How to Find Good Suppliers for your Business

Kama business owner, kupata supplier mpoa inaweza determine success yako kwa biz. Supplier ni mtu ama kampuni inaprovide goods na services kwa biashara zingine, usually na rate poa ya biz.

Biz mob hurely on suppliers: kama wasee wa maduka, mikahawa, wasee wanauza food na hata wasee huoffer services zao. For example, biz ya mkahawa inahitaji suppliers wa kuwauzia food na ingredients wanahitaji kupika. Msee ako na duka ya any kind pia anahitaji suppliers wa kuwauzia bidhaa iwe ni nguo, furniture, ama hata electronics.

SUPPLIERS HUPATIKANA WAPI?

Word of Mouth Hii ni the most common way ya kupata supplier. In this way, unaweza pata suppliers by kuuliza wasee wako kwa the same biz, mabeshte ama family for recommendations. Hawa wanaweza kusaidia kupata supplier wanajua ama mwenye wamefanya biz na yeye before.
Advantage ya kutumuia supplier ako na referral ni that most times mwenye kukupea recommendation ako na experience ya kufanya biz na huyo supplier na ameprove that ako legit. However, ni muhimu kujua that experiences hukuwa different so ni poa kufanya your own research.

Online Listings
Suppliers wamekuwa more popular online kwa platforms na websites za suppliers. Examples of platforms kama hizi ni Google My Business, Alibaba, Wingi na Jiji. Platforms kama hizi huwa na listings za suppliers, contact details zao na bidhaa wanauza na bei zao. Pia unaweza pata reviews from customers wengine, which can inform you on reliability ya huyo supplier na quality ya the goods ambazo anauza. However, pia hapa ni poa kuwa careful kwasababu you can’t trust everyone online and some people can pay to get fake reviews.

Business Networks and communities Pia unaweza pata suppliers through business networks and communities like MESH where suppliers wanaweza register to engage with watu wa biz and advertise themselves na products zao.
Through the suppliers group on MESH unaweza connect directly with potential suppliers who you can work with.

Looking for them in-person In Nairobi, ni well known that kama uko kwa biz ya beauty and hygiene products, Dubois Street in the CBD is the place to go kubuy products. Ukitafuta manufactured goods kama spare parts za gari, plastic household goods, metallic and wooden products, unaenda downtown ama Industrial Area. On the other hand, kwa biz za kushona nguo who are looking for fabrics and supplies in the fashion and jewellery sector, wanaweza pata supplies River Road na ukidai brand new imported clothes, unaenda Eastleigh.
Hizi ni some of the few well-known places where suppliers wengi hupatikana pamoja. If you know of one of these places, unaweza tafuta suppliers huko simply by walking around, kuingia shops zao na kubonga na wao. Hii inakupea chance ya kuona their products in person and also to bargain for the best price.

NI MASWALI GANI UNAFAA KUULIZA BEFORE WORKING NA SUPPLIER?
Ukitafuta supplier, ni poa kuwa prepared na maswali unataka answered before committing to buy from them. Kuchunguza the following questions about supplier pia ita kuallow kupata the best deal.

What is their minimum order quantity (MOQ)? MOQ ama Minimum Order Quantity ni the minimum amount of products ambazo supplier ako willing to sell at a time. Hii ni important kujua kwa sababu ina affect the size of order you can place na ile pesa unahitaji kuinunua.
Chukulia example ya John. Yeye ako na hustle mtaani ya kubake cakes na kuuzia friends and families. Amejijenga akafika point where anadai kuexpand to a small bakery akiuza more cakes, mandazis, cookies na other things to a few restaurants na clients wengine. Juu biz yake ina grow, anatafuta supplier anaweza muuzia unga and other ingredients vizuri. Anataka kuanza na 100 kilos za unga, lakini MOQ ya supplier ameget ni 500 kilos. Badala, ya kuspend doh mob kumnunulia na kuchukua risk ya kubaki na product hahitaji, anatafuta mwingine.

Delivery services to get your goods For watu wengi wenye wana work na suppliers, wanaplace orders kubwa na bulky kama John, ama bales za mtumba, ama stock ya duka zao. In such cases, ni poa kupata a supplier who offers delivery na logistical services. Hii inamaanisha that huyo supplier anaweza ensure that your order inakufikia mtaani ama kwa location ya biz yako na inaweza kusave time na doh. Ikikosekana, itabidi unalipa transport ya orders zako separately. For John, anataka supplier reliable ambaye anaweza deliver orders zake kwa bakery directly na regulary.

How long does it take to get your goods? Another good question to ask your supplier ni how long it will take kupata order zako. For John, anataka kupata deliveries once every week.
Ni important kujua supplier anaweza deliver goods how frequently and how soon you can expect kuipata. For some businesses, unaweza decide kuorder from a supplier in a different country kama china. In this case, lazima ujue when to expect those goods in your country.
Lead time pia ni important ukiwa na order ama business plan iko na deadline e.g. an upcoming season kama Christmas am Valentines day. Inaweza kuwa disaster kubwa ukipata order yako ya christmas decorations inakufikia in the new year 😂

Pricing na discounts Kujua pricing structure ya suppliers ni a great way ya kujua that unapata the best deal. For example, unaweza pata product unataka kununua iko na one price ukiorder 100 items, but a lower price ukiorder 250 items. In this case, unaweza jipanga kununua the 250 for a lower price and save some money.
For other suppliers, mtu ni kujiongea. You can always bargain and ask for a discount kuhakikisha that unasave as much as possible.

What are the payment terms and methods Ukitafuta suppliers utapata different payment terms and methods. Unaweza pata supplier mwenye hutumia M-PESA only, na mwingine huchukua cash only. Some suppliers wanakubali ulipe mdogo mdogo in instalments ama payment on delivery ukipata order yako, while wengine watarequire payment upfront. Hizi differences zinaweza kusaidia kuchagua the best supplier for you kwasababu inadetermine how much money you need to have available and how you will pay the supplier. Story ya doh pia hucome with some risks involved. For example, kama supplier umepata anademand full payment before releasing your goods, hiyo inaweza kuwa a red flag or a potential con.
Pia suppliers huhitaji cash only ni risky kama unahitaji doh mob kuwalipa. Payments kama za M-Pesa ni safer for you to make large payments.

Return policy na defects Return policy ni poa juu sometimes unaweza pata order yako iko na defects ama umepata the wrong order. Kuwa na hii agreement na supplier wako ensure that unaweza rudisha such orders and wako willing kuirekebisha.

Exclusivity na Unique products Exclusivity inamaanisha that supplier anaweza kusupply unique products to your business only, and they won't sell to any of your competitors. This is essential if you're selling a unique or niche product that is hard to find elsewhere.
For example, if you sell home decor items, you might want to source a particular type of product from a supplier. If the supplier offers exclusivity, you can be sure that your competitors won't have access to the same product.

KUKAGUA SUPPLIER & ENGAGING THEM Ukipata a supplier that you would like to work with, ni poa kuwa critical ukikukagua if you can rely on them and that unaweza watrust. At the end of the day, risks za biz bado zina apply, so chunga usiwe conned. Unaweza anza na recommendations from existing customers, such as friends, family, na wasee wengine unaweza trust. Hiyo hueliminate some risks and doubts. Kama umesaka supplier online, kuna a few things unaweza look out for. Marketplaces most zitakuwa na a verification badge for trusted suppliers, which makes it easier for new customers kuwa identify na kuwa trust. Additionally, kama huna any other connection to a supplier, take time kupitia online reviews zao from current customers. Hizi reviews ni za information lakini pia sio 💯 These days some companies pia hutafuta fake reviews. Wanaweza kuwa wameziunda wenyewe, ama wamelipa watu kuwapea good reviews.

Some red flags in online reviews ni kama: reviews zote ni poa na ni 5 stars pekee bila any variety, reviews mob bila any words or text, kama reviews zote zinatumia almost the same exact words. Hizi zinaweza kuwa fake reviews zimeendakwa na bots ama zimelipiwa.

After kukagua supplier, eventually you will decide on one, na kuchagua kufanya biz na wao.

Njia poa ya kuanzisha your business relationship ni kuplace a small 'experimental' order. Order ndogo itakuallow kutest quality ya products za huyo supplier, customer service yao kwako na vile wao hufanya biz generally. In this stage, unahakikisha that supplier anaweza meet requirements zako na mahitaji yako. Pia inakupea chance ya kutest kama ni supplier reliable na kuminimise risk ya doh yako kukunywa maji.
After kuestablish that ni supplier trustworthy na unataka kufanya biz na wao, unaweza make adjustments to future orders as needed.
Kupata supplier mpoa itakusaidia kujijenga na kugrow biz yako. Hizi tips zinaweza increase your chances of kupata huyo supplier mwenye mtaskizana na yeye na kujengana.