congratulations ella…i wish you all the best in the challenges you face…assuming you need to do this on the cheap, i would start local in your brand campaign…get your enterprise featured in your local newspaper business sections…place some product in local shops which fit your demo graphic…place some product with local tv personalities…get your product featured in blogs…i currently have access to a data base which may list the names of buyers and company execs you want to contact…if you send me a pm with the company names and locations (if known), i will see what i can find out for you.
For the big picture, I recommend Marc Gobe’s book “Emotional Branding”, also the best overview Branding book I have ever come across, “Brand Warfare” by David Del’Asandro.
to get some exposure go to trade shows like MAGIC, ASR (Action Sports Retailer) and OR (Outdoor Retailer) (depending on the product niche). ASR and OR are very user/activity specific, MAGIC is very broad with the buyers that attend. There are many other regional shows all around the US and all over the world, for that manner.
I am in the apparel business and we have had many companies/buyers approach us just in passing which we have built into long lasing customers.
If you get into a show check out with the company that runs the show, many times they have daily newsletters (I know OR does for sure) that will sometimes highlight products. Talk to them to find out how to get into thier publications, also ad placements in the trade show guides and booth directories.
It’s not an actual book on branding, but “The Tipping Point” has a great story about how Hush Puppies got hip again without spending a dime on branding.