First Cut keeps a finger on the pulse of international industry 11 May 2012 As one of southern Africa’s leading distributors of international capital equipment and consumables, First Cut maintains excellent customer relationships by adding value to its customers’ businesses. This is achieved through a mixture of quality, targeted products; a proactive and experienced staff; and exemplary customer service. “All of these elements require effort and an investment in capital, time and resources, but at the end of the day they pay dividends in a number of ways,” says the company’s Sales Director, Gary Willis. High on First Cut’s agenda is the valuable input derived from visiting international events to nurture existing supplier relationships and to develop new relationships. “We are constantly looking for suppliers who have products complementary to our existing range,” says Willis. “Ultimately, the aim is to provide our customer base with access to a comprehensive portfolio of products geared around increasing productivity, decreasing downtime and ensuring quality output, with a large return on their investment.” Willis recently attended the 38th International Hardware Fair in Cologne, Germany where 53 500 visitors from over 132 countries surveyed the offerings of 2 665 suppliers from over 50 countries. The show, held from 4 to 7 March, is undoubtedly the leading business and innovation hub for the hardware sector. An opportunity to network with First Cut’s supplier – Starrett– helped to strengthen and cement already fruitful relationships. “It is important to have a face-to-face relationship with one’s suppliers but, what was even more meaningful, was that I was able to see these companies interacting with the international visitors in a neutral environment where they shared their knowledge and expertise. Confidence in one’s suppliers and the products they supply is critical if you wish to provide your customers with best practice solutions,” says Willis. Willis used the opportunity to investigate a number of companies that he felt would be a good fit with First Cut’s current product offering. “Interestingly, not only did I find a number of product ranges from European and American companies that were in line with our expected high standards of quality and performance, but I also noted the levels of quality exhibited by some of the Chinese brands. “Naturally, any relationships we embark on will receive due diligence to ensure that they fall in line with our strict quality assurance and safety policies. Our first priority is the satisfaction of our customers. Visits to international events such as the Cologne International Hardware Fair provide us with a valuable resource for improving the customer experience, through increased access to knowledge and the possibility of new and valuable product lines,” Willis concludes. |
