You can start from modest dreams that turn into a stark reality. Maybe you have a great product, but not necessarily the skills in which to distribute it.
But now it’s got to the point where the stars have aligned and there’s so much demand for your product that you don’t know where to begin.
What are the essentials that we need to bear in mind?
Working With The Suppliers
The right supplier is integral. Finding the right one is a bit like a needle in a haystack.
When looking for the right supplier, it can be tempting to go for the cheaper option. And if they are new, you could be playing with fire.
It’s far better to go for a quality supplier, but also think about their stature in relation to the size of your business. If you’re a smaller company, they may not place you as an important client in their roster, meaning that you could very easily be left in the lurch.
The right supplier isn’t just about calling them up and getting the raw materials, but it’s about developing a symbiotic relationship that will benefit both sides.
There may be times when you’re not able to pay right away, and if you have a good working relationship with them, it means you’ll be able to navigate a few hairy issues!
Learning To Streamline Your Processes
In one respect, it’s common sense, but if you don’t get into the habit of fine-tuning each process, you could find yourself spending above and beyond what you can afford.
Even from a practical sense, ensuring that the right suppliers and distributors have a working knowledge of your streamlined process will make for a better relationship.
When you think about the idea of distribution as a whole, there can be aspects that we greatly underestimate, like fleet safety and understaffing issues at their end.
A lot of businesses don’t care about these things, but it makes for a far better relationship with your suppliers and distributors if you undertake some form of empathy now and again.
But from your perception, streamlining your processes will endear them to you as well. It’s not just about making it cheaper, but it’s making life easier for everyone concerned.
Keep Communicating!
It’s not just about the suppliers and the distributors, but it’s about having an e-commerce system that’s foolproof. You need to have all bases covered, especially as customers want an item delivered within 24 hours.
Because if you are looking to distribute products on a large scale, you will need to up your customer service to match.
And if there are problems, communicating this directly with the customer can go one of two ways; they can take their custom elsewhere, or they could be happy to wait an extra 24 hours.
Communication is key, but it’s just common sense!
It can be a big headache distributing products on a large scale, especially if you’re used to such modest surroundings. A small business that begins to upscale can find itself coming head-to-head with a lot of massive problems so get on the road to it as soon as possible.
