How do I improve my retailer relationships?
Introduction – be accountable
Retailers are busy, which means getting in front of buyers and supply-chain managers can be challenging. Suppliers shouldn’t leave it to chance whether the retailers are going to be fully accountable for the correct stockholding of their products. Retailers are literally managing tens of thousands of products and so tend to focus on key lines. This means it is the job of the supplier to ensure that:
- their voice gets heard amongst all of the noise and
- information can be presented in a format that is quickly and easily understood
A report by The Advantage Group examined the factors which were most important to both suppliers and retailers in terms of priorities [1]. These included delivering complete orders, building trust and being proactive.
At a glance, the above could be seen as a near impossible task given that some suppliers do not have the time or people power required. The full guide here will dispel that idea and give genuine solutions to suppliers of all sizes.
