Let’s face it, you should focus your time doing what you do best, which is serving clients and bringing their promotional ideas to life. If you feel like you don’t always have time for client calls and meetings, it’s time to make a change. There are other ways to do back-office tasks like entering purchase orders, obtaining quotes or handling invoicing. Consider incorporating new technology like order-entry software that streamlines billing, financing, tax reporting and inventory management. You could hire a seasonal intern or even become a member of a distributor support group, and you’ll be able to move these to-dos off your plate.

It’s very easy to get stuck in a routine of keeping your existing clients happy. While this is important, if you never reach out for new business, you’ll fall behind on your goals. Stay up to date on the latest industry research as well as new businesses in your area to find out which industries are booming and where there’s potential for sales. Another option is to become part of a distributor support group that specializes in a range of product categories beyond promo alone, such as print, packaging, office supplies and PPE products. An established organization with easy e-commerce services can help get your foot in the door with Fortune 100 companies that expect that level of ease, or you can simply improve your services for your current large accounts.

Of course, everyone has business relationships they like, and there’s nothing wrong with that! However, if you never look at what else is out there, you may be missing out on amazing vendors that have more to offer. For example, some distributor support groups offer preferred vendor pricing to their members, which can reduce your costs beyond what standard distributors can offer clients. Remember: With recent supply chain and inventory issues, it’s smart to have multiple supplier options to make sure you can meet the needs of your clients. While one supplier may not have inventory, another could be waiting with everything you need, and for less.

You never need to walk away from a sale just because you can’t store and ship products for your clients. Many suppliers offer these services – all you have to do is ask. There are also distributor support groups that provide warehousing and shipping as part of their member benefits, along with packaging, fulfillment and kitting. This is a no-brainer way to stand out from other distributors. Clients will remember that you could provide a complete end-to-end solution for them while others could not. That will translate to continued future business for years to come.