You need a kid that will work on commission.
10% of sales and a buttload of footwork. Sell the cds on consignment
(which means you get paid when the record store gets paid and if they don't sell
them you take them back) at first. You've got to involve someone who will
work their ass off and smile and smile and smile. Otherwise you'll get
stiffed, cds will vanish, and the record stores will hate your
label.
If you do mail order, though, just be sure to only
do one release at a time. As your catalogue increases you should be able
to increase the size of your "shipping department" so they won't screw up the
process.
I worked in the music retail biz for many many
years and I've got a pretty good understanding of how to make it work
properly.* I wish I lived over there or I'd be knocking on your studio
door, munching on a chicken leg, ready to make it work. Feel free to
e-mail me for long-winded advice at any time. I bet I could've made Badorb
turn a profit and run smoothly but they didn't ask me to. :)
Alan Evil
*Unfortunately I can't figure out how to get money
for my own music but that's a whole different story. Possibly it's because
I suck...