How do I write a business email asking to to be a distributor?
I'm interested in being a distributor for an american company selling
sanitary products for women. On their website they are looking for
distributors outside the U.S.(I live in Sweden). I'd like to know
about quantites, prices, shipping options and available information
packs or promotional items.
Should I mention something about myself? 
What (specifically) do I write in my first contact with the company?

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Clarification of Question by amazarakis-ga on 07 Sep 2006 06:07 PDT

This is my first time using Google Answers. Is my pricing right? 
I'd like to have an answer as soon as possible.

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Clarification of Question by amazarakis-ga on 07 Sep 2006 17:56 PDT

How do I write a business email asking to to be a distributor?
I'm interested in being a distributor for an american company selling
sanitary products for women. On their website they are looking for
distributors outside the U.S.(I live in northern Europe). I'd like to know
about quantites, prices, shipping options and available information
packs or promotional items.
Should I mention something about myself? 
What (specifically) do I write in my first contact with the company?

Hi,
This is just a free comment, not an "answer" to your question.

I suggest that you try to imagine what the company will want to know. 
It is looking for distributors; it wants to know who you are, what
your experience and capabilities are to successfully distribute its
products.
Since the information about new distributors has appeared on a
website, the company may be flooded with responses.  Yours must stand
out immediately as a real prospect.  If the company has asked for
specific information, provide it.

This first contact is like a job application letter:  telling who you
are and why you are the best person for the position.  The company is
going to be sorting out and eliminating hopeless applicants in the
first round, maybe as fast as junk mail is deleted if it gets too many
(which will be its own fault for not having asked for enough
information to discourage such applicants).
If that is the case, it is all the more important that you volunteer
the information that will be important for the decision.  If you are
already distributor for products sold by the same retailers that the
company's would be, mention that, and the name of the producer (but
not if it is a direct competitor of the company, of course).

I (no expert) think it is too early to ask about "quantities, prices
..." (rather like asking about the salary in a job application), but
mentioning your interest in learning about these points in future
communication would suggest that you understand the business.

I hope this is some help, and hope that you get a better answer.

Regards, Myoarin

Thanks a lot for the comment. It actually helped me quite a bit. I
think you're right about not asking about "quantities, prices..." and
such in this first contact.
But I also want to know about the proper language/formalities to use
in writing a business email. English is my third language so I don't
want to make an unintentional bad impression.

Hi,
From what you have written here, I don't think you have to worry about
your English; it is just fine.  Just write the email as a normal
business letter,
"Dear Mr. or Ms xxx:"   if you have a name, or "Dear Sirs:"

If that seems too formal, the recipient will not be offended, knowing
it comes from abroad.  Of course, if you know better than I (I've been
out of business a while), do what you know is more appropriate.

Good luck, Myoarin