"I filled it in exactly as your father did"

Issue 004 - 2019-02-04

Lesson: Treat your suppliers as well as you would your customers

A few years ago, a friend in South Africa asked me to help him build a website for his business. At the appointed time, I arrived at his office and asked for him. His partner asked me: "Are you a customer or a supplier?" I thought for a moment and in the context of my visit, I was a supplier. "In that case you can wait" came the brusque reply.

A while later my friend happened to come out of his office and saw me sitting in the reception area. I related what had happened. He was not impressed. "Why didn't you say you were my friend?"

When we run a business, we should treat our suppliers with equal respect and courtesy as we do our customers. They are key to our business.

My father passed away in 2002. My mother and I became directors of his factory. During that process, we had to sign new contracts with all our suppliers. Our largest supplier came to see us personally and handed us the form. "I filled it in exactly as your father did", were his words. I wasn't sure what he meant until I turned to the last page. It was a personal surety, also called personal guaranty in some countries. He had crossed it out. I said to the supplier: "Thank you so much for not taking advantage of our situation. I would not have signed this, but you could not have known that. I appreciate this very much."

Why did this supplier do such a thing? My father had treated him like a customer. He always paid his invoices on their due date and was polite and friendly in his dealings. He refrained from being rude and demanding.

Our suppliers are a vital part of our business. Treat them well and it will pay big dividends.

Kind regards from your friendly entrepreneur

Heinz

Living Entrepreneurially Archive

• 012 - Crashproof Your Business
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• 008 - Be Prepared
• 007 - Riding School
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• 005 - The Fuel Light is ON
• 004 - "I filled it in exactly as your father did"
• 003 - The Espresso Machine Guy
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• 001 - The Cleaning Fluid Injection Device

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