Introduction
If you're planning to start a supplies office, you have to carefully map out your plan so that you can have the best deals and packages. The more you save on operational and equipment costs to fill your inventory, the cheaper your products will be to your target customers. This will provide you the needed edge to stand out from the rest of the competition with very cheap prices of goods and regularly available stocks.
Step 1
Canvassing should be first in your priorities. It's important to find at least three different suppliers who can provide you with the items at the right time and at the lowest prices. Create a detailed comparison chart among all the suppliers you come across, and then identify each item that you can acquire. Even a few cents will matter, especially when you're dealing with small items. The prices of each source will also change depending on the availability, the time of year and the amount you will acquire. It's best to rely on two sources for your supplies office. The other should serve as a backup just in case the first one runs out of stock.
Step 2
Ask for special rates from your sources, and then ask for discounts when buying in bulk for supplies office. Some distributors will be willing to provide you with huge discounts if you help them reach their sales quota for the month or quarter. You might even be given some items on consignment to help push sales and relieve stocks. Special rates are also available for new items as a marketing strategy to push sales. Depending on the time of year, distributors can give you special discounts and promos. You can even have bonus items for free if you buy a large volume of certain items for your supplies office.
Step 3
The internet, in some cases, can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars to acquire some materials and products from distant sources. You might need to deal with shipping for your supplies office but this can be compromised by the very low rates of the distributor. In some cases, you might even be provided with all the items and have free shipping based on the volume. Start contacting sources online. You can make the payments upon delivery of the items, or you can give a down payment and then provide the remaining balance upon completion of the delivery or order. Some people running supplies offices outsource their stocks in other countries to take advantage of lower prices.
Tips
Talk to people. During your frequent transactions and meetings with other people in the same business, you will most likely acquire information that will help you get better deals in the future. Make some calls and ask for business cards from suppliers you come across. Read articles and join online forums and discussion boards. You will most likely find a number of new distributors who can offer you better deals and packages. Grow your supplies office by taking advantage of short term or sudden promos and discounts. It's best to set a budget for these opportunities when the right time comes.
