This method is also more powerful since the consumer has the opportunity to expose the new product to the retailer in person. The products are listed in designated categories and made available for review or purchase. Manufacturer's and distributors are charged a small fee to have their products listed on the site based on a commission of sales from the site and commissions on orders placed by retailers. Retail items that are sold directly from the site are drop shipped by the manufacturer or distributor. Commissions paid to consumers are slight compared to traditional promotions methods and do not effect the manufacturer's existing commission structures which are paid to their traditional representatives and agents.
Consumers are the loudest voices retailers hear.
The essence of retail is giving the consumer what they want. A product referral or consumer requests carries more weight than all the sales pitches a manufacture can dream up. Consumers have not only very strong persuasion capabilities with retailers but they are also in the retailers face a lot more often than a manufacturers representative. The consumers ability to have a powerful effect on retailers coupled with their abundent exposure can be a manufacturer or distributors most powerful sales force. In return the consumer has the ability to earn endless free products, product points and discounts on amazing amounts of merchandise.