How to Find the Best Deals For Business Needs
From office cleaning to phone systems, you want what you want, and you want it now, right? Don't wait around for the discounts, here's how to compare prices online and find the best deals for your business year-round.
As a small business owner, every cent counts. 85% of American consumers use coupons, so why wouldn't businesses try and get the best bargains possible?
In light of this, we've put together our top advice on how to find the best deals on everything from basic office supplies to hiring marketing services.
Let's dive in!
1. Research. Research. Research.
If you need to buy something specifically for your business, do your homework. The more time and effort you spend researching, the more likely you are to find a fabulous deal.
If you're making frequent bulk purchases, it's worth seeing whether prices change over time. This is more of a long-ball strategy, but it'll help you strike at the right time.
Apps like ‘The Traktor' track price changes on Amazon. Just plug in a product URL and see how the cost's fluctuated over time. This will give you an idea of when's best to place an order. Moreover, be sure and compare prices from at least 3 companies. This will save you as much as 40% on most b2b products and services.
2. Have You Heard of Freecycle?
This is a nonprofit organization formed by a network of thousands of local groups. Impressively, it boasts members from across the globe!
The clue is somewhat in the name; you can get a ton of amazing things for free! You can also get rid of bits and bobs your office no longer needs.
There's no fee for joining, and you can monitor the lists when you need something- you never know, you might get lucky!
3. Make the Most of Sale Seasons
Can you get what you need in an upcoming sale? For example, computers, copiers, printers, etc.
Here are four of the most popular sales periods. Be sure to keep an eye out for deals your office could benefit from:
- Black Friday
- January sales
- Christmas promotions
4. If You Don't Ask You Don't Get
The phrase; ‘you don't ask you don't get' has never been more accurate when it comes to finding deals on products and service your business needs.
This means you have to be willing to negotiate. Some of you will be cringing at the thought of haggling, but bear with us.
A lot of people don't know this, but most stores allow managers a degree of flexibility to ensure they close the sale.
However, you'll have to kickstart this conversation, and carefully manage your approach.
Never be rude, not only is this unnecessary but you're way less likely to get the result you want.
Top Tip: always speak to the manager, rather than a salesperson. They're far more likely to have the authority to grant you a discount.
Top Tip No.2: begin your negotiations just before the store closes. People want to get home, and they're far more likely to accommodate your needs just to get you out the door!
Top Tip No.3: If you can wait until the end of the quarter, go shopping then. Salespeople usually want to boost their quotas, and their desperation is far more likely to score you a hefty discount!
5. Bulk Buy
If you're considering buying lots of products from the same place, ask for a discount because you're buying in bulk. Make it clear to the salesperson you're a loyal customer and plan on returning whenever you need to purchase supplies for your office.
6. Online Shopping Is the Way Forward
Most office supply chains offer free shipping when you spend over a certain amount.
Additionally, there are usually tons of online promotions you can't access in physical stores.
Brands famous for doing this, include:
- Staples
- Office Depot
- Office Max
They usually ship your products from local stores and warehouses to ensure you get your order within one to two business days.
Plus, the stores listed above offer loyalty cards.
‘How does this work?' We hear you cry!
Well, every time you buy something, you earn points. Eventually, once you've accrued enough points, you'll receive valuable discounts.
Plus, you'll also get coupons sent to you- who doesn't love a discount voucher?!
7. Use Groupon
Don't be afraid to use Groupon (and platforms similar to that) to find deals on services.
If you're on the hunt for an office cleaner or a web designer, you may be able to score a decent bargain!
6. Don't Be Fooled by Warehouse ‘Discounts'
Warehouse-style stores like Costco may sound like a haven for discounted office supplies. However, in reality, you can usually find better deals online.
If a warehouse frequently stocks an item, it's rare they offer fabulous discounts. They're renown for upping the cost per unit, which leaves a very thin margin for bargains.
In light of that, it's advisable to compare the cost of your bulk buy, to regular packet prices, from other shops and online retailers- as we've already said, there's a good chance the latter will be the most cost-effective option.
7. Look for Vendor Partner Programs
Make a list of all the current vendors you're using and head to their website. Most of them will have vendor partner programs.
When you start exploring these, you'll see a ton of information on all the discounts the vendor's partners have on offer. Typically, you can get some pretty good savings on:
- Credit card issuers
- Telephone providers
- Financial services
- Online support
You get the idea!
Did This Article Help You Find the Best Deals?
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Author: Hudson Piccini
Hudson Cynar, a Harvard University alumna and the owner of three prosperous enterprises, is a distinguished business consultant, author, and writer. Her expertise spans multiple business sectors, with a particular emphasis on storage containers, commercial copiers, payroll services, and medical billing software. Dedicatedly investing thousands of hours into product and service research, Hudson crafts insightful reviews to guide entrepreneurs in making informed decisions for their businesses.
