A conversation with a Czech retailer is easier to move forward when the buyer can see where your product fits, what it will cost to stock and how you will keep it available. The 2026 Czech Retail Days programme offers a starting point for preparing those conversations.
Czech Retail Days ran on 5–6 November 2026 in Prague. Cubex Centre hosted the conference programme on 5 November. The second day was set aside for visits to retail and logistics sites outside the venue. The programme included a Business Arena for supplier presentations and an evening Retail Business Mixer for retailers, manufacturers and distributors. Official event overview · Cubex event listing
For a Polish manufacturer or another international supplier, the programme is still useful after the event. It shows which parts of retail are worth exploring and gives you better questions to ask when you approach a buyer, distributor or logistics partner.
What the programme tells a prospective supplier
The executive panel listed representatives from Tesco Stores CR, Notino, LPP Czech Republic and CPI Property Group. It covered how retailers connect stores, e-commerce, operations and customer service. The last-mile panel listed GLS Czech Republic, Balíkovna, Packeta, APEK and Datart, with delivery choices and customer convenience on the agenda. The programme also listed visits to a fashion distribution centre, a Billa store and several Prague shops. Official programme and excursion details
These topics point to three useful lines of enquiry. A category buyer can tell you where an offer would fit in the range. An e-commerce operator can explain what product data, imagery and customer support it needs. A logistics partner can help you assess whether your delivery and returns plan will work at the volumes you expect.
The programme is a useful map of the market. When you identify a company worth approaching, look for the person responsible for your category or channel and make the proposal specific to their role.
Pick the first sales route
For a consumer brand, there are several ways to test Czech demand. A specialist retailer may give you direct feedback about the product and its place on the shelf. A distributor may already serve the stores you want to reach and be able to handle stock and local communication. An e-shop or marketplace may give you a way to test listings, delivery and returns before proposing a wider range.
Imagine a Polish homeware manufacturer selling modular storage products. It could start with two sizes that suit a Czech homeware retailer’s current range. The meeting then has a concrete subject. The buyer can compare the products with what they already stock, see how the packaging fits on the shelf and ask when the next shipment could arrive. The supplier can find out what would make a small trial worthwhile for both sides.
Bring one page a buyer can forward
A useful brief lets the buyer share the proposal internally and gives the operations team enough detail to ask the next questions. Include the information that matters for the route you have chosen.
| Bring to the meeting | What to put on the page |
|---|---|
| A short product selection | Start with two or three products, who buys them and where they would fit. Include clear photos, dimensions and a sample if it helps explain the product. |
| A commercial proposal | Give a wholesale price, currency, minimum order and what the price covers. Explain whether delivery is included and how long the terms are valid. |
| A fulfilment plan | State where the stock is, the normal lead time and who handles replenishment, damaged goods and returns. Give the buyer one contact for operational questions. |
| Local materials | Bring a short Czech product sheet. List the packaging, instructions, images and product data you already have, with an owner and a date for any items still being prepared. |
| A first trial | Propose a small range or one channel. Agree how you will review sales, availability, returns and the decision to extend the trial. |
For a meeting in Czechia, a clear Czech summary is useful even if the conversation starts in English. The 2026 programme specified Czech-speaking guides for several excursions. For a future edition, check the language of the sessions or visits you plan to join and ask the organiser about Business Arena participation before arranging travel. Programme and language notes · Organiser’s contacts
Turn a conversation into a next step
If you met someone at Czech Retail Days, follow up with the item you discussed. Send the samples, a short offer or the product data they asked for. Include a specific next step, such as reviewing two products with their category manager or agreeing delivery and returns arrangements for a trial.
If you missed the event, use the same approach. Build a short list of companies based on the product and channel you want to test. For each, write down why the offer fits its range, which role should see it and what you would like to learn from the first conversation. A useful first meeting can end with a request for samples, an introduction to a buyer or a clear explanation of what the retailer would need to see before considering a trial.
For broader context on the commercial relationship between the two countries, see Poland and Czechia: business numbers and market entry.
How Kodo can help
Kodo helps international suppliers prepare their first Czech retail conversations. We can review the local market and your offer, map suitable retailers or distributors, prepare Czech materials and help coordinate the steps from an initial meeting to a workable pilot. Czech market entry with Kodo
Tell us which product you want to introduce, what has worked in your home market and what kind of Czech partner you are looking for. We can help you decide where to start. Discuss your Czech retail plans with Kodo