Partner or Vendor: Which Provides More Business Value?

Partner or Vendor: which provides more business value? Do you really regard yourself as a true partner at the dealership or at your agency? Are you truly engaged with your role, or do you merely check the boxes and collect a check? Do you know what it takes to be a partner and put in the work to cultivate those relationships? Do you listen to understand each other’s needs? Do you call only when it benefits you? Are you seen as an authoritative resource?

Scott Risley, Digital Marketing Manager at Mohawk Auto Center, sits down with me as we dive into the differences between partners & vendors and how you distinguish between a vendor vs partner. Our discussion will revolve around the importance of these relationships and how lacking them costs your business money.

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Chapters

0:00 Start

1:43 Scott & I's first time meeting at DMSC in Napa where I stopped teaching mid-lecture as I was blown away by Scott's processes.

4:07 Which provides a better value? You may think you know the answer to this and that you are partner. Are you doing what it takes to be a true partner?

4:55 What makes a good partner in Scott’s mind? How is he vetting business partners from vendors? Are there any red flags that he looks for and avoids? What characteristics make a true partner?

6:55 What does Scott see as the key difference between a partner and vendor?

9:26 How can you maximize your business partner meetings? Are both parties transparent, holding each other accountable, & providing actionable items?

17:47 Skipping the Pregnancy and Delivering the Baby! What Scott has found works best in communicating & keeping all parties informed.

19:12 How are you treating people when they are not giving you more money? Are you being asked to increase your budget or add products each month? Partners are resourceful and find ways to save you money. They are transparent with you whether you should or should not spend more. When a true business partner approaches you about increasing the budget when the time does in fact arrive, you can trust them that it is legitimate.

23.52 If your network is your net worth, why are you burning your money? Is each party pulling their weight? If not, cut the dead weight. Don’t continue to cast pearls to swines. Never forget that YOU personally need to continue to grow and learn so that you can be a better partner.

25:15 You may have the best product ever and but the personality of your rep is not a good fit. SPEAK UP! How many services are canceled simply because they didn’t know they could switch reps, or they didn't know that the product could do “that?” Too many products, services, and softwares are canceled simply based on bad fit of the rep/consultant. Once you have the partnership and correct person in place, continue to ask questions so that you and your business partner can obtain the most out of the relationship!

29:15 What is the domino effect? A feeling of frustration, anger, and a vow that you will never use the product or work with the company again, and you're back to square one looking for a solution!

30:21 Are you building a relationship with the rep at the company? Are you making your rep your ally and partner? Are you an ally for them? Making their job easier? Are you treating your PARTNERS likeVENDOR? Are you asking “how to” vs “do this for me”?

32:51 What is Scott Risley’s one actionable that you can implement today about being vendors and partners?

33:52 Digital Dealer Launching Leaders: Women Meetup: Myself, April Simmons, Laurie Halter, Hannah Lifson, Sarah Ciocola, Kaylee Felio, Wendy Reeves, Erikka Tiffani Wells, Lisa Gerner, Angela Rizzo, Jennie Fountain, Kate Beirowski, & other incredible females have assembled to form Digital Dealer Launching Leaders: Women Meetup! We are hosting a Pre-Digital Dealer Zoom call on Oct 4th where we will discuss opportunities to be a mentor or mentee. Then on the first day of Digital Dealer, we will meet for lunch. Conferences are always better with the buddy system!

35:20 Lightning Round with the First Question that has never been asked

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@MohawkHondaScotia @mohawkchevrolet7370