“I got the idea of the product of what my store is going to sell but where do I find the suppliers?” – Client.

This is one of the most common question that was asked during the first time meeting with my potential clients. It is a simple question. It is a very common business question.

In most of these cases I’ll answer this question with a few checklist questions that would pinpoint into where and how the supplier will be sourced.

• What is the volume of the initial order and will there be any follow up orders?
• Do you need any special packaging or product treatment?
• Are there any time constraints that would need the supplier to expedite the orders?
• Are there any preference in countries that the business would like to work with?
• Do you have a sample photo or a sample product for me to follow up with?

These leading checklist questions proposed during the meeting are very valuable to work with. The rest that remains are the potential suppliers that I would be working with in order to solve my client’s business pain point.

Within a timeframe, I will present my findings to my client with some samples for product inspection. If the sample(s) are accepted then all is well and we celebrate with a toast to this new business solution! Afterall, everyone should celebrate a little no?

After this I then proposed my client with some tips on how to develop the product further or even better – to develop the capabilities and relationship of both my client’s business and the supplier. A little extra on top of the solution is what makes my client’s eyes filled with joy. After all, a business should not stop but to try to grow and develop further!