When working with product suppliers, businesses should collaborate with multiple suppliers who can provide the products they need. Relying on a single supplier can pose problems for brands in the long run. If products are sourced from a single supplier and issues arise with that supplier or if demand increases beyond what the supplier can handle, brands may not be able to procure enough products for distribution.

It's important for brands to maintain a certain number of supplier firms. Working with too many firms can also become problematic. Managing and communicating with numerous firms can lead to increased costs as product quantities decrease when sourced from multiple suppliers, making communication and management more challenging.

Establishing Efficient and Regular Communication

Establishing efficient and regular communication with product suppliers is crucial and requires careful attention. Maintaining regular communication strengthens the relationship between the brand and the supplier and is essential for the continuity of operations.

The benefit of efficient communication is to ensure smooth product procurement processes and to prevent misunderstandings and errors.

Defining Internal Roles and Responsibilities

Defining the roles and responsibilities of personnel involved in product procurement within the company and those responsible for communication from the outset is beneficial for brands. Determining who will handle communication, who will manage and track inventory, what responsibilities this person will assume, and how they will take initiative, as well as what to focus on when communicating with supplier firms, will help establish a procedure specific to this process, which will be advantageous for e-commerce brands.