By Jackie Camacho-Ruiz
JJR is entering its 13th year in business and I can honestly say I would not be where I am today without building vendor relationships that truly work. A s an agency owner, I work with a vast number of vendors daily, including creatives videographers, photographers and animators as well as fulfillment vendors such as printers and mailers. The majority have been with me for many years and this has not happened by accident.
I choose my vendors carefully. I did so from the day I opened my doors and some have been with me that long! Entrepreneurs, new and seasoned, hope to find those reliable, strategic partners who not only help them succeed but help them to grow and thrive also.
Building vendor relationships takes time and effort. But it’s first important to identify vendors whose vision aligns with yours and who can help elevate, rather than encumber, your business. Here are some questions to ask yourself when you dive into a relationship with a vendor…
Does the vendor do quality work? Review their sample work carefully and gather solid recommendations and referrals before hiring a new vendor. Doing so can ensure you find someone that can do your work to the level of quality you expect. Sometimes outsourcing isn’t worth it if you cannot find a vendor who can do it as well as someone in-house.
Is the vendor speedy and reliable? Your vendor’s performance reflects on your business! If they cannot complete jobs on time and deliver late, you will be late for the client. Especially for service providers in agency settings, vendor reliability can make or break your client relationship and make the difference between presenting a job well done on time and tap dancing to keep the client pacified until the vendor sends in their part of the project!
Does the vendor make you compromise your expectations? Vendors should understand what you want and be able to fulfill your expectations. If they cannot, they should not be taking your business. A vendor should never make you compromise your expectations! If you expect something done a certain way by a certain time, your vendor should comply.
Does the vendor have your best interest in mind? Let’s say you have a tight deadline, you send something to the printer and you don’t realize it has a typo in it. What type of relationship do you have with your printer? Will he send it back to you to make the change and delay your print run, or will he quickly use his resources to correct it for you himself to keep your project on your deadline? By building a vendor relationship, your work together can transcend the simple transaction and arrive at a place where the vendor is looking out for you. Vendors who have your best interest in mind make sure that the work provided isn’t only what is ordered, but what is best for your business.
Does the vendor help you build your business? After you have built a relationship with your vendor, a natural progression is the vendor helping you build your business. They can do this by using your services, attending your events or by referring you to others whenever appropriate. Either way, when a vendor thinks to recommend your business, it means they are invested in your success and that’s an incredible thing to achieve in the vendor relationship.
Is the vendor transparent about his/her relationship with competitors and your own clients? The vendor-client relationship can be tricky. If one of your clients asked your vendor to serve them directly, would the vendor share that information with you or would they simply undercut your pricing and start their own relationship with your client? When vendors are transparent and forthcoming about such situations, it’s a sign that they value their longstanding relationship with you more than the prospect of a new client and more money. You are the catalyst that makes the work with your client possible for your vendor. They owe you the respect of transparency in their dealings with your clients.
Is the vendor pleasant to work with? I count many friends among my vendors and when you think about it, it’s not surprising. I work best with those who align with my values and those of my company. It’s no wonder I find my vendors to be such wonderful, kind people. Those are the kind of people who get my business!
And last but not least…
Are the vendor’s rates affordable? Even though you may not make the decision to hire a vendor strictly based on their cost, pricing is still an important element of building a relationship with your vendor. Vendors who are looking to build a long-term relationship with you may show some flexibility with their rates in exchange for the promise of more forthcoming business. Honor your word and you will have a partner, not just a vendor, in your business!
At JJR, we love all our vendors and appreciate their months and years of excellent service. Never underestimate the building of vendor relationships and the wonderful things it can bring!
Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz is the CEO of JJR Marketing (www.jjrmarketing.com) and Fig Factor Media LLC international book publishing company (www.figfactormedia.com), founder of The Fig Factor Foundation (www.thefigfactor.org), creator of Today’s Inspired Latina book series and international movement (www.todayslatina.com), author of eleven books (www.jackiecamacho.com), international speaker, and pilot. Jacqueline speaks to hundreds of audiences about marketing, servant leadership, finding your passion, and achieving success in business. She has addressed the United States Army, BP International, United Airlines, Allstate, and Farmers Insurance among other corporations to share her inspiration.
If you or an organization you know needs as speaker, please get in touch with us at http://www.jackiecamacho.com/contact.