The primary goal of raw ingredient vendors is to be profitable, as with any other business venture. But there’s a deeper purpose when it comes to vendors, isn’t there?
There’s an unwavering commitment to the sustainability and growth of the ingredient trade and multiple farming industries are ever-present throughout the vendor landscape. Because you know that it’s only through nurturing and caring for the source of ingredients that any ingredient vendor business model can flourish.
As such, your considerations when it comes to business decisions are cast as far.
Because making a quick buck in the ingredient trade isn’t an option in this industry.
But how do you find business partners, whether they’re farmers or wholesale importers, that share that vision and understand what’s at stake in every aspect of the deal?
BEST PRICE isn’t the final ingredient
When looking for importers and distributors to work with, it’s easy to compromise prices for the sake of competitiveness. But the fact is that “lowest price here” type deals aren’t future-focused, they’re once-off occurrences for the most part.
Find an importer that meets the minimum order quantities that your business model requires. If your farmer partners work in bulk, look for a bulk importer that can handle the volume of ingredients you work with.
Find a partner whose sales forecasting and comprehensive market insights will allow you to plan your growth, as well as the economic growth of the farming communities you work with, more reliably.
“Fertile soil” isn’t always a literal requirement
Soil fertility is a core consideration in any agricultural landscape. And when it comes to business partnerships, the fertility of other businesses’ hypothetical “soil” is as important.
The geographical and market reach of importers and suppliers creates a healthy ecosystem in which possibilities abound. Just as with any natural ecosystem, what benefits one party naturally benefits the other in some way.
An extensive geographical, customer, and vendor base proves an importer’s ability to work with a diverse range of challenges and protocols. The ability to work in a diversified vendor environment means a company brings an adaptable approach to problem-solving to each new client. It also leads to more extensive logistics and distribution capabilities, which ensure that your products get to where they need to be.
But soil fertility isn’t just about the number of plants and critters that thrive in the soil, it’s about the chemical composition itself. In this case, fertility lies in compliance and financial stability. Determining this more practical side of a company’s “fertility” requires thorough due diligence and checking a company’s track record and reputation.
Lay the foundation for something that can last
The search for the right partner isn’t just about evaluating the present, though. It’s about considering the future and finding a partner that’s able to help you build the future of your brand.
To help you in the search for that future-focused partner, keep these considerations in mind:
- Are they willing to create contractual terms that won’t push you into a corner and force you to alter your business objectives or protocols in order to meet demands?
- Do they have the marketing and promotional support and gusto to be natural champions of your company and products?
- How open are they to the possibility of collaboration and finding new ways to extend the reach of your products and connect you to new and novel market possibilities?
These three questions, on top of the considerations mentioned in the previous sections, are vital when establishing long-term relationships that are geared not towards a successful sale but rather towards the creation of a partnership that will help both companies grow.
Why Source86 is a vendor’s dream partner
Source86 is a company that sees the industry from a different perspective than most bulk importers or wholesale suppliers. We don’t simply serve clients and see vendors and farmers as a resource that’s at our disposal. We acknowledge and champion the people who serve us and make our company’s very existence possible.
But more than commitment and passion, Source86 has a diverse vendor and client base that has put us in contact with diverse certification channels and importing processes and taught us how to overcome a variety of the usual sourcing challenges from across the globe. Take a look at our diverse Bulk Product List to see our extensive importing capabilities.
Our recent BRCGS Agents and Brokers certification has also helped us enter the new age of safety and transparency, the bedrock on which long-term partnerships can be built on.
We know that a good company isn’t necessarily a good fit. That’s why we look forward to talking to new vendors and exploring the possibilities our partnership can offer, to see if we can explore new frontiers together. So set up a call with us, and let’s see if this could be the start of a great partnership.
