Are there Distributors in the BBQ events market? Or?

JeanneK · Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 1

I work for a mfg in Minnesota and we make a variety of absorbent mats that sell in mail order and at retail. Sparks Nugget found our product and used a large mat of ours in each of their contestant booths during their recent BBQ cook off to keep sauce, food, grease, etc. off of their sidewalks or the flooring. I am not quite sure where this was held but they had a need to cover the area. It has an absorbent surface and a bonded backing that prevents the soak through. It sounds like we saved them a lot of money as they had been using a disposable material and ours can be power washed and used again and again. The mat they actually bought is sold for a car mat in a garage. My question is, how does one sell to this industry? It looks like there are a ton of outlets having BBQ cookoffs and could use your product. Would you sell direct to the BBQ team? To the venue? To a rep? To a distributor? Are there distributors that contestants or outlets people buy from? If you were me, what would you do? Or do you not think there would be any interest. Thanks. I appreciate any direction that you might have.

BBQMAN · Posted: Nov 07 2008 Post subject:

Great idea!

I cater pig roasts frequently at up-scale locations where the client doesn't want pig smutz on their carpet/tile/hard wood flooring.

Something washable yet easy to stow would be just the ticket.

I currently use el-cheapo plastic table covers at $1.99 ea. When we get done carving, we just throw it away.....................
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Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

HarvestMoon · Posted: Nov 07 2008 Post subject:

Buy a banner ad to this website for three months to test the market for them.
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Big Tom · Posted: Nov 07 2008 Post subject:

Sounds like and interesting product for anyone that is having to deal with the mess that cooking mass quantities of meat can produce.

Many of the "Big Name" cooking contests take on sponsors at various $$$ levels and can allow for vendor/product demonstrations.

There are also several BBQ related associations in both the comercial and competitive arenas. These groups also have annual events/conventions that provide vendor displays and etc along with newsletters and publications that are filled with product advertising.
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Big Tom
Pigs-R-Us Cooking Team
Owensboro, KY / Corinth, MS

Harry Nutczak · Posted: Nov 07 2008 Post subject:

I would be interested in a product like that, I currently use a very heavy laminated felt used in landscape applications to protect the area where we work.

I would be curious to know the flamability rating of the material and if it could be used in front of my indoor cooker to keep my floor cleaner.
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Thom Emery · BBQ Fan Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 340 Location: Indio Ca

Wild West BBQ · Posted: Nov 29 2008 Post subject: mats

can you post a web site or a way to see the product sizes and prices that sounds like what I've been looking for