Suppliers to retailers of everyday lines – you know, the lines they are known for and that you purchase from them on a regular basis – have an obligation to ensure this items are always in stock.
Too often now I hear stories from newsagents of core suppliers not maintaining adequate stock levels of these everyday items.
The consequences of these out of stock situations can be serious for newsagents and the suppliers.
Newsagents with a gap on the shelves can look elsewhere – to another supplier or even to another product to fill the space. I know of one instance where a supplier out of stock caused the newsagent to look more carefully at return on inventory investment and return on space and found the product to be borderline successful based on the evidence. They quit the category and the supplier and introduced a new category … and that was the start o=f increased success for the business.
Newsagents are not shingle loyal today, nor should they be in today’s marketplace. This puts suppliers at greater risk of losing business if they are out of stock.
I am not naming suppliers as they know who they are. The time for their excuses are gone. They need to fix their inventory gaps or budget for more sales decline.
My message to suppliers who have more and more out of stock – get your situation sorted out or you will lose more business.
Guarantee No Supplies