It's Not About Me

of making a sale often depends upon the ability and accuracy of the product availability information that is provided to YOUR customer. The more information you can provide your customer…the better the chances are that you will secure the order. Here are some of the data elements we provide when a customer performs our online web stock check: o Catalog Number along with Universal Product Code, Customer Part Number (if applicable) as well as product category of the item being sought o Photo of the item with an extended description to confirm that the item being entered is indeed the item being sought o Links to Product Data Sheet, Material Safety Data Sheet if applicable, product label, etc. o Listing of any applicable substitutes (in case subject item is not in stock); substitute maybe identical item in different pack size under another catalog number or may be simply another catalog number that is a possible substitute. o Pricing data with pricing unit of measure along with any minimum or multiple purchasing restrictions o Lead time for make-to-order items o For stock items with insufficient quantity on hand or “out -of- stock”, information is provided as to the date when the subject item will be back in stock and available for shipment as well the quantity that will be available to satisfy this current stock check inquiry!

Tip: Never hold back online availability information from your customers…give them as much information as possible. This action alone will enable your sales team and your distributor partners to better serve your customers. And providing them all the associated information about their product availability inquiries will help ensure that they will always come to YOUR website as there FIRST STOP to find material to satisfy t heir customers’ needs! • Web Order Entry – In April 2000, T&B launched web order entry for overnight orders; I think we handled all of 17 orders that first month! It would be four years later before we were ready to offer

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