Maintaining Positive Business Relationships

One of the biggest obstacles small business owners have, particularly in the retail environment, is how to create that great business relationship. This can be with their customers, suppliers, or business partners. It is really tough to compete out there with the big box chains in retail. There is a small contingent of people who shop the local business owner first, however not enough to keep a business afloat.

While we are a promotional products company, we still understand the importance of keeping a customer for life. HomeGrownPromos.com is not just your custom pen supplier, we are also here to offer advice for you and your business. We know what it takes to be successful in business and that process is universal throughout any business. First it starts with honesty.

Honest business practices include, setting fair pricing, being truthful with your customers about your business position, and being honest about your product. Using HomeGrownPromos.com as an example, we do not hide behind the fact that we are a distributor, not a manufacturer. We do only work with the best manufacturers to ensure that you get the best product. Our manufacturers understand the value of customer service and support us wholeheartedly whenever a situation arises, which is hardly ever. That is our business position. Other distribution companies, online particularly, purport themselves as the manufacturer when they are truly just a distributor. Here is a clue for you as a shopper. If the number you are calling is in North Carolina, but they print and ship out of Arizona. You are dealing with a distributor.

Another business position we have, and we hold with great regard, is that we will never outsource our work. This means that we will never have staff that is based overseas internally. All our designers, sales and support team is based within the US. This is vital for communication within each department. Also, we will not work with a company that does not have a production facility in the US. Many suppliers have factories in the US, as well as Canada, Mexico or China among other countries. We are approached daily by suppliers who are strictly overseas to add their products to our site and we respectfully decline to host those products.

In regards to pricing, HomeGrownPromos.com sets their pricing based on what the manufacturer recommends. Of course, we can offer promotions, which we always do. We do not tell our customers "We set our margins too low." in order to skirt around a discount. If we need to discount our products to earn your business, if it makes sense for us to do so, we will do our best to earn your business. Many distributors work the same way as we do. However, some offer a "Low Price Guarantee" and never make good on their promise. Beware of doing business with these companies.

We at HomeGrownPromos.com are confident that our products are high quality but sometimes a product will slip through the cracks. If you feel that your order is less than perfect, give us a call! We have a standards guidelines that we follow and it is a very high standard. We will make every attempt to replace a product which you feel is substandard. Other companies have a strict no returns policy, or they outright lie to customers about the status of their refund. (I know because I worked for a promotional products distributor that made this practice a policy)

I hope business owners in other fields understand the points we are making using our own business as an example. If a business is honest about their product or service, priced fairly, and doesn't hide aspects of their business. They will build a solid business relationship with their customers, suppliers and partners.