Focus on Distributors The Proven Service I
gnore distribution at your peril. The days of using the distributor for distress purchases are long gone. Distributors are now the preferred supply route for many bathroom retailers according to a recent report* representing the collective views of retailers and merchants. The average bathroom retailer with a turnover of less than £1m has an annual spend via distribution of £250,000, representing core business purchases, rather than the perceived add on or distress purchase. The distributor’s role is now more than ever, business critical to the industry, enabling the manufacturer to focus on their core competencies and the distributor to provide a faultless supply chain solution for the retailer.
Comment by Danielle Lillis Commercial Director, Ideal Bathrooms
The report identifies service is key and the most vital being ease of ordering, with 88% of respondents confirming this as a key reason for using a distributor. Then comes next day delivery together with a high level of on time/in full completion. Technical support provided through internal and external sales personnel was also stated by 67% of respondents as a key factor. Retailers recognise that technical support and easy access to accurate product information prior to
placing an order play a significant part in limiting returns and collections.
Ultimately distributors should be there to support their customers and need to adapt and look at the best ways to improve their offering. A big part of this includes ongoing investment in IT infrastructure such as online/digital services. This enables provision of timely information such as product specifications, access to simple stock check files, the ability to process orders 24/7 and to provide accurate delivery times.
Today’s retailers need all the facilities and information required readily to hand to allow them to provide the service and advice their customers expect, and they will, rightly, choose the distributor who they perceive to best support them.
*Source The Ideal Industry Report 2017
For more information, please call 0800 634 2600 or visit
www.idealbathrooms.com
”
Commercial Director Danielle Lillis “Not just for actual distribution expertise but for our support services. Keeping up to date with the latest developments in all aspects of our business includes our communication with our customers, without whom we could not be successful.”
To add to their support services, Ideal Bathrooms have just launched a brand new website, packed with a host of brilliant new features which takes their digital communications to a new level of excellence.
The new website offers customers a host of improved functionality. A live stock checking tool, updated every 10 minutes, allows customers to check availability of all products in Ideal Bathrooms famous Yellow price guide. A quick order form offers simple and effective 24/7 online ordering. Online order tracking provides order status “live” delivery dates and times plus downloadable electronic PODs. The superbly useful new web site offers full online account management facilities for customers to check account balances, paid invoices and even to manage log ins to tailor users’ access to their sphere of activity. Customers will also be able to access detailed product data with product specifications, installation instructions and unique cross sells.
There is a showroom profile section allowing customers to have their own company profile pages on the showroom locator – a fantastic tool to promote their businesses to their customers. And an additional customer facing tool due to be added shortly is the ability to add customers own
Your Vital Aid from Ideal Bathroom S
ervice Excellence has always been our watchword” says Ideal Bathrooms
branding and to run through products in more detail with their customers – a virtual showroom extension.
Over the last 18 months Ideal Bathrooms have worked closely with customers to create a website which has all the functionality and features required. Following an extensive trial period of testing, which the new site passed with flying colours, it has been enthusiastically received by users. The site is very simple to use and allows customers access to a vast source of key information at the click of a button when and where they need it – saving time and offering an additional route of secure communication. “The bathroom industry is in fine health and we are lucky to work in a business where the majority of shoppers still value visiting physical stores to experience products and to talk to knowledgeable
professionals” adds Danielle “However we firmly believe in having an eye on the future. As the internet and improved digital offerings change the way businesses operate, we are committed to being ahead of the curve to provide customers with an easy, stress free partnership.” Successful retailers need to have all the facilities and information readily available to give the best advice to their customers. This is just one of the many ways Ideal Bathrooms believes in helping their customers with their businesses. Retailers who have not yet registered to benefit from this highly effective marketing tool can do so on
www.trade.idealbathrooms.com - it could be a big step forward for your business.
0800 634 2600
www.idealbathrooms.com
Ideal Bathrooms new website offers a host of improved functionality BKU AUGUST 2017 21
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