Wholesale Creating with a Value Series Clear Value Proposition

Given increased global competition and the rise in digital as a Unfortunately, more than 88 percent of distributors that respond- major channel, a value proposition has never been more im- ed to a Real Results survey placed a large emphasis in portant for independent distributors today. Consolidation is also their value-proposition messaging on just a handful of features: likely to accelerate over the next five years; distributors who have product selection, availability, speed of , pre-sales technical not differentiated will either get acquired or go out of . support and professional sales representatives. In other words, A value proposition tells who the company is and many distributors are telling prospects the same thing. For most, why they should do business with them. A clear and compelling that will not differentiate them. What’s more, the logistic functions value proposition has a direct and positive effect on a distributor’s of product selection, availability and speed of delivery are typically bottom line and should drive everything in a distributor’s business. what the largest competitors do well, making it difficult for any It affects how they communicate with customers, select customers distributor to make headway by highlighting these features, and and align their services around what customers value. reducing the relationship to one that is price-based.

What’s in a value proposition? A value proposition should consider what a company does that differentiates it from its competitors, what’s important to the customers and the , and what competitors claim about their offering. See the Value Map Example on the second page.

Areas of Opportunity Targeting the Right Customers or remove any products and services; but they may want to When distributors understand which customers they are best add products and services or adapt their offerings based on at serving – and what those customers value – they can align feedback. Customers will share which products and their organization around that. They can then target more of the services are most important to them. same types of customers, resulting in market-share growth. This will vary by role and customer segment. For example, They will also serve existing customers better for an increase in a purchasing agent may value easy-reorder capabilities while wallet share. What’s more, when customers get what they like, an engineer may value technical support. Targeting the right they’ll stick around longer. Customer retention will improve. For persona with the right message matters. Distributors need to example, a distributor Real Results Marketing has worked with shift their messaging to what customers care about. sells many of the same products that others do, including abra- sives, safety products and hand tools. But their value proposi- Assigning the Right Resources tion is their exceptional with customized solutions, and When a distributor knows what a customer values, it can they charge for it. This service proposition is engrained into align its customer-facing resources accordingly. For exam- front-line team members who interact with the customer from ple, a customer that doesn’t value the service provided by an Day 1. As a result, they do not pursue customers that only care in-person field sales rep could better be served by inside sales about the lowest price. or a distributor’s ebusiness channel at a lower cost. The field salespeople who remain can focus on consultative value-add- Selling the Right Products and Services ed activities such as generating more business from existing If a distributor talks about product selection but their cus- customers and targeting new customers that match a distribu- tomers only care about how quickly they get the order to the tor’s value proposition. jobsite, that distributor is wasting their breath. Similarly, many distributors tout the benefit of their own value-added services. Systematically Sharpening and Improving Your Offering Yet, few know whether or how much customers value these Distributors that have a strong value proposition know which services. It’s important to understand which products and direction they need to go. They won’t be distracted by new services customers value – and which they don’t. Distributors ideas that don’t align with what the market values and what that are trying to be all things to all people are leaving money they do well. They can continually refine their products and ser- on the table. This doesn’t mean that distributors must change vices to maintain a competitive advantage.

© 2019 Real Results Marketing The data and analysis in this report are the property of Real Results Marketing. Do not copy without permission. Benefits: Alignment with the Right Value Proposition The benefits of a strong value proposition go beyond selling the right products and services. Internally, distributors with the right value proposition will experience alignment across their organizations, which will lead to increased efficiencies and cost savings across the board. What’s more, the distributor will see a greater return on its team’s investment of time.

Executive Finance Operations Customer Service Inside and Marketing With a clear value Budget and over- The company no Front-line team Outside Sales The distributor’s proposition, C-level sight are focused longer sources members, including Sales teams don’t messaging is more management and streamlined be- everything for cus- customer service compete on price targeted and rele- teams can focus on cause the company tomers, plugging reps, understand as much, having a vant and focused strategy and value has specific strate- a value leak. It has the value the clearer definition of on the prospects creation because gies around value. optimized suppliers company provides. the right customers that will be most they have peace of Departments have for the right product They prioritize their and prospects that likely to respond, mind that the orga- accountability, and in the right places, time with the right will value the dis- leading to greater nization is united are spending on the resulting in more customers, deliv- tributor’s products return on marketing around doing the right initiatives and turns & less excess/ ering better service and services. investment. right things right. . obsolete inventory. and satisfaction.

Value Map: Example The Bottom Line Product selection If a distributor sees itself as all things to all people, Product and aligns around that, it will bleed profitability. This is availability not just about a cool mission statement for a website. The importance of internal and external communica- tion cannot be understated. Internal communication is critical to calibrating a distributor’s engine before DIFFERENTIATED IMPORTANT taking the message externally. Without that organiza- tional alignment, a value proposition lacks strategic value. And without external communication across every customer-facing , the distributor will Customer remain undifferentiated in the customer’s mind. That is training Product expertise a matter of life and death in today’s market. The development of a strong value proposition does UNCLAIMED not come quickly; it can take up to six months. Real Productivity Supply chain improvement Results Marketing works with distributors to identify solutions and create a strategy around a clear and compelling expertise value proposition. Contact Real Results Marketing today to learn more.

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Real Results Marketing brings unparalleled distributor marketing expertise from our time as successful executives, advisors, and implementers with MRO and OEM distributors of all sizes in a variety of market segments. Based on real results that we have achieved in the distribution market, we strike the right blend of strategy, execution, and measurement to transform your marketing department into a profit center.

© 2019 Real Results Marketing The data and analysis in this report are the property of Real Results Marketing. Do not copy without permission.