When you have a business, your suppliers are an essential part of the organization. If they don’t supply you with your product, you have nothing to give your customers! Of course, there are a lot of suppliers out there. How do you know what supplier is the best one for you? Here are 4 tips to help your business get the best supplier.
Do Your Research
You need to go to multiple different suppliers to see who can get you the best deal. Remember, the cheapest option is not always the best deal. Don’t be afraid to negotiate or bring up other deals you received to see if you can get the price down a bit. It is business, after all.
The best thing to do is look into your potential suppliers before making a selection. Look into how look each supplier has been in business. You want a supplier who has been in business a long time, because that shows they’ve had enough success to stick around. You also want to look into their reputation. Read reviews and talk to other people in the industry to see who has a records of keeping their clients happy.
Think Long-term
Changing suppliers can be a complete mess. You don’t want to do it too often. Therefore, when you find a supplier, you need to find a supplier who will be able to accommodate your relationship long-term. If you plan to place larger orders in the future, are they able to keep up with that? Could you possibly get discounts every year you’re with the company? Look at your potential suppliers and how they can benefit you in the long run.
Location, Location, Location
A good supplier should be close to you. The closer you are, the less it will cost to ship you your goods. Not only will it get to you cheaper, it will get to you more quickly. As you know, people want their goods yesterday, so quick delivery from the supplier is key. Also, if they are close enough, it’s good to have a face-to-face relationship with your supplier. Many people take a face-to-face relationship more seriously. It’s also way more fun to negotiate over dinner than over e-mail.
Change If It’s Necessary
You can do all the right research at first and still end up with a less than adequate supplier. Do not feel stuck if this happens. Simply address the issue with your supplier in a professional manner. If the problem doesn’t change, then you need to go to someone else who won’t disappoint you (and your customers). Some things that should never be acceptable include late deliveries, deliveries with the wrong product, and deliveries with broken product. You also don’t have to deal with outrageous prices when someone else will give you a better price. Sometimes business requires change, so don’t be afraid to do just that.
For example, if you do in-house production and need basket strainers to guarantee the highest quality products, regularly check into suppliers in the industry. You may find an even better basket strainer supplier than the one you have now. This will help improve your products.
Running a business is a great way to make money independently, but you have a lot of work to do. One of the most important parts of your job is picking the right supplier.
