Continental Sales & Marketing

What Continental Sales & Marketing does

Continental Sales & Marketing (CSM) is a privately held national sales organization and strategic business partner founded in 1973 by Steven Scheiner and headquartered in San Leandro, California. The company began as a west coast representative agency serving electrical distribution and wholesale channels and has since expanded into a multi-channel platform covering big box retail, hardware and co-op buying groups, wholesale and distribution, e-commerce, value and grocery retail, and specialty retailers. CSM operates 11 offices across the United States (Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, Phoenix, Chicago, Portland, Eau Claire, San Diego, Los Angeles, Memphis, and Seattle) and serves supplier partners through sales representation, customer service, merchandising (via its Crossroad Services/CSI sub-brand, established 1979), utility program implementation, and trade-show and digital marketing support.

CSM generates revenue through three primary streams: sales commissions and agency fees from supplier partners for sales representation; 3PL and warehousing services from a 65,000 square foot facility located less than 10 miles from the Port of Oakland; and fees for customer service operations including special orders, order processing, technical support, data management, and SKU maintenance. The company's core technology is a cloud-based warehouse and inventory management system reportedly operating at under 0.02% error rate, supporting order management, pick and pack, cross-docking, and transportation management. CSM's go-to-market combines enterprise field sales calling on major retailers and distributors with an inside sales team handling order processing, technical support, and account reconciliation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based, tailored to individual supplier partner requirements. The company has received repeat industry recognition, including 2024 Home Depot Innovation Award, 2024 Ace Vendor of the Show, 2022 Ace Vendor of the Year, and 2022 Do it Best Vendor of the Year. CSM has no public ticker, no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no documented M&A activity.

Name

Continental Sales & Marketing

Legal name

Continental Sales & Marketing, Inc.

Website

https://csmlink.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Continental Sales & Marketing (CSM) is a privately held, 49-year-old national sales organization that provides sales representation, 3PL warehousing, customer service, merchandising, and utility program services to supplier partners across big box, hardware, wholesale, e-commerce, grocery, and specialty retail channels in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Leandro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sales Commission and Agency Fees: As a national sales organization and sales agency, CSM generates revenue through commissions and agency fees from supplier partners for sales representation services across various retail channels.
2. 3PL and Warehousing Services: Revenue from third-party logistics and warehouse management services provided to supplier partners in their 65,000 square foot facility near the Port of Oakland.
3. Customer Service and Support Services: Fees for customer service operations including special orders, job quotations, order processing, technical support, data management, and SKU maintenance.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Continental Sales & Marketing operates as a national sales agency and strategic business partner for consumer goods suppliers. The company delivers five integrated service lines: field sales representation, customer service operations, 65,000-square-foot warehousing and third-party logistics, utility program design and administration, and in-store merchandising through its Crossroad Services sub-brand. These services cover Big Box, Hardware, Wholesale, E-Commerce, Grocery, and Specialty retail channels across the United States.

Product overview

Continental Sales & Marketing (CSM) is a nationally recognized multifaceted strategic sales and business partner with over 49 years of experience. The company operates as a unified platform offering Sales, Customer Service, Warehousing & 3rd Party Logistics, Utility Services, and Merchandising through its sub-brand Crossroad Services (CSI). These services work together to provide end-to-end support for supplier partners, from national sales execution and customer support to warehousing, logistics, and retail merchandising, covering channels including Big Box, Hardware, Wholesale, E-Commerce, Grocery, and Specialty retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sales National sales organization offering market intelligence, product line review preparation, program and price negotiations, trade show support, direct marketing, promotions, SEO, competitive analysis, assortment analysis, and product training services to consumer goods supplier partners.
• Customer Service Comprehensive customer support including special order and job quotations, data and information management, technical support, SKU setup and maintenance, order processing and expediting, returns and credits processing, and account reconciliation for supplier partners.
• Warehousing & 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) 65,000 square feet of warehouse space located less than 10 miles from the Port of Oakland, offering cloud-based warehouse and inventory management, order management, pick and pack, re-pack and assembly, cross-docking, and labor and transportation management services for supplier partners with a warehouse error rate under 0.02%.
• Utility Services Design, implementation, and administration of commercial and retail utility programs, driving incremental sales in a cost-effective manner for utility partners.
• Crossroad Services Merchandising (CSI) In-store service, resets, and project management solutions for the home improvement industry delivered through the Crossroad Services (CSI) sub-brand, providing merchandising service solutions to complement CSM's sales and marketing efforts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Error rate < 0.02%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• WIS International: Provider of retail services including inventory counting, merchandising, and supply chain solutions — adjacent but comparable in offering integrated retail services to suppliers and retailers.
• Crossmark: Sales, marketing, and retail services firm delivering in-store execution, category solutions, and shopper marketing — closely mirrors CSM's multi-channel service model across Big Box, grocery, and specialty retail.
• Anderson Merchandisers: Retail merchandising and product distribution services for mass, drug, and grocery channels — comparable to CSM's merchandising and wholesale distribution capabilities.
• The Mars Agency: Marketing services agency with retail promotion, shopper marketing, and category management capabilities — overlaps with CSM's marketing communications and promotional programs.
• Acosta: National sales and marketing agency providing retail services, category management, and in-store execution for CPG and consumer goods suppliers — directly comparable to CSM's national sales organization model.
• Premium Retail Services: Specialty retail services provider focused on in-store merchandising, resets, and product demos for consumer brands — comparable to CSM's Crossroad Services merchandising arm.
• Advantage Solutions: The largest US sales and marketing services agency serving CPG brands and retailers, with in-store merchandising, category management, and consumer engagement — the closest direct comparable to CSM's rep agency business.

Broad incumbents

• SRS Distribution: National building products distributor serving roofing, hardware, and home improvement channels — comparable to CSM's historical electrical distribution and hardware co-op focus area.
• XPO Logistics: Major national 3PL and contract logistics provider with warehousing, distribution, and supply chain services — a broader incumbent in the same warehousing/3PL segment where CSM competes.
• DHL Supply Chain: Global contract logistics and 3PL provider with extensive warehousing and distribution services — a scaled incumbent whose 3PL offering overlaps with CSM's 65,000 sq ft Oakland operation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Continental Sales & Marketing