Work Smarter, Not Harder!

With today’s tough economy and overall tighter company budgets, it’s no wonder your clients are becoming more demanding and wanting more from you in a shorter turnaround time. With so many balls in the air, and only two hands to catch them all, working with a smart supplier who can truly be a partner to you will make a world of difference.

Let’s face it: Your supplier should make your job easier—not add to your frustration level. Working with a solid supplier will make you more successful by providing you with the tools/products to help build relationships with both new and current clients. As an extension of your team, you’ll need to ensure it has as much “skin in the game” as you do—after all, you are out there selling its products.

So how can you be sure you are working with a solid supplier? Start by asking yourself these three simple questions:

1. Does it have easy-to-use sales and marketing tools available to you?
2. Is it proactively keeping you informed of upcoming opportunities?
3. Does it work with you to resolve any outstanding issues?

If you answered “yes” to all three questions, looks like you’re in good hands. If not, these are criteria every distributor should ask themselves when looking for a supplier. Industry resources that identify top-rated suppliers, such as ASI and SAGE, also prove to be valuable ways in which you can validate how your supplier ranks amongst the others. Have a look at your supplier’s ranking by visiting either of these websites—and remember: the higher its ranking, the more trustworthy it is (as rated by your peers).

So how can you strengthen the bond between you and your current supplier? These four tips might work well in your favor:

1. Ensure your supplier has your current contact information. There’s nothing more irritating than your supplier reaching out to the incorrect phone number or point-of-contact over and over again. Orders may be left unattended for a long period of time as your supplier tries to get a hold of you via your office phone number, rather than your cell phone, as an example. Ensure you clearly communicate who your supplier may contact and the correct method of contact for any correspondence, including upcoming opportunities like specials or promotions, so that you are not missing out on anything important.