You've poured your heart and soul into your brand and now you're in the classic "chicken and egg" CPG challenge: “I need to build brand awareness for sales, but it’s hard to get into stores without a distributor.” Does this sound like what you've been thinking? In this “Is It Worth It, Charlie?” episode, Charlie Berkinshaw and Giulietta Octavio, the founder and CEO of Ceybon, sit down and chat again. Charlie is our Retail Ready® VP of Student Success and the founder and CEO of Element Shrub. This time, Charlie and Giulietta discuss whether using a distributor is the right next step for Giulietta and her elixir brand. They explore the benefits and challenges of working with distributors so that she can make an informed decision on her next step. Listen in to hear their key takeaways on... What you can expect distributors to do and not do Why it's important to prepare for best and worst case cash flow scenarios The value of knowing your COGS for mapping your cash flow How building a base of stores through different fulfillment options can help long-term and give you a middle ground before distribution This episode dives all into the considerations that are helpful for determining if a distributor is right at this time. Be sure to check out our full show notes here to read more about Giulietta and her brand, Ceybon, as well as to hear more about Charlie and find our LinkedIn and Instagram! This episode is sponsored by our mini Reorder Checklist! This checklist is a list of ways to onboard a new retailer so that you’re more likely to sell off those shelves and receive reorders. If you listened to this episode and are thinking about how you can ensure your sales in existing doors increase, then this is the perfect resource for you. You can find our simplified version at the link here OR, if you’re a Retail Ready® student, you can find the longform version and training directly within our course platform!