Tuscaloosa, AL - Some of the most important business relationships cleaning contractors can have are with facility maintenance distributors. Astute distributors can help a contractor build his/her business, are aware of new cleaning products and technologies that can improve worker productivity and effectiveness, and can help reduce operating costs. 

And for distributors, one of the most important and lucrative relationships they can have is with cleaning contractors. For many distributors, cleaning contractors are their largest single market. 

The two groups appear to be intertwined and the better the working relationship, the better it will be for both parties.

Because of this, this month's Elevate Your Effectiveness, from AFFLINK, is designed to help distributors better understand the four things cleaning contractors-and most likely facility managers and other administrators as well-look for when working with a facility maintenance distributor.

The four criteria are:

Competitive pricing: Contractors must pay close attention to pricing; however, they are also well-aware of the cliché, "you get what you pay for," so what competitive pricing often means is offering the contractor/administrator ways to ensure volume discounts, for instance, or manufacturer rebates that can help secure quality products at a reduced cost.

Availability: Contractors are often in situations where they need a product now; a week or more delay for a product to be delivered simply will not work so product availability when needed is crucial.

Problem-solving: This is often the strong suit for astute distributors and one of the things contractors look for most. "If we have problems [with a manufacturer's product] we cannot solve, we want help with them," says one contractor. "We want help...and quickly."

Product alternatives: Contractors are invariably looking for comparable products that cost less and are more effective, easier to use, Greener, or more sustainable.

According to Leah Runge, Marketing Manager for AFFLINK's eLev8® system, contractors and administrators want distributors with access to "web-based technologies that suggest product alternatives quickly, with enough detail to help eliminate trial-and-error purchasing and make fact-based buying decisions."