According to Experienced Exporters, What Is the Only Effective Way

According to experienced exporters, what is the only effective way to select a middleman?

A) Conduct a background check on all the distributors available in the target market.
B) Issue a request-for-proposal to all distributors in the target market and evaluate their responses.
C) Consult other manufacturers of similar products and select the distributor recommended by them.
D) Consult trade organizations and select the distributor recommended by them.
E) Talk personally to ultimate consumers to find whom they consider to be the best distributors.