The CIKY idea
The idea came from my past experience with these products. I already did import the product to Czechia, read about my history. I have good connections with the supplier and, most importantly, customers were always satisfied with the quality and taste. Therefore I decided to find a way how I would be able to offer the products in Netherlands.
Copying the same process and creating a website where I would sell directly to customers is not suitable here, as the product is not well established and delivery prices are quite high. That's why I came up with a solution, where the stores can offer tasting and show off the product to the customer's.
Offered assortment
​​​​The product I offer to import is handmade in Slovakia, in the same traditional way it was made 150 years ago. It is a well established product for Slovak market and I believe that with a bit of showcasing, it can get well known in Netherlands as well. I have personally tested many different suppliers and selected the one with highest quality, good amount of assortment, who is able to provide high amount of products without much of a struggle. I have also made sure that highest hygiene standards are in place and the certificate of origin is available. Check the assortment page for full overview of all offered products.
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As the importer I will be taking care of the product labelling. There is no problem with the provided information, as it's EU market regulated, but it's necessary to create a Dutch version. You, as the store who sells the product, will receive a product ready-to-sell with correct label that is according to all standards of the Dutch food labelling handbook, see here.
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An example version of a product label:
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Pricing
Pricing details will be provided upon request through our contact page. Once you make a request, I will provide you with a business account that grants access to full pricing information, along with a calculator to determine your potential markup and profit. This ensures that the information is only available to interested stores, rather than to the general public.
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Regarding the general overview, pricing is aligned with Slovakia's market, with an approximate 5% markup to cover labelling and packaging costs. The goal is to maintain a healthy profit margin for stores, as I am not involved in the selling process – you are. This structure allows stores to mark up the products by approximately 80-120% while still being able to sell them easily.
Delivery solution
Delivery will be made twice a month, allowing ample time for you to sell your products while ensuring they remain fresh. The product's shelf life is approximately 21 days, with the actual expiration date at delivery ranging between 17 to 31 days, depending on the product. Smoked versions tend to have a longer shelf life.
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The exact delivery day is still to be determined. I am currently discussing this with the supplier and according to their needs of production, I am considering either Saturday or Monday as the main day of delivery.
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Pricing of the delivery:
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45€ for 250€ of product
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minimum order amount is 100€ of product
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As outlined in the Pricing section, this is the only profit I make. You can mark up your price by up to 100% without any issues, allowing you to earn €205 per batch. There is no limit on how much product you can order.
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The product will arrive fresh (not frozen) in a refrigerated van, fully compliant with all food handling standards in the Netherlands, following a HACCP hygiene plan. Throughout the import process, the product will be stored in refrigerated conditions, except when packaging and labelling the orders. A detailed, comprehensive overview will be provided if there is sufficient interest in the product.
Introductory phase
To generate interest in the product, I've developed an introductory phase strategy designed to allow the store to use some of the product for customer taste testing, while keeping costs and the risk of financial loss as low as possible.​
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The offer:
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delivery price of 35€ for 250€ of product
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each 40€ of ordered product = 1 free product*​
​*product of your choice from the medium sized versions (230-250g)
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This provides the store a possibility to show off the product via taste testing without losing bought products. During this time, I hope the store will actively promote the product to customers. It also allows the store to experiment with different product options, adjust the range or sizes offered, and determine the optimal markup for achieving satisfactory sales.
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I would like to sign an introductory agreement where this will be followed for 6 months (12 deliveries), during which the store will have to order at least 1200€ of product (100€ per delivery). After 5 months we will assess the performance and discuss the success and potential renewal of the agreement.
Launch phase plan
At this stage, the business is not yet in progress, as I am currently contacting stores who might be interested in the product. Once I have gathered enough interest, I will move forward with establishing the company and setting up the necessary processes to ensure everything runs smoothly. Once everything is in place, we will proceed with signing an agreement for the introductory phase.
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The introductory phase will outline the delivery dates, and we will also finalize the first order. After the initial delivery, you will have the flexibility to make adjustments to your order, as long as those adjustments are made at least one week prior to the delivery of the next order.
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As said in the Introductory phase, after 5 months we will assess the performance and discuss the success and potential renewal of the agreement. At that time, the store will have the option to continue with the business or choose to discontinue the partnership altogether. This approach allows us to ensure a smooth start and ongoing flexibility, with the goal of creating a mutually beneficial long-term partnership.