With thousands of distributors of promotional products in the UK, you don’t have to worry about the lack of choice. While having so many options can be great, it can also create some problems. Namely, knowing the difference between good and bad distributors.
If you are looking to do things right, you need to choose your promotional distributor carefully. However, be sure to pick the one that best fits your brand’s needs. The company you consider as your future partner should focus on helping you reach your goals and not on boosting your sales numbers.
Why Should You Stay Away from sales-oriented Promotional Product Distributors?
Many online companies are not customer-oriented. Their only goal is to sell you promotional products, and they don’t care if it helps you promote your brand. These distributors also won’t suggest better options, especially if they cost less.
As you can imagine, this sales-oriented business model benefits neither the buyer nor the seller. On the contrary, the buyers often receive a poor quality product, and then have no choice but to stop working with the promotional company that sold them the items. But how does this type of business philosophy correlate with poor-quality products?
Well, imagine you are looking for notebooks bespoke branded for your special clients. While searching online, you’ll find there are numerous manufacturers on the market. So, how do you know which one to choose?
Picking the best supplier can be tricky since you may not know which manufacturers are reputable. Additionally, you may have trouble distinguishing between high and low-quality products. Afterwhile you may start to question your choices. Are metal travel mugs safe to use, and have they been tested for potentially harmful materials (e.g., heavy metals)? Can you count on the manufacturer to deliver the products within the given deadline? And so on.
A promotional product distributor that doesn’t care about getting you the best product won’t provide you with answers. As a result, you would have to stop relying on your instincts and will probably end up with a subpar product that doesn’t meet your needs.
On the other hand, if you have a reliable and experienced distributor, they could address all your concerns and help you make the best choice for your brand.
5 Ways a Trusted Promotional Products Company Helps You Save Time and Money
1. The Company Has Valuable Experience
A promotional product distributor gains valuable experience from dealing with customers and product manufacturers. A majority of it will hopefully come from positive situations, but having negative experiences is also good. By combining the two, your distributor will learn how to approach various problems, what to watch out for, and, in turn, give you the best advice.
There are a lot of suppliers that offer mediocre products, and promotional product companies with little to no experience can’t warn you which ones to avoid. But if you work with a seasoned company, you can rest assured that you won’t have such a problem.
2. They Know What’s Hot
Sometimes you may reach a period when you will struggle with product ideas for an upcoming promotional event. You may find yourself scouring the internet and coming up with nothing. In this situation, having a great promotional company can help immensely. Their job is to keep up with all the new trends and know what is hot on the market. Without having to ask, they will offer you plenty of suggestions to choose from.
3. They Can Conduct Product Research for You
Just like they can suggest suitable choices, an excellent promotional company can narrow down your choices.
Suppose you are looking for a promotional notepad, and you can’t decide which one to get — after all, there are thousands of options. A reliable distributor can do the research for you, and it won’t require a lot of time. After a quick look through their database, the distributor will come up with a couple of notepads they think the best suit your brand.
4. They Have Strong Relationships in the Business
Working with a distributor that has strong relationships in the promo world can do you a whole lot of good. Most notably, you may get your products faster than most competitors.
For example, you might need your products delivered in five days instead of the usual seven. If your distributor has a tight relationship with the supplier, they can talk to the manufacturer and get your products delivered within the deadline. This can come in handy when you’re in a hurry, so make sure you choose a well-connected distributor.
5. They Guarantee Accountability
When you work with a trustworthy promotional product company, you can be sure that they will own up to their mistakes. If they do make one, your partner won’t hesitate to fix the problem. This is something you won’t get from a cheap company you find online. Such companies don’t invest time into dealing with individual customers to ensure the best buying experience. They solely worry about their sales and move on to the next customer.
Final Thoughts
Finding a reliable promotional product distributor can be crucial for your business. And yes, while you have so many options to choose from, it can be hard to pick the best one for you. But don’t let that discourage you. Keep searching until you find the company you think fits your brand because a good partnership can make all the difference in the world.