, every product is handled with exacting care.

Importing & Product Development

Star Marketing has an experienced team of import specialists. These professionals assist our principal partners with the steps required to import food products into Canada. Through your Brand Manager, the import specialists work with you to complete the required importing, packaging development, handling and paperwork required as simply and seamlessly as possible.

Throughout the process, the team at Star Marketing keeps you apprised of progress and next steps and ensures there is constant communication to establish a successful transition to the Canadian Market.

If you’re planning to bring a product to Canada consider these points and contact Star Marketing for more information:

• What is the point of differentiation between your brand/product compared to what is currently in the market?
• Is there a need in the Canadian market that is not being met currently that can be filled with your brand/product?
• Will the pricing be in line with other like items?
• Is there a higher standard of production or ingredients used in your brand/product than what is currently offered?
• Does your brand/product meet the guidelines of Canadian Government regulations? i.e. labelling and nutritional guidelines.

In-house Promotion

Your product is unique; your promotion should be too. That’s why Star Marketing offers an in-house team of specialists who create flexible, tailored displayers, shippers and display ready pallets.

With customized display units, each principal partner is able to create units targeted to their listing base, specific to their needs. Because Star Marketing develops displayers that retail partners want, use and replenish, your brand achieves greater in-store success and recognition.

Analytics

Fueled by up to the day sales data and retailer provided point of sale information, our reports keep the manufacturer aware of their brands performance as well as the categories they compete in.

Reports are reviewed by a team skilled in category analysis and used to present opportunities. Our core reports include:

• Dynamic Detailed Sales Reports
• Distribution Reports
• Trade Spend Management Reports

SalesForce Automation

Our retail specialists use a custom iPad app to provide excellent detailed service to stores. Current data, promotion and product information are pushed to tablets in real time allowing retail specialists to provide unparalleled service at retail. Store audits and distribution checks are another function of this tool. The orders are electronically submitted to our warehouse management system where they are picked and ready for the next delivery to store.