The Signs That You’ve Found a Good Supplier That You Can Rely On

Identifying a good business supplier is perhaps one of the biggest factors in ensuring a smooth and efficient business operation. The last thing you want is a supply giving you low-quality items or constantly overshooting deadlines. But how do you know if you’ve found a good supplier to work with? A lot of it comes from experience and gut feeling, but there are some demonstrable behaviors that will tell you that you’ve found a supplier worth keeping in your contacts.

They answer your messages really quickly

A good supplier will always prioritize communication with their clients. If you don’t have to wait long to speak to someone or have your message responded to, then your supplier means business and they’re worth keeping around.

They don’t beat around the bush

Suppliers can sometimes dance around issues with their words or avoid speaking about particular things because they know that they’ve messed up something. But if you have a good supplier, then they’ll be direct with you almost all the time. They don’t have time to waste by mincing words and they respect you enough to tell you how something is, even if they mess something up. So if you value honesty and transparency, find a supplier that isn’t afraid to communicate with you bluntly.

Their products are great

No matter if it’s a grape farmer or bearing manufacturer, great quality products can be a sign of a quality supplier. If you love what they offer you, then you should keep them around. If their product is so good that it practically defines your products, then you can even overlook a bit of tardiness here and there.

They have a strong reputation

Sometimes, working with reputable manufacturers can give your business enough attention to secure contracts with other companies and even get noticed. If the suppliers you work with have a great reputation, then we highly recommend that you keep them around even if you don’t order from them often. Just being associated with them can usually open the door to many opportunities in the future.

They’re a reliable supplier

If your supplier has never missed a deadline and always delivers consistent quality, then it’s a sign that they take their business seriously. Nobody likes working with suppliers that are constantly late, forget items in the order, or refuse to respond to your emails. If you find a reliable supplier that never lets you down, then you should always stay in touch.

They have clear quality control measures

If the products and items you receive from a supplier are always in good shape, then it’s probably because they have great quality control measures. Try to visit their factory or observe their workflow. If they take lots of extra steps to ensure a great product, then it means they take their job seriously and you should keep them around.

So whether you’re starting a small business or a large one, it’s always a good idea to seek out these reliable suppliers because it can mean the difference between a successful long-lasting company and one that fizzes out before it even gets started.