Business-to-Business Vendors Rated a More Reliable Source Than Retail Outlets
CHICAGO, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent survey, purchasers
of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies report that availability
of replacement parts for repair is critical in their selection of MRO
suppliers.
Commissioned by Grainger, North America's leading distributor of MRO
supplies and services, the survey asked 600 purchasing decision-makers,
representing small, medium and large businesses, to comment on factors that
influence their selection of MRO suppliers. The questions were part of a
comprehensive study of purchasing trends and issues among businesses and
institutions representing construction, manufacturing, transportation,
communications, utilities, hospitality, health care, and education.
When asked to rate the importance of 13 supplier services, representatives
across each industry segment consistently listed availability of replacement
parts as very important (76%). Other services rated very important in
selecting a vendor include just-in-time delivery (61%), technical support for
products (52%) and having a wide variety of product lines (51%).
"Not only do businesses rely on suppliers for timely delivery of a wide
range of MRO products," says Wes Clark, group president, Grainger, "but the
survey findings support what we've always believed -- companies also look for
suppliers who can provide the complete spectrum of replacement parts for
repair of those products as well. That's why out of the approximately 560,000
products we offer, 250,000 -- or nearly 45 percent -- are repair parts."
Additionally, when asked to compare business-to-business vendors and
consumer retail outlets, more than two out of three respondents (68%)
indicated business-to-business suppliers are a more reliable source for
replacement parts.
Furthermore, availability of replacement parts was among six key
categories in which purchasers rated business-to-business vendors superior to
retail outlets. Other categories in which business-to-business suppliers were
rated superior include: more knowledgeable technical support (77%); better
product quality and selection (74%); a larger inventory of products in stock
(61%); prompt, hassle-free service (60%); and the lowest prices (60%).
"The study shows that regardless of size, all businesses want essentially
the same things -- availability of replacement parts; broad product selection;
prompt, dependable delivery; and technical support -- without having to run
from vendor to vendor," Clark says. "While some businesses may think they are
too small to benefit from purchasing from business-to-business suppliers, this
simply is not the case. In fact, for Grainger, 85 percent of the more than
1.3 million companies we serve are small to medium-sized businesses."
Clark adds, "One-stop shopping is a major benefit Grainger can offer to
any company. Grainger's size and experience enables us to provide an
unparalleled breadth of MRO products, services and replacement parts to meet
the distinct needs of each customer, regardless of size, industry or
location."
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW), with 1997 sales of $4.1 billion, is the
leading distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies and
related information to the commercial, industrial, contractor, and
institutional markets in North America. GWW shares are traded on the New York
and Chicago stock exchanges. For more information, visit Grainger online at
http://www.grainger.com.
SOURCE W.W. Grainger, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.grainger.com
CONTACT:
Andrew Lumm of Porter Novelli, 312-856-8816,
for W.W. Grainger
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