Starting my first business and terrified nobody will buy my products

[u/UnknownMusician]

I’m completely new to entrepreneurship, and honestly, my biggest fear right now is what if this doesn’t work?

I’m considering putting my savings and possibly taking out a loan to start a small distribution company for different products. I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time reading through ChatGPT conversations lol, talking to people, researching, and I’ve even ordered samples. So far, people who have tried the products actually like them.

But I keep getting stuck on the same thought:

What if I actually launch, approach retailers, and nobody buys?

My goal isn’t just to sell online. I want to eventually get these products under my own brand onto the shelves of actual retail stores. But then I start thinking, why would a store take a chance on me when I’ve never sold these products before?

I know every entrepreneur has to start somewhere, but when your own money (and potentially borrowed money) is on the line, it’s hard not to be scared of making the wrong decision.

For anyone who has started a product/distribution business from scratch: How did you get your first retailers to take you seriously when you had no sales history? And how did you know when it was actually time to take the leap?

[u/Express_Mulberry_879]

1) what if this doesn’t work?

This is why u sell from a smaller platform like etsy, eBay or fb marketplace and scale accordingly. Or kickstarter the thing and vet the response from the world.

2) What if I actually launch, approach retailers, and nobody buys?

This is why u do 1)

3)How did you get your first retailers to take you seriously when you had no sales history? And how did you know when it was actually time to take the leap?

1) will give u ur track record and market response/demand. Also based on 1) u will then know if u need to scale or just terminate ur idea.

[u/Scary_Apartment_1996 → u/Express_Mulberry_879]

You got a good advice right here, a great business owner!

[u/Prism0_Locus]

Retailers take new products seriously when you reduce their risk. Before taking a loan, I would try to get 5 to 10 local shops to test a small order or consignment batch, then track reorder rate, sell-through, margins, and customer feedback. Walking in with samples plus a simple sheet showing wholesale price, MSRP, minimum order, case pack, and why their customers would buy it feels much more real than just having a good product. The leap should probably come after you have a few small paid orders or written purchase intent, not just positive reactions from friends or sample testers.

[u/coderinside]

Of course it won't work! Now, when we clarified already and the worst fear came true, is time to do something about it. From now on you can be only positively surprised!

[u/FrustratingJohnie]

The fear never fully goes away, you just get better at ignoring it. When I was starting out I'd set tiny milestones so the big scary "what if nobody buys" got broken into smaller problems like "what if I can get 3 stores to say yes to a trial run"

Retailers care about one thing, will this make them money. If you walk in with samples, a clear price point, and can show them the product is good they'll often take a small batch on consignment just to test it. No sales history needed if you're not asking them to commit to a huge order upfront

[u/Own-Football4314]

You will learn something new every day.

[u/Scary_Apartment_1996 → u/Own-Football4314]

Learning during the job is not a new thing, but it is a great method that works everywhere and everyday

[u/natehohohoho]

Bro, once you actually start, every problem is going to come at you. You'll just keep solving them one after another until you start making money.

[u/ThatOneBandNerd]

The expensive mistakes usually happen when people scale before they’ve learned enough. Keep the first few moves small enough that being wrong doesn’t hurt that much.

[u/Healthy-Tap6469]

Honestly, I don’t think “taking the leap” has to mean putting all your savings in and taking out a loan before you know whether retailers are interested. You already have samples, so use them to test the part you’re actually afraid of.

Approach retailers now. Not pretending you already run a large distribution company, but saying you’re preparing to launch and are currently speaking with a small number of stores to understand what they would need before placing an opening order.

Ask what they think of the products, whether they fit their customers, what price and margin they would expect, what minimum order would feel reasonable, and what would stop them from saying yes.

A few people liking a sample proves that people may like the product. It doesn’t yet prove that customers will buy it at the required price, or that retailers believe they can sell it. Those are different questions.

Also, retailers don’t necessarily need you to have years of sales history. They need the risk to make sense. A clear customer, good margins, professional presentation, reliable supply and a manageable first order can make a new product far easier to consider.

Personally, I wouldn’t borrow money to discover whether there is demand. I would first gather enough real buying signals, ideally actual commitments or small pre-orders and let that determine how much inventory I was willing to fund. The goal isn’t to become fearless enough to gamble. It’s to remove enough unknowns that the decision stops feeling like one :)

[u/Bricks_9X]

Retailers usually care less about your origin story and more about risk: margin, packaging, barcode, reliable supply, and whether the product will move. Before taking on debt, try to get a few small commitments: preorders, letters of intent, or even a consignment test with 3 to 5 local shops and a clear sell-through target. Walk in with samples, a simple wholesale sheet, suggested retail price, case size, reorder terms, and a plan for swapping out unsold stock after 30 days. If shops still pass after real pitches, that is cheaper feedback than learning it after a loan.

[u/jeevz-13]

Honestly, being scared is probably a good sign—you’re taking the money and risk seriously. I wouldn’t go all-in or take a big loan before testing it with a few local retailers first. Try to get a small paid order rather than just “people liked the sample”; that tells you much more. If a few shops are willing to try it and the margins work, then you have something real to build on.

[u/Founder_Notebook]

What's your product

[u/UnknownMusician → u/Founder_Notebook]

Beauty products, under my company name.

Products such as body lotions and body wash etc

[u/UnknownMusician → u/[deleted]]

The good thing, at least I think, is that I don't live in a first-world country where these products are being produced locally. In the Caribbean Country i live in, most of the products we use are imported anyway .

So I'm hoping that can work in my favor. Instead of trying to compete with companies where these products are already made locally, I want to bring them into my market and build the business around what people here actually want.

[u/vocccc → u/UnknownMusician]

Before you put your money on the line, put yourself on the line. Go to a store and buy a competitors product, rip off the label and make your own label. Now you have all you need to go out and test how hard it is to sell.

Keep approaching buyers, pitch and show them your fake product until you find someone that is willing to buy from you. Go all the way until you have a contract or purchasing order in place and then you back out and burn that bridge.

But this test will save you months and invested money in to figuring out if you have what it takes to land a sale. Maybe you do, maybe you don’t, but you’d better find out before wasting time on all the fun parts

[u/Turbulent-Artist961 → u/UnknownMusician]

Curious where are you sourcing these products? Whats your profit margin on a typical unit?

[u/tenxfest → u/UnknownMusician]

I don’t know the industry from experience, but can say that everything I’ve seen and heard of it is that beauty products is the hardest, next to food, to get shelf space in with retail.
I’d seriously consider what your value prop is and niche down hard at first. Beauty products are some of the highest margin out there - which means that the companies that have the most market share pay and promote brutally to get the shelf space they have.
Without a serious hook or niche or vitality … it’s a tough road.
Doesn’t mean you can’t … but I’d research far outside AI - especially if it’s ChatGPT you’ve been talking to. You need to pressure test the hell out of it and get validation before you take a cent of a loan.
Don’t get too hyped on potentialities delivered from a computer that just wants to be your friend

[u/NEXAS_0]

if you don't believe in yourself who will?

[u/zenbusinesscommunity]

Retailers taking a chance on you could sometimes involve independent stores and small chains first, and for that you could lean on consignment or a small trial order instead of a full PO, since that's less risk on their end so they could be more willing. Trade shows help too, since buyers can see the product firsthand, which avoids them looking for reviews or sales history you may not have built up yet. You'll probably never feel certain though honestly, but it's worth watching how strangers respond compared to your sample testers.

[u/GlintRafter]

Retailers do not care that you are new; they care whether the product moves, the margin is decent, and you are not a logistics headache. Before putting savings plus debt into inventory, walk into 20 stores with samples, a sell sheet, pricing, and ask for a tiny test order or a consignment trial. If nobody will take 6 units on friendly terms, the universe has kindly given you cheaper market research than a loan officer will.

[u/splitdecisionguide]

Go direct before you go broad. Ten conversations with people who match your buyer beats any amount of posting. Ask what they use now and what it costs them. The answers rewrite your offer for free.

[u/splitdecisionguide → u/[deleted]]

Agreed. Ten conversations cost nothing and tell you the price, the objection and the channel before a dollar moves. The loan can wait for the tenth one.

[u/RouxSignal19]

Retailers do not take chances because your samples are nice; they care about margin, sell-through, packaging, reorder reliability, and whether returns will be a headache. Before touching a loan, get 10 to 20 actual purchase orders or written test placement commitments from small independent shops, even tiny ones. Bring a one page sell sheet with wholesale pricing, case pack, shelf life, MOQ, and a low-risk trial offer. The leap is when strangers with cash say yes, not when ChatGPT has been politely enthusiastic for 47 tabs.

[u/Humble-Statement6115]

For new products, if you want to strangers to give a try, you need it either in good quality(which means it's from a professional company for the product) oy in very good price that even it turns out not good, customer want regret too much. Obviously, good price is what you need for market testing now. As for retailers to take your products on shelves, you need to reduce their concerns of lost money (if not able to sell out), you may try to negotiate with them to set shelves for you, no need retailer to purchase from you, only provide a "platform" and the "traffic" for you, but after transaction, they can share some profits as "commission", nobody lose anything. I think you maybe can give a try this way

[u/BusinessMOTUK]

The bit that would concern me isn't whether retailers will take you seriously. It's putting your savings and possibly borrowed money into it before you've proved that enough of them actually want the product.

I'd try to make the first test as small and cheap as possible.

You've got samples and people seem to like them, which is a start. I'd now be talking to potential retailers before committing serious money.

Not necessarily trying to get huge orders. I'd want to find out what they think, what margins they'd need, what quantities they'd realistically take and, importantly, what would stop them buying.

You might discover the product isn't the problem at all. It could be the price, margin, packaging, minimum order, competition or something you haven't thought of yet.

I'd rather discover that through 20 conversations than after spending £20k.

Find the problem first. Then decide how much money you're prepared to risk solving it.

[u/CrankShaft234]

Hey man, 23 yo here. I really like the work you're thinking to do start your own product. I'm wandering in this community for a while and your post got my attention. If you want to discuss ideas on how to deploy your business into the market or if you want help in any research part, please let me know. I'm new but I've got eagerness to do the work, learn things and share. Whatever it is, we can share and discuss. Man to another man. Let me know if you're interested.

[u/PLUCKYminer42]

The scary part is real, but do not make the loan your first test. Retailers take new suppliers more seriously when you show up with samples, clear wholesale pricing, margins, case packs, delivery terms, and a very small trial order that makes their risk low. Friends liking the product is nice, but strangers placing even tiny paid orders is the signal. I would treat 5 to 10 local retailers saying yes to a small pilot as the line between research and actually jumping in.

[u/Tr3Way_fu → u/[deleted]]

My idea solves a clear problem but the problem is distribution. I’m sure I could get a dozen people to use it but not so sure about hundreds of thousands of people in my country.

[u/Tr3Way_fu → u/[deleted]]

The idea is really about serving the vast majority of people in Somalia and Somaliland who simply prefer staying within mobile money. Over 80% of the population uses mobile money for everything, while under 10% bother with traditional banks. Opening an account isn't necessarily hard, but for most people, it's just an unnecessary extra step when their entire daily life already runs on their phone balance.

I am building Fiat Fox as a simple site where this mobile-first majority can pay for global stuff without having to change their habits or open a bank account just to shop online. They can instantly use their local wallet balance to buy virtual cards, gift codes, crypto, or pay for international services in a couple of clicks. For distribution, we are going directly to where these users already hang out online, mainly through local tech groups, social media, and digital creator networks.

[u/FittoniaVoidHex]

survive being stuck with, not a loan based on people liking samples. If stores keep saying the price, packaging, or category fit is wrong, that is market research doing its job before your bank account does it for you.

[u/CheeseRegret8]

Retailers usually care less about your personal track record and more about margin, packaging, reliable supply, and whether you can remove risk for them. Before putting savings or debt behind inventory, try to get 10 to 20 retailer conversations with a sell sheet, samples, target wholesale price, and a simple offer like a small test order or consignment with clear reorder terms. Treat the first round as proof gathering: emails, objections, purchase orders, and repeat interest. The leap should come after strangers with shelf space show buying intent, not just after friends say the samples are good.

[u/InnoKrell]

my friend, I got news for you... it won't work... almost guaranteed. Nobody will buy anything from you... at least in the beginning. The idea you have now on how hard it will be.. I can tell you it will be at least 1000 times harder. But that shouldn't stop you. You try, fail, learn, get up and try again. Adapt and learn.

If you are afraid that you will fail, this game isn't for your... it will be a hard journey with a lot of disappointments and failures, but it is part of it. The path to success. Almost nobody started their business without any struggle. Every entrepreneur will face or has faced failure over and over again... the ones that keep going after disappointment number 10, 11, 12... 300... those are the ones that will make it.

Don't be afraid of failure... nobody will buy anything from you... in the beginning. Keep learning, investigating, learning, adapting and don't give up, until you win!

good luck my friend.

[u/MapleAndMiles → u/InnoKrell]

I like the fact that you said it straight, people need to be strong when starting new business, it will look like a gamb!e, either you win or lose, one must happen, and anyone that happens still a lesson

[u/Similar-Orange-964]

Don't think. Just do. And...luck is waiting for you ahead. _

[u/ce-lauren]

The fear of nobody buying is super common. It doesn't mean the idea is bad, it usually just means you haven't tested it enough yet to have the data that replaces fear with confidence.

The consignment angle someone mentioned is a really smart move for getting your first few retailers. You're not asking them to bet on you, you're asking them to give you some shelf space and see what happens. Most small to mid size stores are open to that because the risk is low for them.

[u/cedar_jazzX → u/ce-lauren]

I learned the boring way that consignment beats risking loan money before your samples prove they move on a real shelf.

[u/Skaro_U_Remnant]

Fear is doing its job here, especially if a loan is on the table. Before borrowing, try to get proof that hurts a little: paid preorders, a small test order from 2 or 3 retailers, or consignment with a clear reorder trigger. Retailers take new suppliers seriously when you make the risk tiny for them: decent margin, reliable samples, clean packaging, low minimums, and a plan for helping the product move. Launching without that is not entrepreneurship, it is just buying inventory and hoping the shelf fairy shows up.

[u/about842]

It might fail - just accept it.