Health Ecosphere

 Health Ecosphere – Call for Submissions for

Consumer-focused Health and Wellness Products

Background:

Trainers Choice Sports Medicine is a manufacturer and National distributor of braces & supports, first-aid and health & wellness products, based in Barrie, Ontario, Canada.  Trainers Choice has established distribution agreements with large retail customers including Shoppers Drugmart, Walmart, Loblaws, Costco, Canadian Tire, London Drugs Rexall and Home Depot.   More information is located at http://www.trainerschoice.on.ca               

Aligned with a renowned chain of multidisciplinary Sport Medicine clinics, Trainers Choice brings innovations to market and works daily with a host of health care providers-orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and sport performance coaches.                          

Trainers Choice has partnered with ventureLAB, the provincially-funded Regional Innovation Centre and Invest Barrie from the City of Barrie, on a program designed to locate and assist companies in Canada and in Foreign Markets seeking to leverage the experience, expertise and established market distribution channels of Trainers Choice. 

Context:

Trainers Choice intends to select one or two private sector early stage Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SME) with unique consumer-focused health and wellness products that have a point of difference, are market-ready or close to being market ready, and which can leverage Trainers Choice resources, expertise and distribution channels to support the completion of their product development and gain rapid access to market. 

Trainers Choice Offers Companies:

Trainers Choice has relationships and vendor agreements with the majority of Canadian tier one retail accounts. 

Trainers Choice has a sales network of 25 representatives calling on retail stores in all provinces in Canada and with the ability to sell into the US market. 

Trainers Choice can assist in all aspects of product launch and distribution-head office relationships, regulatory and compliance, vendor agreements, GS1-ECC Net, Logistics, Trade and Consumer Marketing, Retail Finance and Economics (cost of entry, revenue projections, ROI), Product Development, Packaging Design, Suite of Services (Broker, Distributor, Logistics Agent, Customs Broker, Your Brand, Private Label, Trainers Choice Brand).  Medical Device Active and NPN Licence Listing (MDALL) support. 

In partnership with ventureLAB, additional expert commercialization advisory services are available to selected ventures, including scale up expertise, market intelligence, brokered access to funding sources (grant, equity, angel, crowdfunding), pre-investment due diligence and marketing supports.  Through ventureLAB, participating companies may be able to leverage the extensive resources of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs, including academic research capabilities and specialized programs.     

Trainers Choice Interests:

Trainers Choice is looking to focus on health, active living and wellness products (first aid, health and wellness, natural products, supplements, exercise) that have a unique point of difference vs. what is in the market or provide an additional choice in a rapidly growing segment dominated by a small number of suppliers. 

Trainers Choice is open to domestic or international companies that want to enter the Canadian markets, or who would like to access international markets.  Preference to products that are market-ready or are close being market-ready.   Trainers Choice is able to assist in all aspects of product development from a menu of services.  Once product is ready to launch Trainers Choice can provide speed to market and a low risk cost effective analysis (i.e., product positioning, packaging, pricing parameters, identify any current or potential competitors) of market potential and develop a road map to key distribution channels.

Secondary interest will be shown for unique and innovative products outside of the health and wellness category.

Selection Criteria:

The following elements will be considered in the evaluation of submissions by participating companies.  They are not mandatory criteria but will form part of the overall assessment.

·         Packaging compliant (French/Eng)

·         Registered with ECC Net/GS1

·         Support cost of entry i.e., listing dollars

·         Unique point of difference

·         Market ready

·         Validation/Testing

·         Retail ready Packaging

·         Supply chain in place

·         Health related, but open to new products for sporting goods, and hardware

·         sufficient funds for consumer marketing

·         if required. regulatory in place NPN, DIN etc.

·         a financial model that works with distribution partner, 40% Margin for Trainers Choice

Successful applicants:

Following the Trainers Choice/Health Ecosphere vetting and selection process, the successful companies will:

1.      Work with ventureLAB and Trainers Choice to establish scope of engagement and activities.

2.      Work with Trainers Choice to develop brand goals & objectives, marketing and sales/distribution plan.

3.      Work with Trainers Choice and to present to Key Account buyers and key decision makers.

Application Process:

Participate in the Information Session on February 8^th at 11:00 am EST to find out more about the Program and to ask questions to determine if this is a fit for your company.

Submit a completed application form in response to the Call for Expressions of Interest by the due date of February 17^th, 5:00 pm EST.  Details on the program and the application form are available at venturelab.ca/trainerschoice

Selected companies will be notified on March 1^st, 2017  and be provided with information regarding next steps. 

Timelines: