5 Dollar Store Merchandise Suppliers Tips when Opening a Dollar Store
If you are opening a dollar store you are probably very concerned about where you will find the right dollar store merchandise for your store. You are probably concerned about where to find dollar store suppliers you can depend on. You need a supplier that cares about you and your business success. They need to provide quality products, but the price can’t be too high. They need to do exactly what they commit to do every time. That’s a tall order of expectations, and you don’t know even one supplier. Then let’s get started. In this article I present 5 dollar store merchandise supplier tips to help you get started screening down to the perfect suppliers for your business.
Tip #1) Don’t put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to dollar store suppliers. When opening a dollar store it is important to deal with a primary set of suppliers, but to also have a set of back-up suppliers waiting in the wings should they be needed. Circumstances change in the industry quite frequently. You never know when you will need to begin using a pre-screened back-up supplier.
Tip #2) Never commit to any dollar store supplier without investigating first. Make sure a supplier meets your expectations before ever beginning with them. Who wants to deal with a company that is high-priced, ships only about half of the order, doesn’t ever answer your telephone calls, and then delivers poor quality merchandise after weeks of waiting?
Tip #3) Meet dollar store suppliers face-to-face whenever possible. This won’t be practical in many situations. Yet if you can speak with a representative and see the merchandise it is much easier to make your decision. Trade shows, and trips to major distribution locations are a great way to make this happen. Some companies also have representatives who can come to you.
Tip #4) When opening a dollar store it is best to start with a smaller, test order. This allows you to verify the entire process with a prospective supplier without tying up too much money.
Tip #5) When you are about to start a dollar store it is important that you never be afraid to reject a dollar store merchandise supplier from consideration. Don’t tolerate poor customer service, low quality merchandise or high prices. Move on to the next supplier carrying similar merchandise. While some companies don’t seem to care about you and your business, others genuinely want a partnership with you.
To your dollar store success!
Find out how you can open your own dollar store business.
Bob Hamilton is an entrepreneur, author, writer, business consultant and trainer.
PABX Phone Systems – Top 7 Tips to Save Money on Commercial Business Office Telephones
Businesses can increase the productivity of its employees by setting up an effective phone system. A business telephone system is a costly investment that should not be undertaken without surveying the market for the best rates and services. Apart from the cost of hardware, the packages offered by phone system providers also vary across a wide range. The package should be selected based on the usage and telephonic activity of the business.
Here are some tips to save money on telephone systems:
Amount of usage
If your employees have limited cellular phone usage then go in for a plan that has a fixed rate for unlimited usage. If the mobile phone usage is high, it is better to opt for a plan where the talk time is fixed for a month. This way, users do not exceed their billing limit for a month.
Discounts on long-distance calls
Long-distance calls can be quite expensive. Many telephone system providers provide a discounted rate to businesses if the volume of such calls is high. As the discounted rate kicks in only after a specific number or minutes of long-distance calls have been made, this option is costly for businesses where long-distance calls are rare.
Length of calls
The billing increment varies across phone system providers. If your business sees more of short calls, a two minute billing increment will increase costs, even if the fixed rate is low. For such a business, a plan that has billing increments of 6-10 seconds will prove more economical. You may have to pay a higher flat rate, but it will save you money in the long run.
Unnecessary accessories
Telephones come with all kinds of accessories – camera, special ring tones and keypads, jazzy displays, and so on. A business phone system does not need these trimmings. Special features like automatic redialing and 3-way calling can also be done without, unless they add some value to your business. A simple and straightforward telephone system is usually the best choice.
Itemized bills
Itemized bills are necessary to observe and regulate phone system usage across business departments and personnel. Business heads can take decisions on modifying individual and company behavior to maximize the benefits of a telephone system.
Term of contracts
Phone system providers try to engage businesses in long term contracts. Businesses would be ill advised to enter a contract of more than a year. This gives them the flexibility to change the provider if telephone rates improve or another provider offers a better deal. Many providers will alter their rates to beat the competition, and retain customers.
Survey the market
Businesses should never go with the first phone system provider that contacts them. Survey the market for the reputed telephone system providers, their rates and offers. Keep your long term plans in mind and select a phone system that will be most suitable for your workforce strength. Ask business associates about the telephone system they use, their experience with customer care services and their monthly phone expenses.
A business telephone system helps a business improve relationships with customers and business partners, and save time and money. There are many phone system providers in the market, and a business needs to weigh all its options before selecting a provider. An effective telephone system has the potential to increase the productivity of your workforce and your bottom line.
Daljeet Sidhu is Co-founder at TradeSeam. Read our small office telephone systems advice. Compare phone systems quotes. Sellers JOIN for quality leads.