The insider guide to getting your product listed in South African retailers, with the real trading terms, penalties and margins buyers don't explain until it's too late.
Written by Hamzeh Majiet. 100+ products launched across 15+ countries, 3 Product of the Year awards, and years on the other side of the table with retail buyers.
Not by the product. By the paperwork.
None of this is hidden. It's just never explained, unless you've sat across the table. Hamzeh has.
Launch To Retail puts it all in plain English, before you're in the room.
Know if you're actually ready.
The cash flow reality, the sales proof buyers expect, and whether retail even suits your brand yet.
Close the gaps that get products knocked back.
Compliance, shelf life, barcoding, EDI, audits, B-BBEE and insurance, so you're not rejected for something fixable.
Understand every clause before you sign it.
SWEL, base rebates, growth targets, margin, merchandising fees and service-level penalties, explained one by one with worked rand examples.
Walk into the buyer meeting prepared.
What a buyer actually does all day, what documents you need, how the LSM system and retail tiers work, and how to approach private label.
See how the major chains really differ.
Payment terms, SME thresholds, and how the big retailers each handle penalties, so you can cost your risk properly.
Chapter 1: Are You Ready For Retail?
Market validation, cash flow reality, operational scaling and brand fit.
Chapter 2: Technical Retail Readiness
Regulations, shelf life, suppliers, recalls, B-BBEE, barcoding, EDI and master data, site audits and insurance.
Chapter 3: Preparing To Get Listed
How buyers work, the documents you need, the LSM system and SA's retail tiers, plus Key Retailer Insights: how the major chains and channels differ on payment terms, SME thresholds and more.
Chapter 4: Private Label
What it means for your category and how to think about it.
Chapter 5: How To Get Into Retail
Vendor applications, trading terms clause by clause (rebates, SWEL, margin, growth targets), service-level penalties, starting to trade and merchandising.
Chapter 6: Final Thoughts
Putting it together, and what comes next once you're listed.
60+ pages. Instant PDF download.
One bad clause can cost more than this book, many times over.
If you'd rather test the waters first, we've put together a FREE 23-point checklist covering the things major retailers actually check before they'll list a product. Takes under 5 minutes, and shows you exactly where the gaps are.
The book gives you the map. If you'd rather have a guide who's sat across from buyers walk you through it — applied directly to your product — the Retail-Ready Programme is the hands-on option: a 3-hour strategy workshop, a private session with an ex-retail buyer, a custom pricing model, and a fully rebuilt, buyer-ready listing deck.
