How to Find the Best Industrial Products for Your Small Business

[This article was written by Lizzie Weakley.]

Running a small business can be a real challenge. This is even more so the case for factories and small businesses that use complex industrial processes to create their products. These kinds of facilities require specialized equipment, parts, fuel, supplies, and raw materials. If you are just entering a particular industry, the best way to obtain these items may not be clear to you. With that in mind, here are a few tips on how to find the best industrial products for your business.

Get Business-to-Business Discounts

One thing you should be aware of is that a business purchasing from suppliers should not be done the same way that an individual consumer buys from a store. Instead, these business to business transactions should include significant discounts based on the quantity of the items that were ordered. In fact, these discounts should range up to as much as 50 percent. If you need a large quantity or a constant stream of items, you certainly shouldn’t be paying the same as if you were ordering a small batch.

Obtain Specialized Equipment Adapted to Your Needs

Most small businesses that use industrial processes can’t typically rely on a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, you need to partner with a manufacturer that can adapt their equipment and machines to the exact configuration and application you need. You may, for example, require a heat recovery steam generator. However, you may need a specific piping configuration for your facility for that steam generator. Work with a company that can do those alterations for you to your required specifications.

Long Term Service Contracts

Industrial equipment is extremely expensive. You probably don’t have the assets to replace that equipment too often. With that in mind, you should only work with manufacturers that offer the proper long term service contracts. The manufacturer knows the equipment best and will be able to best perform maintenance and repairs. These service contracts should be required. Think, for example, of what would happen if a specialized part breaks and you no longer have the ability to replace it.

Choose Suppliers With Experience in Your Industry

Each business can be very different. However, even for small businesses, there are likely many other companies in the same generalized industry that provide somewhat similar products or services. In regards to finding the right industrial products, stick with suppliers and manufactures with extensive experience in your industry. That expertise can make a big difference when it comes to catering to your specific needs. Suppliers with no experience in your industry, however, can cause significant issues due to that lack of expertise and cumulative knowledge that comes with years of experience.

Overall, getting started as a small business in an industrial setting is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. However, partnering with the right suppliers and vendors can help make the job far easier than it would be otherwise. Give great consideration to how you will obtain the industrial products you need for your business.

Author Bio:

Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.