Why being nice to your print supplier can get great results for buyers
Do you have the image of a “bad guy”?
This is how I hear many printers think of buyers these days. Buyers are there solely to beat print companies down on price. The needs of a supplier are always the least of a buyer’s worries.
Don’t get me wrong, price is always going to be important. But that doesn’t mean that a good supplier relationship cannot be created.
It’s time for buyers to be nice to their suppliers!

Get great results from your print suppliers why being nice
Print buyers who are nice to their suppliers will create relationships that achieve more. Their suppliers will go the extra mile for them. They will also be more likely to come up with good ideas. So buyers will achieve better results from their projects.
Print buyers who take their suppliers for granted are less likely to achieve these results. Their suppliers will not be motivated to come up with helpful suggestions. They will feel as though they are commodity suppliers. That’s no way to achieve a good relationship.
Here are three ways in which you can be nice to your supplier.
Send a thank you note
I am always surprised at how pleased print companies are if I thank them. Thanks from a customer can be a rare event. It is even rarer to receive thanks in writing.
One key thing to remember is not just to thank the salesperson. A thank you to all those involved in the project can be very worthwhile. I know a number of people who make jobs happen. When they are recognised by customers they really go out of their way to help them in the future.
Let’s face it, it doesn’t take long to write a quick email (or even better, a letter) of thanks. Here’s another way to be nice to your supplier which doesn’t take long.
Recommend your supplier
If you get great results from your supplier, why not tell other people about it? It can be hard work for print sales people these days and it’s nice to do our bit to help them. A recommendation of a good supplier helps everyone.
Naturally, if you do recommend them, you should always let them know that you have done this. This is not so that you can get their thanks. Rather, it is so that they recognise the name of your contact if they get in touch with the printer. It also gives the printer a chance to get in touch with your contacts directly.
The next way to be nice to your printer is a little more time consuming. However, you may also benefit from it.
Take them to lunch
Normally, it’s supposed to be the supplier who takes the buyer to lunch. But sometimes it’s nice to turn the tables. You will also get some quality time with your supplier.
If you use this time to do a bit of brainstorming over the pudding you may be surprised at the results. Sometimes the best ideas come from a conversation where there is no agenda.
So there are three quick and easy ways to make your supplier really appreciate you as a client. But not all buyers will agree with me.
Isn’t the supplier there to do what I want?
At the end of the day, this is true. However, life is much more fun if you can do these things in a friendly and positive way. Also it is surprising how much a supplier can choose or choose not to contribute to a project.
Being nice costs very little but it does get the best from your suppliers.
Here are three action points to get your campaign of niceness underway
- Pick a supplier that performs well
- Decide who at the supplier does the most to make your project a success
- Send them a card to thank them for their work
No more “bad guy”!
You may be surprised at the results this brings.
===================================================================
P.S. Sign up right now to receive “Ten Common Print Buying Errors and What To Do About Them” and to make sure you receive similar articles to this.
I have worked with Matthew for just over a year now and he has delivered a number of highly successful training events for the IPIA during that time. He is very organised and produces seminars which are full of
Read the testimonial from Andrew PearceMatthew provided an excellent “Print Processes” training session for myself and some of my colleagues. The feature that I liked most about the training, was that the day itself was very interactive – which not only
Read the testimonial from Rhoda DayIf you think you are on top of your print buying you might be in for a surprise! We asked Print & Procurement to undertake a print audit. Matthew said ‘’If we do not find savings sufficient to earn back our fee
Read the testimonial from Rod FletcherMatthew is a consultant who is totally committed to his clients and to delivering on his promises. He has an excellent understanding of both the challenges of the print channel and the opportunities it presents. As a
Read the full testimonial from Jacky MorganApart from being a thoroughly decent chap Matthew is scrupulously professional, ruthlessly efficient and always delivers excellent results.
I genuinely have no hesitation whatever in recommending Matthew. He
In an industry renowned for its pressure, Matthew Parker delivers a very gentle but insightful intelligence about the ways of print. Somewhere between art and science there is a place that defines the balance of what
Read the full testimonial from Andy DowenDo you struggle to find enough hours in the day? Whether you’re a full-time purchaser or managing a more general administration role, the pressure on your [more]
Why beating printing companies down on price is not the best way to reduce costs
For me, few things are better than standing on the summit of a mountain The route up a mountain is hard. There’s a lot of work [more]
Three reasons why print buyers should challenge supplier choice
My daughter was about to burst into tears I had asked her what flavor of ice cream she would like. She gave me the same answer [more]
Why print buyers who stick to cost-cutting are failing to do their job
Wouldn't a garden look bare without anything in the flowerbeds? My wife is a keen gardener. One of her most regular jobs is the weeding. It's [more]
Three specification questions that can reduce the cost of printed items by over 30%
The print industry is dying There are huge amounts of overcapacity. Printing companies are tendering suicidal prices. So all a print buyer has to do is to [more]
Three questions print buyers must use to challenge process and prevent 30-address syndrome
Can you imagine writing the same address over 30 times? Wouldn’t it be a complete waste of your time? Aren't there are so many better things [more]
- Rebecca Gardner on How eight simple questions can prevent you choosing the wrong print supplier
- Kannan K on Three reasons why print buyers should challenge supplier choice
- Blanca San German on How supplier evaluation forms prevent wasted meetings with print sales people
- Nomi on Three reasons why print buyers should challenge supplier choice
- August 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
Leave a Reply