Habit 1
Pushing for an order before understanding your needs
Has the supplier asked about your market, customer, sales channel and the product details that matter?
How do I choose the right outdoor product supplier?
Start with the product family, the way it will be sold, the questions your market requires and the evidence you need before committing. The video offers a supplier-selection framework; it cannot establish a supplier's current suitability for every product or order.
A related video answer
See the part of the process that matters here
The video is a useful starting point. The answer still depends on the item and order you are planning.
Before you compare suppliers
Six habits to question before confirming an order
From the video. Use each question with any supplier you are comparing, including us.
Habit 2
Saying yes before checking the details
Which answers are confirmed, and which still need checking?
Habit 3
Sending everything instead of what is relevant
Can the offer be narrowed to the categories and models that fit your range?
Habit 4
Talking only about low price
How do packaging, carton information, labels, manuals, documents and timing affect the offer?
Habit 5
Leaving you to check every detail alone
Will the supplier help list what needs confirmation for each product in the range or shipment?
Habit 6
Going quiet when something changes
If something changes, will you hear what changed, why, which products are affected and what comes next?
What this answer depends on
Put the question next to the order
A useful comparison is specific: use the same product links, channel, market requirements and confirmation questions when discussing a prospective supplier.
- Product links or a first shortlist
- Market and sales channel
- The product, packing, document or order points you need to verify
Bring this into the brief
Start with the detail that changes the answer
Send the product link or photo, your market and the point you need to confirm. We can then discuss the selected item instead of giving a catalogue-wide answer.