Most Brisbane businesses treat suppliers like vending machines: you place an order, they deliver product, and the relationship ends there. But that’s a seriously missed opportunity. In reality, your supplier could be your most under-utilised business growth partner.
Here’s why:
1. They’ve got the market intelligence you don’t.
Suppliers work with multiple clients across different industries. They know what’s selling, what’s stalling, and what trends are about to hit. They’ve got the helicopter view of your market that you can’t see from the shop floor. And if you ask the right questions, you can use that knowledge to get ahead of your competitors.
2. They can help you improve your product offering.
A smart supplier isn’t just delivering boxes, they can co-create. They can suggest design tweaks, bundle complementary products, or even introduce you to other suppliers to build a package that makes your offering more attractive. Think of it as adding bonus features to your product that your competitors can’t match.
3. They can shoulder some of your marketing costs.
A lot of suppliers have marketing budgets set aside for co-branding and promotional support, they just won’t tell you unless you ask. Whether it’s contributing to the cost of a brochure, co-funding a product launch event, or helping with in-store visual merchandising, you can stretch your marketing budget further by collaborating.
4. They can help with distribution and visibility.
Some suppliers have relationships that can get your product into more places. Whether that’s referrals to their other retail customers, introductions to distributors, or even featuring you in their own marketing, a proactive supplier can open doors.
Bottom line: Don’t just order from suppliers. Partner with them. Ask, collaborate, share data, and co-invest. Because in a competitive Brisbane market, a great supplier can be your unfair advantage.
“Go on… give your supplier a gentle nudge. Or a loving shove. And if you want the playbook on how to make them your secret weapon, you know where to find us.”