[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner el_class=”container”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Whether your usual suppliers are your best mates or whether you only really deal with them when you need something, building a good relationship with your suppliers is key. Although you\u2019re their customer, you still need them to provide the resources to get the job done so it\u2019s important to remember that it\u2019s a two-way street.<\/span><\/p>\n

So how can you make sure you\u2019re keeping your supplier relationships on point?<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow their processes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every supplier will have a certain way in which they do things. Some might be happy with you taking the goods on the spot and sending an invoice later, and some might want you to pay when you collect. Whatever their process is, it\u2019s important that you respect it. You know that it\u2019s not ideal if your clients don\u2019t abide by your processes and payment terms, so make sure you\u2019re not being one of <\/span>those<\/span><\/i> clients for your suppliers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep the communication open<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you want the most out of your supplier relationships, communication is key. If you struggle to follow their processes because they\u2019re a bit too clunky or they don\u2019t allow enough flexibility, let them know. Get together over a coffee, or invite them round for a barbie at yours – once you build the rapport, they\u2019ll be more likely to communicate well with you and you might even get a decent favour from them every now and then!<\/span><\/p>\n

If they\u2019re good, stay loyal<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although times might be tough and you\u2019re probably just looking for the cheapest deal, remember that the cheapest isn\u2019t always the best. If you\u2019ve been with a particular supplier for years and you suddenly cut and run to something cheaper, it\u2019s not a good look and you could burn bridges when you need them later on. If you\u2019ve got a good relationship with your supplier, you can always have the conversation and see if there are any loyalty discounts they can offer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Get some mutual referrals going<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re really happy with your supplier, make sure you refer new business to them to show your appreciation. Building up this kind of goodwill will definitely boost your relationship. You\u2019ll be helping them out, as well as any of your mates who are looking for a new supplier – plus you might get a few referrals from your supplier in return. It\u2019s all about those mutual benefits and win-win situations!\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”related-post”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Related articles” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%2313143e” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”title my-5″][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”4″ element_width=”3″ orderby=”rand” item=”918″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1598911653077-1896614f-abf8-9″ el_class=”related-posts mx-auto mt-3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner el_class=”container”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Whether your usual suppliers are your best mates or whether you only really deal with them when you need something, building a good relationship with your suppliers is key. Although you\u2019re their customer, you still need them to provide the resources to get the job done so it\u2019s important to remember that it\u2019s a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3791,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n