subject: The Importance Of Procuring Samples From Suppliers [print this page] In the current business scenario, excellence in providing customer care services is what drives businesses toward greater heights of success. Customer satisfaction should be the number one priority of any business. In-depth information about the products that you sell can help satisfy all queries that are bound to be raised before a business deal is closed successfully. This is where ordering samples from your supplier assumes prime importance.
Committing supplies of an assumed quality or grade to your customers can be a highly risky thing to do, especially when there are no samples to judge their standards. If they are delivered to the clients based on assumptions and assurances of the suppliers, it does not constitute sound and ethical business practices. Providing and satisfying your customers exact specifications and quality requirements is what will bring in more business and establish your reputation in the competitive market.
Research The Samples Before You Ship Your Orders
It is important to order samples from your suppliers before committing to your clients so that you have adequate time to test and analyze them before shipping. It is pertinent to note that most of the products are researched and tested before they are made available for public consumption. However, research from your end is still necessary to ensure that they meet the exact macro level needs that are particular to your clients specifications.
Another proactive way of doing it is to ask your suppliers to send across sample cases of a new product. You can then send these samples to your customer base for approval. This will ensure that you have a ready made market for the new products before you order your first container of goods. It will also act as a good market research exercise to determine the acceptance of the new product in the market. This can work to the perfect advantage of all parties concerned, including your suppliers and customers.
It Helps To Get Samples From Multiple Suppliers
Having a trusted supplier is no guarantee that your clients will get the products that meets their requirements. Most of the suppliers do not test the products or undertake any research either because of time constraints or due to lack of resources. Others may just sell anything that comes to them because they do not care much for long term commitments or building relationships.
It is quite possible that you might become a victim of their apathy. Obtaining samples beforehand will help you judge the potential benefits that the product can provide to your customers. It will give you the confidence to make a firm commitment and also make suggestions that can help your customers use or market the product in a better way.
When there are multiple suppliers of the same product, as is often the case, it is a good idea to get samples from each one of them to decide which is best placed to meet your business demands. Stocking brands of different suppliers can also be beneficial but they must be researched and analyzed for performance before you order them in bulk. Manufacturers and suppliers usually have no issues providing samples as they are aware of the bulk business potential that such sampling can bring in for them.
There is a need to be proactive in obtaining samples from suppliers. Taking the initiative to test and evaluate them can have their own long term benefits by way of offering better customer service to your clients and improving the business prospects of your company.
