How We Got An Intro Into NZ's Biggest Sports Retailer

Our e-commerce company, Rugby Bricks, has been trying to get into a big box retailer (Rebel Sport) in Aotearoa for a while.

We’ve not had any replies to our attempts, but we knew one of the metrics retailers assess is web traffic.

We could wait and hope people were visiting the retailer's site asking for our product, or we could act and send people there.

We ran the math and decided that if we gave away a free tee with free shipping ($19 cost to us) to the first 50 people who searched and asked for Rugby Bricks on the Rebel Sport store this ~ $1000 investment might be enough to get us noticed by their buyers.

Here is how we sent over 290+ people to our target retailer in under 48 hours.

1. We created a list of our best customers (400+ in total) - these were people who had purchased 3 or more times from Rugby Bricks in the last year.

We then broadened this to all NZ readers.

2. We then created a how to video on YouTube showing people how to search and ask for Rugby Bricks on the Rebel Sport site

3. We created a Typeform that asked people to upload a screenshot of their submission, their physical address and email

4. We sent this email out to the list

5. The Typeform captured those who did it in chronological order, and we shipped them their free tees

We’ve now spoken with the buyer at Rebel Sport.

We’ll let you know how the negotiations go in a future email.

Notes: A full preface - we understand that not everyone has an audience the size of our company, but today’s tactic is to illustrate how to approach problems from different angles.

Most success comes from doing something cheaper or more efficiently than your competitors.

We had an offer to enter Rebel Sport with an agent who would take 8% of the entire revenue of the deal (more than $30,000 in total).

We found a way to get in for less than $1,000.

Just because one door is closed does not mean another can’t be opened.

Why You Should Be Like The Queen 👸

In early April 2020, during the Pandemic, Queen Elizabeth II gave a rare public speech that spoke to everyone’s ability to be a leader.

One of Britain’s links to World War II, the Queen compared it to the way she looked back with admiration for those who acted bravely.

“I hope in the years to come, everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge,” the Queen said, “and those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any.

That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve, and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country.”

Economically, times are tough.

People are polarised.

Whatever issues you face today though you need to exercise your decision to be a leader in the face of adversity.

Choose willfulness over whining.

Choose cheerfulness over criticism.

Choose gumption over groaning.

Leaders look for the positive in the negatives.

The Queen stayed resolute for 70+ years of service.

We can too.