You’ve done it! You’ve broken into the health or sports nutrition products market, and business is accelerating. Perhaps you’re even one of the top sports nutrition brands? Regardless of your level of success, there is never a time for complacency. The top sports nutrition brands are always looking for ways to improve sales and enhance their product line.
Upselling and cross-selling are some top examples of how this can be accomplished. Knowing what to do comes from staying tuned in to your customer base as well as the supplement industry in general. The following are some effective ways to expand on the health, wellness or sports nutrition products market:
Market Research and Competitor Assessment of Top Sports Nutrition Brands
You probably did this before you started your business, but it’s something you should be doing on an ongoing basis. The vitamin and supplement market is continually in flux, changing and evolving every year. Keeping your eye on competitors and the market in general can allow you to spot trends and capitalize on them early in the game. Watch what your competitors are offering and come up with ways to do it better.
Listen to Customer Feedback
You should be doing this anyway – listening to your customers is the best way to take the pulse of your brand and ensure the sentiment out there is positive. Monitor social medial posts and comments on your blog entries and other media. Read every review or testimonial related to your products and be responsive. Staying tuned in to what customers are saying will allow you to pick up on trends, learn what people appreciate about your products – and also learn what they wish you offered.
Keep Learning
You can also assess your own business performance in terms of what’s worked and what hasn’t. Build on product types and audiences that have worked well for you and avoid strategies that did not go over well in the past. Doing so will allow you to be stronger and more in tune with what will succeed in the marketplace going forward.
Cross-Selling Supplements For Even More Impact
Certain supplements in your line can be proven best sellers. However, cross-selling these items with other top-selling supplements can open your business to new sports nutrition products market areas.
The top sports nutrition brands are always on the lookout for these kinds of opportunities.
Look for combinations that enhance the effectiveness of each component. The following are some examples of cross-selling that could open up whole new client audiences to your business:
Casein and Probiotics
Recovery times are a major concern for many athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Casein is a slow-digesting protein that gives the body a consistent stream of amino acids to boost muscle recovery as well as its growth. However, these effects can be further enhanced with the addition of probiotics, which are known for assisting with both nutritional uptake and digestion.
A study out of the University of Tampa proved this, finding that persons who took the combination experienced faster post-workout recovery, less muscle soreness and the ability to maintain physical performance longer. The combination of these two products brings your customers enhanced recovery and muscle growth, plus a healthier gut microbiome.
Creatine and Beta-Alanine
This combo could bring increased size and strength to your athletic clients. Creatine is known for its ability to assist in these areas.
It saturates the body's phosphocreatine (PCr) levels, allowing for greater intensity during exercise and while you are recovering. It's used mainly by bodybuilders and fitness competitors, but it can be beneficial to athletes in all areas.
However, adding performance-boosting beta-alanine to the mix can increase its effects exponentially. Beta-alanine raises your body’s carnosine levels, buffering hydrogen ions to allow for pushing even harder before muscle failure.
Together, creatine and beta-alanine can help add more muscle mass, reduce body fat and improve exercise performance – much more than just taking either one alone. Sports nutrition manufacturers can Market these items in a combination product can prove extremely compelling to athletic customers and others involved in the sports nutrition.
Caffeine and L-Theanine
Everyone knows the benefits of caffeine whether they are athletic or not. It is a stimulant that can help you through both long workdays and grueling workouts. However, some complain about the crash that often follows using caffeine in any form.
Now research is showing that an amino acid called L-theanine can enhance the effects of caffeine while reducing its side effects. L-Theanine lowers alpha-wave activity in the brain, causing you to be relaxed and alert at the same time. The combination of caffeine and L-Theanine results in focus, alertness and a better mood without the caffeine crash or other side effects like jitters and headaches.
Caffeine and Green Tea Extract
Another caffeine combo that your customers will love is caffeine plus green tea extract. Both supplements are known for their ability to boost metabolism, which in turn can help to speed fat loss. Athletes looking to lose weight and burn fat get a double benefit from this combination supplement: increased metabolism and fat loss plus a boost of energy and focus for an even more beneficial workout. An added benefit of green tea extract is a higher metabolism over time with regular use.
The sports nutrition market is ripe with possibilities for business owners with creative minds. The top sports nutrition brands are always on the lookout for ways to upsell and cross-sell top products and brands.
Use these tips and ideas as inspiration for new product combinations that open your business up to new sports nutrition products market areas. With some focus and ingenuity, you could create the next great supplement to sweep the sports, athletic and fitness worlds.
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