OK, I have a dilemma here I could really use some advice with. I suppose there are worse problems to have, but here goes. Recently a retailer started carrying one of my syrup products in a small town nearby. This town has a very charming antique / gift district, maybe just a couple of blocks long. The bottle she is carrying is a new one we're producing, a custom etched state bottle that we make ourselves. The design has proven popular in our area, especially in gift shops.
I've had the relationship with this retailer a few months. At one point when I was making a delivery she commented that she'd really like to stay exclusive to the sales of that bottle for that area (meaning I believe that small district of shops). She didn't want to carry the same things everyone else did. She said at least she'd want to know if anyone else nearby was going to carry it.
I didn't really say anything at the time, just acknowledged her concern. I certainly didn't promise anything. At the time, she was the only one anyway so that wasn't something I needed to worry about.
Of course, it didn't last long. A retailer just a few shops away around the corner called and left me a message today and they want to carry it too. Slightly different kind of shop, more of an upscale cottage foods boutique vs. a gift shop, but still within the same block.
So what do you think? Do I have a responsibility to protect my retailers? I don't really want to be in the middle between all these people directing traffic. I wouldn't mind letting the first retailer know, but should I do more than that, like not allow another retailer a few shops down to sell it either?
I should note, retailer #1 sells it at a significantly higher price than my normal retail. It's easier when she's got no competition. There's a ton of labor in the bottle, so my wholesale price isn't fantastic on those, and I'm generally ambivalent if they can get more to help them profit a bit more.
Any advice much appreciated. I have to call retailer #2 back tomorrow ....