Where do you shop for your supplies? Media / inks / comsumables

[Printer101]

General graphic solutions got bought out by Grimco . Grimco prices are way more than what i used to pay at Gsg.
Where do you shop ? Please share your suppliers .

 

[Graphic Extremes]

Right now prices are all over the place because of them being raised because of the new tariffs. It will take a bit for everything to balance out in pricing. Some have raised prices already, and some are waiting to use up the stock they have before raising the prices..

 

[edawg]

I shop around and buy from whoever has the best price on the same product. Fellers (ships direct from manufacture"GF"), Montroy Sign Supply, DIGI Prints (parts), Nazdar (inks), and a couple others. I haven't used Grimco for about 2-3 years. I keep my common materials/parts/supplies in-stock/in-house so I don't have to wait for shipping

 

[signheremd]

You can talk to your Grimco Sales Rep and they will adjust prices.

 

[Rallyeguy]

Grimco/Fellers. Consolidation continues to pare down options.

 

[JBurton]

You can talk to your Grimco Sales Rep and they will adjust prices.

Yeah, just act all big and bad, 'my other distributor is selling it for xx less than you', and they'll reduce the price immediately. This won't work for long...

If you're in Texas, holler at Reece Supply, good folk, still doing business like a competent distributor, not amazon.

 

[signheremd]

Yeah, just act all big and bad, 'my other distributor is selling it for xx less than you', and they'll reduce the price immediately. This won't work for long...

If you're in Texas, holler at Reece Supply, good folk, still doing business like a competent distributor, not amazon.

You don't have to act big and bad, just tell ask them if they can do better. It does help to have a comparable - maybe what you used to pay. And you don't have to use them, but I made the suggestion because some folks may not realize you can get better pricing if you ask.

Somebody else mentioned Fellers - they have all but weeded themselves out as a source for us. They used to stock a lot, and now most of the time I check with them they need to back order the product and then if the back order is more than a week they cancel it even if you respond to their email asking you to do so. Shame the wife got that in the divorce and more shame that she sold it...

 

[JBurton]

You don't have to act big and bad, just tell ask them if they can do better. It does help to have a comparable - maybe what you used to pay. And you don't have to use them, but I made the suggestion because some folks may not realize you can get better pricing if you ask.

You're definitely right. I just had lunch with a rep from another company, and he was astonished what grimco was doing. Like, one customer who doesn't buy but maybe $1k worth of matthews paint in a year, is getting all of his paint delivered at a 3 or 4% markup. There's no money in that to afford gas, but they'll push hard on their new customer base until they don't feel they need to.

 

[MarkSnelling]

In Dallas hit up Mike Osman at Amcad. He knows his stuff and if you communicate with him, you can likely get the pricing you are looking for.

You should also find vendors who actually understand the applications you are doing and who can recommend quality alternatives to what you've been using. I watch people all the time insist on using cast vinyl on walls (with a cast laminate) when they could be using better looking and better performing products like Retac for less than half the price....literally a roll is $485 as opposed to what, $1200 for a kit of 3M cast? I see people using IJ40 for floor graphics....why? That stuff is $450 a roll for a temporary graphic when a monomeric removable will do the same job for $200. Same is true on brick graphics, window graphics, etc.

Just shopping for a price is one thing....shopping for products which are just as good but a hell of a lot less could be a lot more beneficial. I'm always open to conversations about product and I can also ship from Drytac's Texas warehouse.

 

[signheremd]

You're definitely right. I just had lunch with a rep from another company, and he was astonished what grimco was doing. Like, one customer who doesn't buy but maybe $1k worth of matthews paint in a year, is getting all of his paint delivered at a 3 or 4% markup. There's no money in that to afford gas, but they'll push hard on their new customer base until they don't feel they need to.

I am not saying to buy from Grimco, for those just entering the conversation, but to know what is possible with them. They can be a good source sometimes. That said, this strategy of buying up smaller supply companies likely ends with jacking up prices to pay for it (so essentially your customers buy the businesses for you) and then larger profits from a combination of market share and higher margins.

 

[MarkSnelling]

I am not saying to buy from Grimco, for those just entering the conversation, but to know what is possible with them. They can be a good source sometimes. That said, this strategy of buying up smaller supply companies likely ends with jacking up prices to pay for it (so essentially your customers buy the businesses for you) and then larger profits from a combination of market share and higher margins.

Their buying power is just stupid...and the manufacturers who kneel down are going to eventually realize the tail is wagging the dog. If they wanted, and sometimes they actually do, they can sell product for cheaper than I can buy it. But good luck learning about new products from them. Their sales talent has really suffered as the good sales people who once worked for the good companies Grimco purchased don't last long.

 

[signheremd]

Their buying power is just stupid...and the manufacturers who kneel down are going to eventually realize the tail is wagging the dog. If they wanted, and sometimes they actually do, they can sell product for cheaper than I can buy it. But good luck learning about new products from them. Their sales talent has really suffered as the good sales people who once worked for the good companies Grimco purchased don't last long.

Trimming out talented people saves money too... lol. Out our way a lot of dealers try to get rid of their older mechanics to reduce salaries. They weed out the talent and then car dealers want you to service with them as sales don't make enough money. Greed and no long term vision

 

[tulsagraphics]

Reece is my go-to, then GSG. It's hard to beat "free" weekly truck deliveries.

If you order enough volume consistently from a single supplier they'll start lowering prices across the board. Just start a conversation with all the reps in your area and see which distributor is the best fit for you.

As MarkSnelling pointed out, there's a TON of value in choosing a supplier that really knows about the products they sell. Take their recommendations, use them, and share pics / give feedback of jobs you've completed. Build a relationship. You'll make more money with a good rep in your corner than you will trying to shave pennies off everything you buy.

I can't overstate this enough -- be super nice and respectful to your sales reps! Even when problems happen! (they deal with nasty customers just like the rest of us). You'll get more leeway when negotiating, and might benefit from intangibles that aren't reflected on your invoice.
For example, there have been multiple times over the years where maybe I got shorted on something, received the wrong or damaged material or even me screwing up an important rush job, and my my sales rep drove 2 hours on a weekend to save my bacon. He's not gonna do that if he knows you'll drop him to save a nickel. Keep your rep happy and be loyal. It's worth it.

We're all paying higher prices -- just pass those costs onto your customers.

 

[JBurton]

I can't overstate this enough -- be super nice and respectful to your sales reps!

Don't forget the drivers! They can be very helpful if they have been at it a while. Knowing what other folks are ordering, who might have 20' of a roll you need asap, or even getting some inside info on your competitors. We have a delivery guy that will talk endlessly, and he's shared who's picked up what job, what leds are favored by other shops, nifty time saving tips from other shops, it goes on and on. And likely I get this info because I don't kick his ass out the door as soon as I've signed the ticket.
Obviously, you can glean this info from your sales rep too, but they have skin in the game, and aren't inclined to tell you how jimbo is getting a better rate than you... but they do tend to have a meal budget for taking out customers around lunch time, it never hurts to see if they are hungry, they typically won't let you pay.