Ordering office supplies is often a tedious and time-consuming task, particularly for small business leaders who are likely forced to take care of the purchasing process themselves. Done poorly, buying products and supplies can turn into a surprisingly large expense as well, inadvertently hurting the finances and overall success of your business. That is why it’s crucial to follow some smart practices that allow you to save money and time when purchasing products and supplies for your business. Here are some simple ways you could do just that:
Keep tabs on your inventory
Inventory tracking is a common practice in business that many companies implement to support optimal supply chain processes. But tracking different types of inventory can allow you to reach different goals, including running your office more efficiently. Your goal should be to avoid overspending and creating unnecessary clutter, and buy the right supplies at the appropriate volume instead. When you track your office supply inventory closely, you will be able to identify the exact products you need at any given time and estimate when you will run out of others. This enables you to plan more effective deliveries of needed supplies that arrive at the perfect time.
Automate recurring purchases
If you’d like to save some time and effort on supplies, setting up your orders in advance can be a good solution. This is especially beneficial for any items you purchase and use often, from face masks and gloves to paper and pens. Automate this process by setting recurring delivery on those frequently used products. Many platforms offer recurring deliveries nowadays, but even if they don’t, most suppliers will be willing to make a deal with your business for automated purchases. This simple process can eliminate the need for reordering, help you avoid stockouts, and potentially come with a special discount as well.
Buy everything from one place
The more supplies you manage to purchase from a single location, the better. This will allow you to keep your business stocked according to your needs, while saving you time on researching and ordering, and saving you money on deliveries as well. And if you decide on online shopping, this process can be streamlined even further. Online stores generally have a much wider range of products, meaning that the chances of finding all the supplies your business needs are significantly higher, too. What’s more, many online retailers already have established processes in place for partnering with businesses. This can come with advantages such as special deals, free delivery, recurring orders, and more.
Look for discounts and deals
No matter which supplier you decide to purchase from, chances are high that they will be offering certain incentives in an effort to attract more customers to their business and retain loyal consumers. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of these aspects. For instance, you might come across a unique promotion during the holidays, get a special treat when you subscribe to the company’s newsletter, or get a certain discount once you meet a minimum sum or quantity or as a new customer. Make use of all these special deals and discounts to save money when purchasing products and supplies for your business.
Purchase supplies in bulk
Depending on the type and the size of your business, you may need to purchase certain supplies in large quantities as well. You can save a significant sum of money, as well as some time and effort, just by deciding to buy these items in bulk. Bulk purchases are available with most suppliers, and they will often come with advantages such as quantity discounts and streamlined stock replenishing processes. However, you will also need to plan ahead, track your inventory, predict your requirements, and schedule deliveries at the right time when buying in bulk. This will prevent you from overspending and purchasing supplies you don’t actually need.
Make a corporate account
A number of suppliers will also give businesses the opportunity to set up a corporate account. When you decide on such a membership, you can enjoy unique benefits such as discounts on office products and supplies or rewards programs that allow you to save even more money on your purchases. If you only purchase from one supplier, whether you’re buying in bulk or not, you could also ask them to give you additional discounts and streamline your operations even further. Many suppliers will be willing to do this in order to maintain a good professional relationship with your business.
Although necessary for sustaining business processes, products and supplies can quickly add up to a large expense. Use the tips above to adjust how and where you purchase your supplies, allowing you to save time and money, work more efficiently, and support business growth.
