Little Giant Ladders designs and engineers custom, innovative solutions for its retail partners. Our margins are strong, and our service is unmatched in the ladder industry. For more information on how to partner with Little Giant Ladder Systems to bring the best ladders in the world to your mass retail customers, please contact our experts, Dave Francis and Mel Huffaker.
We understand that each of our partners need specially tailored solutions. We are committed to providing great turns and profitable margins. For special mass retail pricing, please contact Dave Francis or Mel Huffaker.
Situation
Through market research and outreach, Little Giant Ladder Systems learned that a leading warehouse club, one of the biggest retailers in the world, was in the market for a ladder partner. This club had been stocking a lower-tier ladder brand, but customers didn’t buy it because it was far too heavy, and the company was very concerned about the product’s safety and quality. The club was looking for a premium brand it could sell to its members at a competitive price. It needed a partner that could provide a high-quality product and could find creative ways to sell it to customers.
Solution
The Little Giant Ladder Systems innovations department took on the challenge of engineering a light, low-cost, high-quality multi-use ladder. They created the Little Giant MegaLite, which was at the time the lighted Type IA multi-use ladder on the market. This new offering is significantly lighter and easier to use than any ladder products the warehouse club had been selling. Now club members can purchase a quality, name-brand product for little more than they were paying for heavier made-in-China knock offs. Also, Little Giant hired and trained part-time salespeople to demonstrate the Little Giant MegaLite in the store. Every store now has a Little Giant representative demonstrating Little Giant products at least once a month.
Results
The results of this combination of unique, quality product and retail partner support are very promising. Even in tough times for building trades, the Little Giant MegaLite has sold very well in these stores. Little Giant has given one of the largest retailers in the world a premium brand that gives it more credibility in the market, and more importantly, a partner that will provide unheard-of retail support. Mel Huffaker, national sales mananger for Little Giant Ladder Systems says, “I don’t believe any other ladder company could or would try to do what we have done with our warehouse club partners. We put the relationship with our partner first, found an innovative solution for their needs, and gave both of us an important competitive advantage.”
Situation
Little Giant Ladder Systems learned that QVC, the top television shopping network in the world, was in the market for a brand-name, low-cost multi-use ladder that would appeal to its loyal customer base. QVC’s market consists of a majority of female customers, so the ladder had to attract a new kind of customer.
Solution
Little Giant Ladder Systems built a Type I multi-use ladder and created an entirely new brand for the QVC market, Titan by Little Giant. The Titan Model 17 offers all of the functionality of the Classic Little Giant Ladder, but comes with in a lighter package, with a lighter weight rating at 250 pounds, making it an ideal option for QVC’s predominantly female customer base.
Results
QVC made the Titan a TSV (Today’s Special Value), promoting the Titan 17 at a special offer for a 24-hour period. The Titan sold so well that it exceeded QVC’s already high forecasts. The Titan by Little Giant TSV nearly tripled the Little Giant Ladder Systems record for sales in one business day. This astounding success prompted QVC to order more ladders and to award Little Giant Ladder Systems with another TSV for a Titan Model 13, and a 30-minute ladder show highlighting three other Little Giant products. And most importlantly, QVC has now made Little Giant Ladder Systems its exclusive ladder provider.
Dave Francis, National Sales Manager
Dave started with Little Giant Ladder Systems over 25 years ago in manufacturing. Since then, Dave has excelled in just about every manufacturing and sales job the company has ever offered. Currently, Dave works with closely with mass retail and shopping network accounts.
Mel Huffaker, National Sales Manager
Mel Huffaker has been one of the company's top salesman for over a decade. Mel has excelled in direct, national, and now mass retail sales and is the company's main on-air QVC spokesman.
