Woodworking Business

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Bragging about Vendors

3/18/15       
Robert

Website: http://www.threenailswoodworking.com

Vendors are much like employees. They can be a great blessing or a curse. They can help make you successful or they can be a pain in the rear. Going on my thirteenth year in business I've narrowed my vendors down to where I really can't complain about a single one. They all offer a great product, with great service, at a fair or good price. If a mistake is made they promptly correct it. Wurth Louis & Company provides our hardware & finishing supplies. McKillican provides hardware and lumber. Speciality Forest provides lumber. And even though we often make our own doors, the rock star of the bunch is American Cabinet Door. We are located in the Pacific Northwest.

I believe much of my success in the last few years has been in finding vendors & suppliers that are top notch. Having folks you trust, can rely on and come through in an era where customer service is dying commodity is huge and hard to come by.

Does anybody else have folks you can highly recommend to others?

3/18/15       #2: Bragging about Vendors ...
David Waldmann  Member

Website: vermonthardwoods.com

Excellent point, and post. I agree.

When, in the past, we would have issues with this or that, I used to waffle between the most important component of a successful business - customers, employees or suppliers. I finally realized you've got to have all three or you can forget about it.

In the Northeast, I have been most impressed with Highland Hardwoods and Downes & Reader as general lumber distribution yards. Rex Lumber does a pretty decent job too, but we find that their prices tend to be a bit higher with no added benefit. However, it's good to point out here that it's important to have several sources in your pocket; you never know when you'll need something ASAP and supplier A & B can't get it to you by Tuesday, but C can. It's a balancing act - spreading out your business so you maintain a relationship, but not spread so thin that you don't mean anything to anyone.

As for mills (T/L qty), Kennebec has by far the best 4/4 Hard Maple we've ever gotten anywhere, but if you have an outlet for the lower end of S&B, Maine Woods and G H Evarts put up a nice product at a substantially lower price.

Bates Finishing and Target Coatings have been doing a good job for us on that end of things.

For general supplies, we rely a lot on McMaster, Quill and Amazon.

Applied Industrial Supplies had been awesome in providing advice and products in the motive transport arena (bearings, belts, fluids, etc).

3/20/15       #3: Bragging about Vendors ...
Cabmaker

I especially like all my vendors because they recently rolled back all my prices to reflect their significant reduction in fuel costs.

3/20/15       #4: Bragging about Vendors ...
David Waldmann  Member

Website: vermonthardwoods.com

Can you share who's lowered their prices/fuel surcharges? Because none of my suppliers have, and I think this is the kind of information the OP was about.

Or were you being facetious? Can't get innuendo very well on the internet...

3/21/15       #5: Bragging about Vendors ...
Larry

We try to maintain a decent relationship with at least two suppliers of most items. Some distribution yards specialize in one thing, some another. Price is important but a few pennies more or less isn't the main determinate.

3/29/15       #6: Bragging about Vendors ...
Harold

Website: http://morantzcabinets.com

Vendors here in Florida come in two sorts. Those that know their product and respect responsible cabinetmakers and offer expertise and advise. Those that carry the cheapest crap at the lowest price in every product and everyone is on COD. Although I am a small shop, I buy product in cases or bundles and do not nickel and dime my vendors. I always ask to be shown the newest and latest products and show pics of the work that had been built with their products. I expect next day delivery or at least notice of delay and get 4th column pricing and rarely return anything. Keep everyone informed and happy.

3/31/15       #7: Bragging about Vendors ...
Evan Member

Website: http://www.near-west.com

Here in North Cal we use Charles McMurray for hardware and Moore-Newton for hardwood. I am loyal to both for their reps who know their product (oddly rare bird these are!), friendly policies and clockwork next day delivery. Haven't compared prices in years, my time is more valuable than a few dollars more for a box of drawer slides.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)