Lately, everyone seems to be talking about the importance of branding and social networking, myself included. But let’s not overlook the importance of having your production team in place.
If you sell a product or have a service business that requires an inventory of certain supplies, you want to build a relationship with your vendors. Every link of your supply chain needs to be strong. If you have a great vendor for your organic tea, but your packager has chronic problems, you’re always going to be stressed out. Don’t endure incompetence, even if you like the owner. You will end up hating what you do, and dreading getting orders. Yikes!
Once you have quality, reliable vendors, it is important to build a relationship with them. If possible, visit all your vendors in person on a regular basis, from your suppliers to your packagers. If that’s not possible, pick up the phone and have actual conversations. Connecting on this level will help both of you to be more flexible and understanding when the occasional glitch or rush job comes up. Also, if you have a relationship with your vendors, they will be more apt to let you know sooner, rather than later, if there are any changes coming in their future that will affect you.
Additionally, if you are a very small business, working out of your home, but have plans to grow, you should start looking for suppliers and/or commercial space now. The Boy Scouts are right – Be Prepared! If word gets to the right person that you make the World’s best brownies, orders could start pouring in. This would be great, unless you have to turn away customers because you can’t keep up. You don’t want to be known as the company that doesn’t come through.
Check out commercial kitchens (or whatever business space you require) before there’s a need. Learn how much it will cost, availability, etc… Also, find out if your current suppliers could handle a sudden increase in the size and frequency of your orders. There’s no excuse for being caught off guard.
You are the face of your business, but there are frequently many others standing behind you. Make sure they are as reliable as you are, because when opportunity knocks, you want to be ready to answer.
