When you start up your own business, there are lots of exciting things to think about. You’ll look for the right premises and spend time designing your website. You’ll spend time interviewing staff and perfecting the layout of your marketing materials. You’ll launch campaigns, you’ll have fun researching the competition, and you’ll enjoy perfecting your products or services. Every day can feel like an exciting step towards launching your business, and there’s a lot of shopping, which is always fun.

At some point, you’ll start to think about supplies. How you are going to make your products, what you need to supply your customers with, and any packaging that you might need. You’ll need to think about parts and suppliers, and you’ll need to get it right. Sure, finding the right fluoropolymer tubing might not seem like the most exciting part of launching your business, but it’s often the supplies that make all of the difference, so where you get them from is exceptionally important. Without your suppliers, you can’t make your products or welcome customers into your business. The right raw materials can mean that you can make a large amount of a quality product, efficiently and in good time. Here are some of the things that you should think about when looking for your suppliers for your new business.

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Location

As a large business, you could have products and materials shipped in from all over the world without concern. As a smaller company, you can’t afford this, and you don’t have time for it. Instead, look for local suppliers. Working with local businesses is a great way to make essential connections and boost your reputation. Attending local trade shows is a great way to meet suppliers, get a look at products and get to know more about their services.

Quality

Quality is essential. You’ll find it much harder to make a quality product if you are using less than perfect materials. Shop around, ask for samples and visit offices to make sure you know exactly what you are getting.

Environmental Impact

Getting known as a company that is looking out for the planet, and doing their bit to be environmentally friendly and sustainable is a great way to get noticed and build the right kind of reputation. It can help you to stand out from the competition. But, it only works if your suppliers are also committed to lowering their environmental impact and improving their practices. Suppliers that are moving in the right direction, or already offering a green service, usually advertise the fact, but if you’re not sure, ask.

Cost

As a small business, the cost will be one of your biggest concerns. You’ll want to be able to turn a profit, without having to settle for poor supplies. Speak to suppliers, try to get deals, and don’t be afraid to haggle.

Remember, as a newer business, suppliers don’t know you. They don’t know what you need, or how they can help you. This means that you need to go to them knowing exactly what your business needs. You need to have all of the information. Over time, you can build relationships with suppliers, and they’ll begin to understand what you need. They’ll then be able to offer you advice and options. But, until that happens, you need to know what you want from them.