Learn to Contact Suppliers and Manufacturers Easily
To guarantee productivity and ensure ease in carrying out business, every business person involved in the distribution and organization of finished goods must understand the principle of equating demand with commensurate supply. In doing this, it is necessary that both ends of the spectrum remain balanced but it is more important that as the business scales the source of supply and demand continue to expand.
In trying to maintain a grip on the business’ market share a business owner must understand that prompt supply of goods and services are critical to development. To guarantee this, it is important that suppliers and manufacturers of goods can be easily accessed and that satisfaction is attained for the manufacturer, distributor and customers.
As a new business, whether you are into retailing or wholesaling, the drop shipping method will be beneficial to your business and you can choose a format that suits your business out of the various types of drop shipping that exist.
A sustainable way to ensure that you stay in business is to find valid and reputable suppliers and manufacturers/wholesalers that you can resell their products to your customers easily.
Below, we have put together some of the things to consider and put into practice as a business owner looking for quality suppliers and manufacturers:
Recognize Your Market:
The first step to take before searching out new suppliers and manufacturers as a business owner is to understand your target market. You must recognize and identify your consumers/customers, identification in this sense takes two forms;
- You must single out your target market and understand their needs
- You must also try to be associated with or identify with them and try to solve their problems.
By having a correct knowledge of who your consumer is, you can stay on course with their needs and track your competitors. Knowing your customer can also help you correctly picture who your supplier is/will be.
Who Is a Supplier?
This term refers to an individual or organization (as the case may be) that provides another with required goods and services necessary for their business. The supplier also serves as a source of information on important issues regarding your business including market trends, new product releases, competition, opportunities and new potential customers.
Having a trusted supplier is pivotal to business success because as a good relationship with a supplier is fostered, the chances of efficiency and business growth rise proportionately. While the thought of securing the services of a good supplier may seem difficult, it is necessary and can be achieved with success and ease if done effectively.
There are generally two main classifications for suppliers and these are;
- Manufacturers: These are the main producers of a product, they usually work closely with salespeople with the of monetizing and benefiting from the production process.
- Distributors: This group act as wholesalers or “middlemen” in the process, their job description involves buying the goods in large quantities and reselling to retailers or at times – direct customers.
To find out more about the intricacies of suppliers, you can check here
Work with Recommendation
As a new player in the field, if you do not personally know suppliers you can leverage the knowledge and recommendations of others or decide to work with big brands and names in the industry.
This move is perhaps one of the safest for a beginner because the recommendations make them easier to find and act as a testimony of their services, it is easier to find a supplier with integrity and accountability based on recommendations than on personal experiences and searches which might take a lot of time and be risky for the business.
To find recommendations, you can reach out to friends or search for reviews (such as; the top manufacturing cities in china) both online and offline. It is also important that you survey the intended supplier to see if their goals match yours.
Assess Work Ethics
In surveying a potential supplier, certain qualities should be examined and certain questions asked, in order to get a correct picture of who the supplier is and what they stand for. Some of the things to look out for when picking a supplier are their work ethics some of which include:
- Structure and Organisation: Every good manufacturer or distributor must be well organized and have proper structures. Also, you must be on the lookout for bureaucracy as it may signify delay in decision making and processes.
- Efficiency and Time Management: A good supplier must be proactive, efficient and must be able to accomplish tasks within a given time. It is important that you stay on the lookout for time wasters and unproductive forces.
- Commitment and Support: It is equally important that whoever you choose to do business must be dedicated to the cause and not be distracted by unimportant issues. Full support and commitment on the part of the suppliers and manufacturers are non-negotiable as they will dictate the success of the business.
Contact Manufacturers or Distributors
Once you have a clear idea of what you want and who you want to provide it with, you can move on and contact them for business. A simple way to do this is to directly contact them and ask if they have a list of service providers/distributors and are willing to expand the list. This gives you a sketch of the people with who you will be working.
Draft a Proposal
If you are ambitious and would like to work with major brands nationally or internationally, it is wise to have a proposal outlined for the supplier. This helps to clarify your position and makes you look very professional.
Your proposal should contain information as to who you are, what you do and how they are relevant to what you do.
Network and Connect with More People
By interacting with more people, attending events, fairs or even merely spreading the word, you can reach more suppliers. Trade shows, fairs and exhibitions are a major way to access popular brands, not only do these fairs serve as a means of networking but they can also provide more information on important issues in your field.
Employ the Internet
By using search engines and exploring the internet you can stay up to date on products and relevant issues. If you have a niche, you can easily identify, contact and keep up with suppliers for your business. You can also send and receive emails from them or contact them through their social media platforms.
Finally, it is important that you clearly define your position and goals for your business. This will aid you in no small way when reaching out to suppliers and manufacturers.
Tolu Omogunle is a writer and journalist, you can view reach via his Twitter: twitter.com/@toluomogunle
