From first call to first buyer meeting — mapped out, week by week.
No black box. Here's the exact sequence we run for every engagement, and what we need from you at each stage.
- Week 0
1. Discovery Call
Scope product, goals, timeline, and budget; confirm engagement type. We need from you: product overview, target goals, decision-maker on the call.
- Weeks 1–2
2. Market Validation & Scoping
Demand, competitive, and regulatory assessment (if not already completed). We need from you: product specs and pricing.
- Weeks 2–4
3. Target List & Outreach
Build distributor/buyer longlist; begin direct outreach in Vietnamese and English. We need from you: samples where relevant, brand materials.
- Weeks 4–8
4. Buyer/Distributor Meetings
In-person or virtual meetings with qualified candidates. We need from you: timely responses and pricing flexibility guidance.
- Weeks 8–10
5. Negotiation & Agreement Support
Support term discussions; we recommend independent legal review for contracts. We need from you: a clear go/no-go decision-maker.
- Weeks 10–12
6. Onboarding & Sales Enablement
Materials localisation, pricing alignment, first orders/pipeline setup. We need from you: final approved pricing and terms.
- Month 3+
7. Ongoing Representation & Pipeline Growth
Continued sales activity, reporting, and pipeline development (representation/outsourced team engagements). We need from you: regular check-ins on strategy.
Reporting cadence
Weekly
Pipeline update: meetings held, deal stages, next actions.
Monthly
Business review call covering performance and strategy.
Ad hoc
Direct contact for time-sensitive decisions (pricing, terms).
Faster or slower, depending on these factors
Regulatory category
Certification-heavy products extend the validation and onboarding stages.
Response speed
Slow client-side turnaround on samples or pricing delays outreach.
Region scope
Multi-city searches take longer than a single-hub focus.
Discovery call to signed distributor in 10 weeks
A specialty food manufacturer completed discovery in week 0, validation by week 2, had a 14-candidate shortlist by week 5, ran meetings through week 8, and signed an exclusive distributor agreement by week 10 — in line with our typical Distributor Search timeline.
Illustrative example — not a real client engagement. Individual outcomes vary based on product, category, and market conditions.
Common questions
How long until I meet real buyers or distributors?
Typically weeks 4–8, following target list development and outreach — faster for categories with active demand, slower for regulated products.
What do you need from us during the engagement?
Product specs and pricing, samples where relevant, timely responses during negotiation, and a clear go/no-go decision-maker on your side.
Can the process be compressed?
Some stages can run in parallel for well-defined, non-regulated categories — this is discussed during the discovery call.
Ready to start the discovery call?
It's the first, no-obligation step in the timeline above.