The Value of Relationship Building

One of the best ways to grow your business is to build relationships with your local supplier representatives. These relationships enable you to tap into information and resources that might otherwise be hard and timely to find.

What do you do when you have a client ask for pavers you are not familiar with installing? Who do you reach out to with questions on determining quantities or how to price something you’ve never used? Having a relationship with your local supplier rep puts answers to these questions just a phone call or text away. They can get you the information you need or point you in the right direction to get it. What a great resource that is!

Personally, I refer to my supply company rep as an extension of my company. When I need pricing or to make a purchase, I can trust that they are working in my best interest. It’s important to note that this relationship doesn’t happen overnight. Trust and commitment go both ways and needs to be earned, by all involved. If you communicate to your supplier rep what you are looking for, they will do all they can to help. In return, you need to pay your bills on time.

So where do you begin? How do you meet your local supplier rep to start building that relationship? One way is to walk into your local Horizon, Site One, Ewing Irrigation, Imperial Sprinkler or any other landscape material supplier and set up an account. They would more than likely assign you a sales representative to service your account. Another way, and my preferred way, is to attend CLCA events. We have lots of supplier members who attend and are eager to meet you and help you out. This is where many of my supplier relationships began and it’s a much more personal way to start a relationship.

Your CLCA OC Board of Directors is working hard to facilitate the building of these relationships by making sure that we have supplier reps at each function. Want a hand? I am more than willing to introduce and connect you with a representative. Just come and find me at the next event. You never know, it could be the start of something great.

~Sincerely, Dave, 2023 CLCA OC Chapter President