Who could provide it.
WHERE TO FIND THEM
Existing relationships Referrals from businesses like yours Industry associations Exhibitions Directories and searching
WHAT REFERRALS PROVIDE
Evidence, which directories do not.
WHAT TO ASK THE REFERRER
Whether they would use them again What went wrong, and how it was handled
WHY THE SECOND QUESTION
Every supplier has problems; how they handle them is the difference.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT ANY SUPPLIER
That they exist and are registered How long they have operated What they actually do themselves against subcontract Their capacity Their financial stability
WHY FINANCIAL STABILITY
A supplier that fails mid-contract is expensive.
HOW TO ASSESS IT, ROUGHLY
Filed accounts, where available How they pay their own suppliers Whether they demand unusual advance payment
WHAT TO VERIFY
Registration, through the public register Certifications claimed, with the issuing body
WHY VERIFY CERTIFICATIONS
Claimed certification is frequently unverified and sometimes false.
WHAT TO REQUEST
References from customers similar to you.
WHAT TO DO WITH THEM
Contact them, and ask specific questions.
WHAT TO VISIT, FOR SIGNIFICANT SUPPLIERS
Their premises.
WHAT THAT REVEALS
Capacity, organisation and whether the description was accurate.
WHAT TO RECORD
The assessment.
