Recently, a local radio program passed along the following anecdote:

A man, apparently vying for “employee of the month,” pointed out to a company vendor that his toilet paper had been short-sheeted. Rather than the bought-and-paid-for 300-some squares he expected, his TP was coming in at a mere 240 squares (give or take a few) per roll.

This is the ultimate in nightmare stories for sanitary supply distributors coping with the demands of a highly cost-conscious clientele. Now perhaps this particular gentleman didn’t have a lengthy list of “to-do’s” in his work schedule, or maybe he just spent a lot of time in the restroom. But it does raise the issue: customer scrutiny of what you sell is at an all-time high.

This month’s article, “Can’t Live Without ‘Em,” discusses pad and brush specification and how distributors can help end users choose the best ones for the job. The items may be considered commodities, but that doesn’t mean customers don’t change their buying habits based on the economy.

Mr. TP and his associates are being held accountable for every penny spent in the organization. You can expect the same kind of scrutiny.




POSTED ON: 10/1/2002