When choosing a reliable chemical supplier, it’s important to bear in mind that your business will need its essential chemical raw materials for the duration of its existence. That’s why it’s crucial to identify a supplier with wide-ranging product interests and a stable track record.
The following steps provide an outline for selecting a supplier that will meet your needs in a centralised and reliable way.
1. Make a thorough inventory of your business needs
In order to achieve optimal efficiency in supply and delivery, you need to locate a chemical supplier in South Africa that has a wide range of related products and a good geographical spread of supplier outlets.
By finding a supplier with a diverse list of chemical products you can narrow down your supplier list, and build up a long-term relationship with a single company that grows to understand your specific spread of needs over a period of time.
2. Make sure that your supplier is established and reliable
Products that involve chemical components need a consistent supply over a long period of time. This means that short-lived and unreliable suppliers can seriously damage your business reputation by failing to hold sufficient stocks and delaying delivery times.
It is vital to invest in thorough ongoing research to identify a supplier that won’t let you down both when you need ongoing components and when your needs change.
3. Your supplier should be experienced and knowledgeable
Not only should your supplier of choice be consistent in their ability to deliver what you need, but should also have sufficient experience and knowledge to assist you with solutions when production and formulation problems arise.
In addition, experienced chemical suppliers in South Africa will know how to source products in problematic environments and suggest alternatives that suit your specific production needs.
Your supplier should have sufficient knowledge to grasp the nature of your raw material combinations and the ways in which your product can be developed through innovation.
4. Choose a supplier that specialises in your needs
Where possible, opt for a chemical supplier that concentrates on the particular components of your own line of manufacturing. This kind of purchase centralisation enables you to grow a relationship that brings greater and more detailed understanding of your product as your business develops.
A knowledgeable relationship also ensures that your chemicals will be regularly held in stock, and works to develop mutual trust and insight through the rough-and-tumble of business growth and changing environments.
5. Check on your supplier’s attitude to sustainability
Ensure that your South African chemical supplier is well orientated in an ever-changing business environment, and able to locate your needs when other sources are unable to do so.
Sustainability also relates to quality and pricing options. Your supplier of choice should have multiple options for quick sourcing of your needs when this is required by production and market changes.
It always pays to visit your supplier’s premises to ascertain their degree of eco-friendliness and overall attitude to efficiency. A sustainable and personal touch in this relationship will work to your advantage and vice versa.
Read more: Three must-have eco-friendly home cleaning products
