How Do You Choose The Right Supplier?

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How do you choose promotional products suppliers? Do you go by price? What about service? Do you get recommendations?

And what makes a really good supplier? What do you do if a supplier makes a mistake? Are there a set of standards that all suppliers should adhere to?

With thousands of suppliers in the promotional products industry and new ones entering every day, how can you make the best choice? These days, many suppliers have the same or similar products making it even more challenging, especially if you’re a novice.

Choosing the right supplier every time is crucial to your success as a promotional products consultant. Make a mistake here and you can lose valuable customers and revenue!

Here are some guidelines to start with for choosing suppliers wisely:

• How responsive are they? How quickly do they return your calls?
• Can the customer service department answer your questions easily?
• Do they offer quality and event day guarantees?
• Do they offer case histories?
• Do they have a website with ideas for selling their products?
• How committed are they to the industry?
• Do they have an outside rep to call on you?
• Do they subscribe to ethical business practices?
• What do others in the industry say about them?
• How quickly can you get samples?
• What is their procedure for handling problems on orders?
• Do they have inventory when you need it?

The best suppliers are partners in your success. The more wisely you choose, the more money you’ll make! What do you think? How do you select suppliers? What criteria do you use? What makes a great supplier? Please post your thoughts in the comments box below blog post.

© 2013 Rosalie Marcus

Want expert help growing your promotional products business?  Click the link to preview the programs and products created to quickly and easily grow your promotional products sales. 

Not sure which program or product is right for you? Contact Rosalie for a brief, no obligation, personal consultation. Reach her at Rosalie@promobizcoach.com

Rosalie Marcus, The Promo Biz Coach ™ is a promotional products business expert, coach and speaker. Combining her skills and years of experience in promotional sales, she helps her clients sell more at higher profit margins and dramatically increase their incomes! Get a FREE special report: 10 Big Mistakes Promotional Professionals Make and How to Avoid Them and a FREE Skyrocket Your Sales audio download at http://www.promobizcoach.com. 

Reach her at Rosalie@promobizcoach.com or 215-572-6766.

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