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5 Ways to Improve Client and Vendor Communication

June 14, 2023

Effective communication is critical to maintaining strong relationships with clients and vendors in today's highly competitive retail industry. Communication is vital for businesses of any size in serving retail clients and procurement teams. This blog post will explore five strategies to enhance communication with clients and vendors, specifically focusing on procurement and creating retail displays, including POP displays.


Establish Clear Channels of Communication

The client and vendor should establish clear communication channels to build a solid foundation for effective communication. Assigning a dedicated point of contact for each client and vendor ensures consistent communication and avoids confusion. By having a single representative, clients and vendors have a reliable go-to person who can address their needs and concerns promptly.


When feasible, businesses should embrace multiple communication methods, including email, phone calls, video conferences, and in-person meetings. Adapting to the preferred communication mode of clients and vendors helps to maximize engagement and ensure smooth interactions.


Active Listening and Understanding Client Needs 

Active listening is crucial to understanding and meeting client expectations. When engaging with clients and vendors, businesses should prioritize active listening. This means actively focusing on what the client or vendor is saying, demonstrating empathy, and showing genuine interest in understanding their needs. 


By actively listening, the team can gain valuable insights into client preferences, project requirements, and potential challenges. Furthermore, asking clarifying questions helps ensure a comprehensive understanding of client expectations, preventing misunderstandings and enabling the business to deliver satisfactory solutions.

An Exactec employee making a display case

Regular Progress Updates and Timely Responses

Transparent and timely communication is essential for maintaining strong relationships with clients and vendors. The business should provide regular progress updates to keep clients and vendors informed about the status of their projects, particularly about the development of retail displays and POP displays. Regular updates instill confidence in clients and vendors, showcasing the business's commitment to transparency and accountability. 


Additionally, prompt responses to client inquiries and vendor concerns are critical. Timely responses demonstrate that the team values their input and is dedicated to promptly addressing any questions, issues, or requests.


Collaborative Approach and Feedback Loop

Collaboration is critical to successful client and vendor relationships. By fostering collaboration, businesses can harness clients' and vendors' collective expertise and insights. Engaging them in decision-making, especially when creating retail displays, allows team members to incorporate their input and ideas, resulting in more tailored and effective solutions. 


Establishing a feedback loop is equally important. By actively seeking feedback from clients and vendors upon project completion, the business demonstrates its commitment to continuous improvement. Analyzing and implementing their suggestions helps refine processes, enhance product quality, and strengthen the partnership.


Personalize the Experience 

Personalization goes a long way in building strong and lasting relationships. Each business should take the time to understand each client's unique preferences, communication style, and any specific requirements they may have. Adapting to their preferences and needs shows a genuine commitment to their success. 


Going the extra mile by surprising clients and vendors with personalized gestures further strengthens the relationship. Small acts of appreciation, such as customized thank-you notes, special offers, or exclusive previews of upcoming retail displays, create a sense of loyalty and partnership, increasing the likelihood of repeat business.

The Exactec team

Effective communication is crucial for a business's success in serving retail clients and procurement teams. By implementing the five strategies outlined in this blog post, your team can significantly enhance client retention, strengthen sales relationships, and ensure the delivery of high-quality retail displays, including POP displays.


Work With Exactec

Our Exactec team knows client retention best. We also know the ins and outs of retail displays, acrylic and plastic display fabrication, UV gluing, and more. Whichever type of retail display you choose for your next project, you want to ensure it is well-made by an expert design team. Exactec has decades of experience creating long-lasting, memorable displays for all types of clients. Connect with us to see examples of our work and start discussing your next project!

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Great retailers know that even if a product "speaks for itself," it must still be positioned well in the store. The design of physical stores speaks to how the customer experience will unfold. Since it's not practical for retailers and store owners to constantly redesign all aspects of the store, retail displays can serve as a way to keep the store looking fresh. How often and when should store management change out their displays? Let's examine times when you'll want to switch out displays or rework what you have. New Product Launches One of the most common times to change retail displays is when your store launches a new product (or carries a new product). The vendor may already have branding and even a display design in mind. The store manager will want to find a prominent spot to put the new product in, such as right near the entrance or at the point of purchase. New products should catch the eyes of regular customers and encourage impulse purchases. Season Changes It's natural for shoppers to be in tune with the seasons. No matter what type of retail store you operate, you have specific products you'll push more in the fall and winter versus in the spring and summer. Store management should change retail displays when they can to match the tone of the seasons. Consider adding seasonal lights or props even if the store budget needs more room for new displays. Color schemes can make a massive shift, too – think brighter, warm colors for the summer and cool tone colors for the winter. Major Holidays Major holidays are also a critical time to change retail displays and seasons. If your store runs any holiday promotions or deals, your displays should reflect the sale. The traditional holiday season is an expected time to get the store decked out while holiday shoppers run in and out. However, other holidays throughout the year can serve as a time to change out displays and keep the store looking festive. 

Consumer Behavior Predictions for 2024

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Point-of-Purchase Display Mistakes -- And How To Fix Them

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