You don’t want to be the last to know about in-demand products or hot markets that need your services. Do everything you can to read promo industry articles and access reports on what products are trending across all industries.

Too busy? The Ampersand Group recommends:

The more you know, the more your business will grow!

We may be living in a digital age, but businesses, schools and organizations still need printed materials like brochures, flyers, posters and signage. These are an easy add-on sale when you’re already presenting other products; you can seamlessly add them into your presentations and just like that, you have a new revenue stream. Plus, some distributor groups will even produce high-end quality color in short runs with personalization. Make sure when you sign up to join a membership group to ask if they have an in-house agency or art department that can help you with commercial printing and business documents.

Your plate is full 24/7, which is why The Ampersand Group recommends incorporating state-of-the-art e-commerce technology to save time, improve efficiency and reduce stress. Most distributor groups have this tech available, so consider joining one and for a small membership fee, you can make life easier. E-commerce platforms are a great way to grow your business by having a one-stop-shop platform for customers. Remember, the simpler you make it for customers to place an order, the more likely they are to come with future business and recommend you to other businesses.

For the best success, look for platforms that offer:

Did you know you can get administrative support without adding employees? When it comes to things like accounts receivable, accounts payable, purchase orders and client quotes, some distributor groups have dedicated administrative representatives to assist you with daily activities. This will save your time and money. Don’t be afraid to ask for exactly what you need, and make sure the distributor group you work with has a backup plan. You don’t want your business and customer service to suffer because your administrative support is out sick. After all, their quality control is your quality control in the eyes of your customers.

You don’t need to have a warehouse to offer warehousing and fulfillment services. Talk to your suppliers to find out if they offer these services. If not, consider joining a distributor group that can handle this for you. Make sure they have climate-controlled storage, handle inventory management and can meet tight deadlines for your clients. Don’t be afraid to ask for everything you need, and if they can’t offer it, keep looking until you find one that can. Some of the most important benefits these groups can offer are quick turnaround times on stocked items and fast packaging and shipment. Before allowing a group to handle your orders, make sure they’re committed to timely fulfillment, since that’s what you and your customers already expect.