Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1451376
I double-check. When I am spot checking it, I am checking to make sure we are not overordering and staying in our budget range weekly and monthly. If there is a spike in sales, then we should be seeing a spike typ- ically in supplies needed. Another thing we do is apply the same method of gaining solid pricing year-round on certain supplies like we did with our T-shirts. We know the guaranteed base min- imum we will order and lock in a deal for a set price. So, certain products we will buy, say five to 10 gallons of ink, and certain sprays by the cases. is is one less item my team has to order weekly, and we save over the year on the extra freight since some manufacturers give you free shipping if you spend over a certain dollar amount. Recently this year, I worked a deal on 4' × 8' alu- minum sign boards. I looked up that we sold a minimum of 50 sheets and normally we produce a minimum of four per month, so I worked out a deal to purchase the 50 sheets up front and the wholesaler gave me a net 60 terms on the purchase. I knew if I only sold eight boards in two months it would cover the pur- chase, so I pay for the boards using our Amex to gain the points and turn the purchase into a net 90 and gain the points, but that is not all! I got the boards for $8 less per board, so now I gained an additional $400 in net profit for simply buying something in bulk that I know is guaranteed to sell. In this deal I was able to not only make our credit work for us, but gain a better margin in profit, and gain backend points. It is not how much you have, but what you do with it! We are all busy and we are all strapped for time each day but try to take an hour or two a week and examine what I have explained and work it to apply to every process and as many products as you can. It will not only help you become more efficient, help your pro- duction team, and sales team but help you net a better return on your investment for your company in the end. A win, win for all! GP Howard Potter has worked in the promotional industry for 17 years, from designing to building brands and a family-owned business. He is the co-owner and CEO of A&P Master Images LLC with his wife, Amanda. Their company offers graphic design, screen printing, embroidery, sub- limation, vinyl graphics, and promotional items. Howard, his family, and the business reside in Utica, New York. For more information, please visit masteryourimage.com. B Y H O W A R D P O T T E R We know the guaranteed base minimum we will order and lock in a deal for a set price. So, certain products we will buy by the cases, like ink and certain sprays. Laserable cups are popular, so we have no issues ordering them in bulk. Ordering digital printing ink in bulk can cut down on shipping costs. Around four years ago, we started stocking certain blank products like these T-shirts, for example. This year, I worked a deal on 4' x 8' aluminum sign boards. (All images courtesy Howard Potter) G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M 2 0 2 2 J U L Y G R A P H I C S P R O 6 9