4 tips for managing your fixture, signage and store supply vendors
By Chris Loxley, Vice President of Sales
Once you’ve determined what fixtures, signs and supplies your stores need, two key questions follow: Which vendors provide each item? And how can you effectively manage those vendor relationships?
These questions affect everyone—from store associates searching for replacement fixtures to corporate teams tracking vendor performance. In fact, while 77% of retailers say end-to-end visibility is critical, only 31% feel they actually have it.
Here are four strategies to end the chaos:
#1 Manage your vendors in one centralized system
A centralized ordering system shows everyone exactly which vendor offers each specific fixture or sign in your catalog. Store associates don’t need to search through emails, ask managers or guess. They can simply look up the item and see immediately who provides it, along with availability and delivery timeframes.
This clear connection between items and their vendors eliminates confusion and gives associates confidence to place orders without unnecessary delays or extra steps.
#2 Integrate non-merchandise ordering with your ERP or procurement system
Connect your fixture and signage ordering with your core business systems, such as your ERP or procurement systems. When these systems work together, associates can immediately order from the right vendor without guesswork.
Then, give your vendors an easy place to administer the orders they are responsible for. They can update lead times, confirm in-store dates, and even post advance ship notifications (ASNs) or links to third-party carriers in a system everyone can see.
This integration replaces disconnected spreadsheets and emails with a single source of truth that maintains your approval workflows and budget controls.
#3 Improve issue resolution through shared visibility
When an associate discovers a damaged fixture or missing signage, they need to know not just what to reorder but who to contact about the problem. A unified ordering system highlights issues like late deliveries or incorrect shipments as they occur.
Instead of spending days tracking down status updates through phone calls or emails, associates can see exactly which vendor is responsible for each item and communicate directly within the same system.
#4 Track vendor performance with clear insights
Store teams need to know not just who provides each item, but also what to expect from that vendor. Detailed performance metrics provide insights into reliability, lead times, fill-rates and fulfillment accuracy for each supplier.
With this information readily available, everyone has realistic expectations when ordering and can provide accurate timelines to team members waiting for items to arrive.
Simplify vendor management
Centralizing your non-merchandise ordering creates a single source of truth for your entire organization. Store associates quickly find the right vendors, and corporate teams gain better control over vendor relationships.
Want to simplify non-merchandise ordering for your stores and corporate users? Connect with our team.