Choosing a Distributor
- Should I go with the big ones like Fastenal, Grainger and Air Gas?
Many larger companies have national contracts with national distributors. That is excellent for large purchases on multiple sites. Large distributors can also offer things like vending programs and embedded onsite personnel.
Amazon is great for delivery and sometimes price. They have excelled in the consumer marketplace but won’t be able to visit onsite or deal with specific product questions or issues. If you know exactly what you want and are very confident in the supplier, Amazon can be excellent.
- Should I go with a speciality distributor?
A specialty distributor can provide greater expertise on specific products or areas of business. For example, Manus (part of Allredi) in Canada provides expertise in blasting as does Norton’s in the Eastern US. Stauffer Glove and EnviroSafety/GuardianSafety are excellent examples of specialty distributors in their sectors and regions.
At X1, we provide national expertise in the high heat market (for purchase or rental), respiratory market in healthcare, manufacturing, construction and power generation, as well as highly competitive online shopping and the ability to set up a company safety store for customers.
In the end, you have to determine your requirements and the best match for your needs. If we can help, we are more than happy to. Contact us.