SME News Q4 2018

SME NEWS / Q4 2018 55 , Jane Campbell is the Founder andManaging Director of PCL Corporatewear, one of the country’s leading suppliers of corporate clothing. Jane, who started the business 25 years ago fromher kitchen table, is an award-winning entrepreneur who is passionate about providing excellent customer service. How to Choose the Right Supplier for your SME Choosing the right suppliers for your SME From building a business plan to accessing funds and building relationships with clients, there’s a wealth of quality information available to SMEs both online and from support organisations. However, one of the things which is often overlooked, is the importance of choosing the right suppliers. Picking the right suppliers means that you will be equipped to deliver a better service to your customers and can free up time to focus on service and business growth. As the Managing Director of a corporate clothing company which supplies to businesses of all shapes and sizes across the country, an important part of my role involves visiting customers regularly to ensure we are performing to their expectations and meeting their needs. This has helped me to gain an insight into the complex needs of SMEs when it comes to choosing suppliers as many SMEs are time poor and cost-conscious. When choosing a supplier, it may be tempting to go with the cheapest option however focusing only on price can be a mistake so it’s important to take other selection criteria into account. Alignment with culture and values As SMEs look to grow their operations, it’s vital to pick suppliers who have the same values and share their vision for the future, especially if their products or services are a vital component of your operation. If your values are aligned and you treat each other as partners, both businesses will experience higher success rates, decreased risks and enhanced collaboration and innovation. Market knowledge If you’re looking for a provider, it’s perfectly understandable for a small business owner not to be an expert in that field which is why you need to focus on finding suppliers who are experienced, have been in business a long time and have enough resources and systems in place to make sure they can still deliver if any problems arise. This is especially important if you are entering into a long-term contract with a supplier or if they are the only supplier of a particular item or service which is essential for your business. Ask to see testimonials from current and past clients and speak to some of them if possible. They are there for you It’s important to work with suppliers who will keep in touch with you to find out what needs you have and they how they can offer you a better service. A good supplier will provide you with a dedicated account manager who will be able to provide you with all the information you need at all times. We know from experience that our clients appreciate the fact that they have dedicated account manager who knows them well and is familiar with their needs and are aware of the inner workings of their industry. A good supplier will be happy to engage with you and tailor their service and products to suit your business needs. A strong relationship between you and your supplier benefits everyone. If your suppliers acknowledge that your business is important to them, they’ll likely make every effort to provide the best service possible. Service disrupted! The last thing you need when you’re running a fast-paced small business is to spend time and effort choosing a specific product or service only for it to be discontinued or unavailable for a long time. It may sound like a small detail but it can be frustrating, especially when it affects the quality of your work. Before entering into a contract or putting an order through, double- check with your supplier that there will be ongoing availability and you will be able to quickly replicate your order without having to worry about finding a suitable alternative. Don’t forget to monitor them Even the most reliable supplier can occasionally slip up so you need to ensure that you maintain contact and they offer you regular reports on their performance. Choosing a supplier with a reporting system in place will help you keep connected with them and their work and you can make sure that they’re up to date with everything at a glance. This will help you make quick and informed decisions when it comes to contract renewals or upgrades and will help save you money and time in the long-run. While the priorities for each individual company can vary greatly, it is clear that no SME should judge a provider on price alone. Following these guidelines will enable you to successfully select suppliers who can support your business requirements by delivering goods and services you need on time and within budget which in turn will help you to improve your productivity and ensure you can provide your customers with a seamless service.