Scaling Smarter: Why Growing Brands Choose Outsourced Retail Support
Growth is exciting—but it can also stretch your resources thin. For many fast-growing brands, the retail floor becomes a blind spot. That’s where outsourcing your merchandising and sales support can make all the difference.
Speed, Flexibility, and Focus: When your brand is ready to expand into new retailers or regions, it’s not always practical - or affordable - to build an in-house team to support each step. Outsourcing gives you access to trained merchandisers and sales teams who already know the retail environment, so you can scale without delay.
In fact, a Forbes Retail Trends Report found that startups that outsource merchandising and sales support see an average 25% increase in execution speed compared to those relying solely on internal teams.
A separate report by RetailWire showed that 38% of brands using outsourced field teams launched into new retail channels faster than their in-house counterparts.
In a competitive environment where every day counts, that speed can mean the difference between landing the front-of-aisle display or missing the promotional window entirely.
Lower Risk, Higher Visibility: Scaling doesn’t always mean going all-in. Outsourcing allows you to trial new markets, test pop-ups or promotions, or expand into a new retail chain without the commitment or costs of hiring, training, and managing your own field force.
Let’s talk cost: According to HRNZ, the average cost of recruiting, training, and onboarding a single in-house retail employee in New Zealand is over $20,000. Add in equipment, vehicle costs, supervision, compliance, and payroll - and that number rises quickly.
By contrast, outsourcing lets you convert fixed costs into variable ones—you get the coverage you need, when and where you need it, without long-term commitments.
You also gain real-time visibility into what’s happening in-store. VSS merchandisers are trained not only to implement your brand’s vision but also to report stock issues, competitor activity, pricing inconsistencies, and staff feedback- so you’re not flying blind.
A 2023 study by NielsenIQ reported that 60% of promotional campaigns fail to deliver ROI due to poor in-store execution and lack of follow-up. The takeaway? Execution matters - and outsourced experts can make sure it happens.
A Smarter Way to Scale
Outsourcing isn’t just about saving time. It’s about partnering with a team that can help you:
- Get into stores faster
- Ensure consistent execution across regions
- Avoid gaps in compliance, stock and visibility
- Scale without adding overheads or headcount
- Adapt fast as your needs change
At VSS, we’ve been helping brands scale smart since 1997. Whether you’re launching, expanding, or simply trying to do more with less—we’re ready when you are.
