Actually there are other options. The major one is to go ahead and use what are referred to as either Manufacturers Representatives or Manufacturers Agents. These are either individauls or firms that, rather than work for a single company, sell products for as many as possibly 50 different companies. They generally stay within a single market, or a couple of related markets.

In your case, they may sell to garden centers and also hardware stores, possibly paint spe******t and automotive, as well.

They seldom represent competing lines, unless they are in different price ranges. A hardware rep might sell for a ladder company, a spray paint equipment company, a hand tool line, maybe garden tools like hoes and rakes, possibly a couple of areosol chemical lines, spray paint, etc.

Learn more about mfg. reps by simply googling manufacturers representatives - you'll find a lot of info and possibly several reps to work with. Most are state or regionally aligned. NYC may have half a dozen with the same firm, but generally there will be one or two "men" in any given state.