August 23, 2012
E’s Best Update August 23, 2012
Since our first bottling on May 15 this year, the response to our Smoky Mountain Finishing Sauces has been overwhelming! As of this writing, we are in 19 retail locations in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Thank you to all of our retailers who saw the potential of the products and allowed their customers to sample them. Every retail location where we have been invited to do an onsite customer tasting, has generated unprecedented sales and repeat business.
What a Start!
Our bottler projected that the first 100 cases we bottled in May would probably last a year before a re-order. Apparently, this is the norm for first time bottling runs. Our personal expectations were to order another 100 cases perhaps by September of this year. What actually happened was that we had to re-order another 100 cases in June and we just completed another 150 case re-order August 21!
How have we had such success in such a short amount of time? God has blessed us tremendously!
Our onsite tastings have really launched the popularity of E’s Best sauces and helped generate floor traffic. Here is a rundown of what has taken place for retail partners Since May of this year:
- In North Carolina, The Meat House has generated remarkable sales since the initial onsite tasting three weeks ago. Over 60 bottles have been sold in its Charlotte location and the shelves are fully stocked for repeat business.
- Two recent tastings at The Chop Shop in Bradenton, Florida generated sales of over 170 bottles and a steady returning customer base that continues to move 36-48 bottles each month on its own. They told us that ours has been the most successful product tasting in the history of The Chop Shop. We are returning for another tasting this weekend.
- Cookes SuperSaver in Cleveland, Tennessee has already sold over 80 bottles on their own since stocking our sauces in mid July. Our first onsite tasting is scheduled this weekend and again in September!
- In Waynesville, NC, Home Tech The Kitchen Shop on Main Street has sold nearly 100 bottles since our initial tasting there in June. We sold 48 bottles for them on that June tasting day.
- Palmetto Meat Shop has done their own tastings and has sold over 120 bottles since May and continues to receive a consistent stream of repeat purchases.
These are just a few of our success stories. We are now the top selling barbecue sauce in almost every retail location that carries our products. We encourage every retailer that we call upon, to allow us to do a tasting at their location before they make their stocking decision. Our track record has shown that those who say “yes” have reaped the rewards. God has blessed us with great retail partners who took a chance on a new product and are now part of our success. Thanks so much to all of our retailers! Thank you also to our key people, Tonda Bynum in Charlotte, Dave and Barbara Olson in Tennessee, Tim and Radawn Elmore in South Carolina, Kristyn Hollingsworth in Wilmington, and Justin and Katy Shores here in Florida. Special thanks to my wife Jan who is the engine behind every successful tasting and a tireless partner in the business! We have a great team and we are growing as God leads! September should be exciting with tastings in Florida, Tennessee, Wilmington, and Charlotte. Wherever you live, please contact your favorite retailers and let them know you want them to carry our sauces.
Finally, some people say that Labor Day marks the “official” end of barbecue season, but it is also the beginning of football tailgate season! Remember, it’s not a tailgate until you have your “E”-ssential Smoky Mountain Finishing Sauces!
Until next time…
E’s Best to you!
Elmer Hilker
To schedule a tasting at a retail location, contact us at info@ebestbarbecue.com or call 941.723.2020.