Large retail companies have "buyers" or "merchants". You want to contact them. Product samples, schedule calls, and be prepared for face-to-face meetings which should be Goal #1 (that's where you will close the deal). If you don't already know - Ask them how they view their average Consumer, then prove to them why those Consumers will love your product.
Make the risk as low as possible for them. Fund the inventory, fund the advertising, etc. - these are things they will try and negotiate. In the end, business is business. If they think their Consumer may want your product and the risk of trying it out is low, they may just move forward.
Bonus:
The chain typically goes like "assistant", "associate", "buyer", "manager", "vp" jump in the middle (or lower if you need to) and work your way up.
EDIT: Also there are Vendor Rep companies that have these relationships. This may be something you want to consider.
Make the risk as low as possible for them. Fund the inventory, fund the advertising, etc. - these are things they will try and negotiate. In the end, business is business. If they think their Consumer may want your product and the risk of trying it out is low, they may just move forward.
Bonus: The chain typically goes like "assistant", "associate", "buyer", "manager", "vp" jump in the middle (or lower if you need to) and work your way up.
EDIT: Also there are Vendor Rep companies that have these relationships. This may be something you want to consider.