They may not be the "sexy" or mission-critical production materials your company needs to survive. But, somewhere down the road, you'll probably have to buy things like adhesives, lighting equipment, cleaning supplies and other items that make your business run.
You can stock up on supplies while keeping costs under control by:
- Anticipating what kinds of non-manufacturing-related purchases your company is likely to make.
- Setting budget parameters.
- Reviewing supplier contracts frequently to get the best prices.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Buy online
To save time and resources, order what you need via an online shopping cart.
I recommend: Grainger has set-up the classic online shopping experience for buyers, and has added other services such as resource center where you can get material safety datasheets. Find a local Grainger outlet by Zip Code at the home page.
Get a quick education
Don't know a butterfly valve from a ball valve?Web research can give you the basics.
I recommend: Try
Industrial 101 for information on a long list of industrial equipment and safety supplies.
Pick a supplier
Getting hooked up with the right supplier is always a challenge. Online directories help ease the burden.
I recommend: ThomasNet,
Industrial Directory, and
Industrial Supplies Directory offersearch by product or company.
Attend an auction
Now that eBay's online auctioning model has gained so much popularity, it's becoming more common to put the bidding and request for proposal process online.
I recommend: Companies like
DoveBid and
Overstock.com run business and industrial auctions.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Centralize buying habits, giving a select group of purchasing people authority over materials management.
The official source of Finding Industrial Supplies is
the Industrial Goods and Services page at Business.com
Related Resources from Business.com
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