Wholesale Launch Lab

Where brands graduate to retail

Whether you landed here from WWSRA’s readiness checklist or through a referral, the goal is the same: to make sure your brand is truly wholesale-ready. In a fast-tightening retail market, that means nailing the five pillars—Pricing & Commissions, Inventory & Logistics, Order-to-Cash Systems, Retail-Ready Marketing Assets, and Freight/MAP Policies — before you ever step in front of a buyer. Our rapid program closes any gaps in those pillars so reps can pitch with confidence, retailers can place orders without friction, and your launch earns the momentum it deserves.

Not sure there is where you belong? Start HERE and take a look at our Readiness Checklist.

Launch Right,
Thrive Long-Term

Trailhead’s Wholesale-Readiness Consulting for Emerging Brands

  • We guide young brands through the last mile between a great product and a great retail partnership. In practical terms, that means building (or tightening) the five pillars —pricing architecture, inventory & logistics, order-to-cash infrastructure, sell-through marketing assets, and freight/MAP policies—so reps and retailers can say “yes” faster.

    • Because the odds are brutal. Research shows that roughly 95 % of new consumer products never gain lasting traction—most often because the commercial groundwork wasn’t finished before launch.

      according to MIT Professional Education

    • Because the outdoor channel is tightening. The Outdoor Industry Association reported the market was down 3 % last year and more than half of independent specialty retailers saw double-digit sales declines, meaning buyers are pickier than ever about who they add to the wall.

      according to the Outdoor Industry Association

    • Because you don’t get many shots. Retailers remember first impressions; missing ship windows, fuzzy pricing, or weak assets can sideline a brand for seasons.

    • Accelerate sell-in. A polished wholesale package shortens line-review cycles and puts you on the buy sheet while competitors are still “getting back to you with numbers.”

    • Protect margins. Clear MAP, freight, and commission rules prevent the discount spiral that erodes brand equity.

    • Earn loyal reps. Sales reps are entrepreneurs too—when you eliminate operational friction, they focus on storytelling and placement, not problem-solving.

    • Build retailer trust. Dependable inventory and on-time fulfillment turn first orders into multi-season partnerships.

    • Scale sustainably. A solid wholesale foundation lets you add doors, regions, and even international accounts without rebuilding processes each time.

    • Free 30-minute Readiness Review – We benchmark your current assets against the five-question checklist.

    • 90-Day “Retail-Ready” Sprint – We co-create the missing pieces: line sheet & margin targets, B2B order flow, ATS reporting, asset kit, freight/MAP docs. Package pricing starts at $1500.

    • On-Call Launch Support – We stay available through your first full buying cycle to troubleshoot and coach.

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • Emerging brands that want to start selling through reps and specialty retailers—but aren’t 100 % confident they’ve covered every wholesale requirement in the five pillars (Pricing & Commissions, Inventory & Logistics, Order-to-Cash Systems, Marketing Assets, Freight/MAP Policies).

  • Most brands complete the 90-Day “Retail-Ready” Sprint. If you already have some pillars in place, we tailor a shorter scope; if bigger process changes are needed, we can extend on a monthly retainer.

  • Depending on the scope of work you can expect to exit the program with a finalized line sheet with wholesale/MSRP and commission grid, live ATS/inventory template or recommendations/guidance on B2B portal setup, turnkey PO/credit workflow, downloadable asset kit (catalog, photos, MAP sheet), and a documented freight/MAP policy—plus a launch calendar and rep briefing deck.

  • The flat fee for the 90-day core program starts at $1,500, split into three milestone payments. Brands needing à-la-carte help on a single pillar can book hourly sessions at $150/hr. (Custom quotes for larger builds or custom content creation.)

  • Direct-to-consumer success doesn’t guarantee wholesale readiness. Retailers and reps need margin clarity, inventory visibility, and policy documents that never come up in DTC. Skipping those steps risks rejected POs, late shipments, or margin-eroding discounts.

  • Sales Rep Groups simply point brands here when the checklist flags gaps. All consulting work is between you and us; when we’re done, we update your WWSRA contact so they know you’re cleared for prime time.

  • Yes—operations rarely sit in one department. With your introduction we’ll coordinate with suppliers, logistics partners, and finance teams to align lead times, shipping terms, and credit policies.

  • Absolutely. We sign a mutual NDA before any deep dive and store documents in a secure, encrypted workspace accessible only to your project team.

  • We can scope a mini-engagement focused on that single gap—often two to four weeks—so you don’t pay for work you’ve already nailed.

  • We define success as: ✔ finalized five-pillar docs/assets; ✔ positive rep feedback in mock line review; ✔ first wholesale POs processed on-time; and ✔ retailer sell-through targets in the first replenishment window.

Still have questions? Book a free 30-minute Readiness Review and we’ll map out exactly what your brand needs.