If you’ve ever been in a position to buy promotional products for your company or another organization, you’re probably familiar with the avalanche of product and vendor options. Honestly, it can be pretty daunting. Which is why it helps to have an expert you can rely on – but how do you know who to trust? Don’t they all have access to most of the products you might be interested in? Possibly, but keep in mind that there are variances in product quality levels and you’ll want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Most importantly, you’ll want a partner who will present you with optimum quality and excellent service to meet your needs.

One thing we always encourage our customers to do is ask questions. Lots of questions. They have every right to know about the promotional products they’re buying as well as the service we’ll provide to get them delivered on time and on budget.

So, how do you start the vendor selection process and choose the best one out of all the promotional products suppliers available now? We suggest using a vendor checklist which will help you make the appropriate choice for your business. Here are some of the most important factors to consider (and to formulate questions around):

Solid history of customer service

The number of years a promotional products supplier has been in business is important. But it’s also critical that they have a strong reputation for great customer service. Before you make any large purchases, be sure to get testimonials or ask for references from the business beforehand.

Ability to supply products consistently

Many times when you buy promotional items, you’ll want to do repeat orders, especially if you have awards or other recognition items that require consistency. Make sure the promotional products vendor will be able to meet your business requirements into the future to avoid any interruption to your deliverables.

Expansive product availability

Whether using promotional items for marketing campaigns, recognition programs or other events, you’ll want to be able to choose from a wide variety of great products. Reputable companies will provide substantial catalog options from which to choose.

Fair pricing terms

Many times, item pricing is negotiable and a reputable company will work with you to get the best price possible for your order. They will also work with you on payment terms so that you can manage your budget and payables responsibly.

Great communication

When you have questions, you need answers. Always work with a promotional items vendor that has internal experts available to help you with anything from colors to quantities of any items you’re interested in. They should also be up front about pricing, delivery and other issues related to your orders.

Remember that you’re choosing a long-term partner when deciding on a promotional items vendor. If they balk at your questions, move on. This should be a solid business relationship that you’ll both enjoy for many years.

If you’re ready to start asking questions about your promotional items vendor, Proforma Durkee is ready to answer. We can give you insight on product selection as well as inventory management optimization where we can help you work out the kinks in your current inventory system and put you back in control.

We can also help you build an online company store that is easy for everyone to use, streamlines processes, and maintains brand integrity. We invite you to download our Company Store eBook  for more information and then contact us to get started today.