How do I find manufacturer reps?
Henry Morales
Published Mar 24, 2026
Here are a few ways:
- FIND INDEPENDENT REPS AT TRADE SHOWS:
- USE A REP-MATCHING SERVICE OR DATABASE:
- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LINKEDIN:
- ASK EXISTING RETAIL CUSTOMERS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:
- POST THE POSITION ON ONLINE JOB SEARCH SITES:
- PLACE AN AD OR REQUEST IN A TRADE PUBLICATION OR RELEVANT SALES ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION/WEBSITE:
How much do manufacturers sales reps make?
Manufacturers Representative Salary
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $91,500 | $7,625 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,500 | $6,458 |
| Average | $56,840 | $4,736 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,166 |
How are manufacturers representatives usually paid?
Manufacturers’ representatives, and all independent sales reps, get paid a commission for the sales they make in their area. The commission is based on the commission rate in their written Sales Representative Agreement with the manufacturer. Reps are paid only after the sale is made.
What is standard commission for sales reps?
What is the typical sales commission percentage? The industry average for sales commission typically falls between 20% and 30% of gross margins. At the low end, sales professionals may earn 5% of a sale, while straight commission structures allow a 100% commission.
Can companies pay salespeople too much too little?
Generally speaking, no — unless you also think your business can make too much. Applying an arbitrary constraint, like capping sales commissions or limiting the total amount a salesperson can earn in a year, often does more harm than good.
How Can I Find Independent Reps or Sales Agents?
- Online Sales Rep Search Services. There are several online services that provide cost-effective access to Independent Sales Reps.
- Finding Independent Sales Reps at Trade Shows.
- Using a Consultant or Sale Rep Recruiter.
- Advertise – The Shotgun Approach.
- Guerrilla Marketing.
What does a manufacturing sales representative do?
As a manufacturing sales representative, you sell goods from manufacturers to businesses and other organizations. Your duties are to contact customers, travel to business locations, explain product features, negotiate wholesale prices, and recommend ways to promote and display products for buyers.
What is the difference between a manufacturer’s rep and a distributor?
Manufacturer’s representatives help a manufacturer sell their products, while distributors help a manufacturer store and ship their products. The distributor usually works in a warehouse setting while the representative makes phone calls from an office and travels to meet customers at their business location.
How do I find sales reps on LinkedIn?
After logging into your LinkedIn account, at the top of the page to the right of the blue box with a magnifying glass you will see “Advanced.” Click to reveal: To search for candidates: In the left column, type “sales representative” in the “Title” section.
What education do you need to become a manufacturer sales representative?
There are no formal education requirements to become a manufacturer’s representative, though many have an associate or bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or a related field.
Are sales representatives in demand?
Overall employment of wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives is projected to grow 2 percent from 2019 to 2029, slower than the average for all occupations. In addition to a rising total volume of sales, a wider range of products and technologies will lead to increased demand for sales representatives.
How to work with independent sales reps, Inc.?
Working With Independent Sales Reps: The Direct Selling Route. Companies like Uppercase Living use reps as direct sellers to demonstrate and ultimately sell products in high numbers. Not only is direct selling a cheap way to market and spread a product, but it can also help in the recruiting effort as well.
Who are the independent sales reps for lusive decor?
Sally Thomas Cooper is founder and vice president of Lusive Decor, a Los Angeles-based custom lighting manufacturer for the hospitality industry. The company has an army of 17 independent sales reps that sell signature pieces for hospitality, gaming, commercial and residential projects.
Where can I find a good sales rep?
This means you have to place a lot of reps in a lot of different locations in order to squeeze the most out of your sales initiative. RepHunter.net, a Minnesota-based company that connects business and sales reps, helps to facilitate the process.
How many independent sales reps are there for custom lighting?
The company has an army of 17 independent sales reps that sell signature pieces for hospitality, gaming, commercial and residential projects. Cooper believes that her ability to network and hone in on industry trends has kept the company growing. “Custom lighting is a small, word-of-mouth, very much relationship based industry,” Cooper says.