Choosing the Right Electrical Supplier
With so many different factors to consider and companies to choose from, finding the right electrical supplier for your project can be a daunting task. Electrical suppliers can come in the form of local branches, e-commerce platforms, catalogs, or some combination of the three. Whether you’re looking for a supplier for the industrial, residential, or commercial market — building a mutually beneficial relationship with the supplier of your choice is a must for your business and can help you find what you’re looking for and deliver when you need it at the right price.
When choosing between a local supplier or an e-commerce storefront, both can offer benefits based on your specific project or business needs. Some of the pros of choosing to work with a local branch are that the people working there can provide technical information about an array of products and give local insight into the market. There’s also the added value of the branch manager’s familiarity with the materials, their field knowledge, and their ability to do product demonstrations. If an emergency comes up on a job site, or a project happens to be short notice — a local supplier can usually provide an immediate solution that an online business wouldn’t be able to fulfill.
The advantages of buying from an e-commerce supplier include the convenience of ordering from a mobile device, finding competitive pricing, and having access to a wider variety of products than those that may be available in a local branch.
Step One: Creating a Needs Assessment
Before sourcing an electrical wholesaler it’s crucial to know what parts you need to complete your project. It’s necessary to create a thorough needs assessment to determine what materials are required. The needs assessment should include a time frame for the project, the number of materials needed, and exact specifications to avoid costly mistakes later on. If possible, it’s helpful to call or go online and look up product information with a materials list before doing more in-depth research to make sure the supplier will offer the products and brands you need (CES branch managers are often happy to stock specific product lines just for you, so reach out and have a conversation if you’re worried about inventory!).
Step Two: Searching for Supplier Information
Sourcing information about existing electrical suppliers should be the next step. Taking the time and resources to verify supplier information will aid in avoiding losses in the long run. Make phone calls to the supplier with any questions and compare brands and prices. Backup information from company representatives by reading online reviews and doing your own research.
Things to Consider:
- Dedication to customer service/answering questions
- Ease of delivery to a job site
- Competitive pricing
- Financing/credit options
- Potential for innovation
- Technical competence
Things to be Wary of:
- Lack of a company website or digital resources
- Limited materials/stock
- Inadequate product knowledge
- Unfair pricing
- Slow response to questions
Step Three: Onboarding a supplier:
When the preferred electrical supplier is chosen, the next step is to reach an agreement in the form of a contract (open an account). The supplier should provide a contract to be signed and terms to be agreed upon. At this stage, it’s important to ask lots of questions including those about billing/financing.
Ultimately choosing a supplier should be built on trust. If you’re an electrician or electrical contractor, wholesale electrical suppliers will be a long-term asset to your business. To help suppliers help you the best they can you must communicate your needs effectively and engage them as partners on projects and ultimately in your overall business. Relationships can be leveraged to lock in pricing for large commodities and negotiating long-term fixed costs. Communication about expectations and needs are key to maintaining a positive, mutually beneficial relationship with the electric supplier of your choosing.