Consumables: Regular Vendors vs. Specialists

High shipping rates, long lead times, and price increases have made it challenging to manage consumables, let alone afford or keep them in stock. At this point, many portable restroom operators are asking the same question: Can one-size-fits-all vendors support our industry?

While the answer for the portable sanitation sector isn’t clear, ultimately, the choice between regular vendors vs. specialists depends on individual business owners’ circumstances and experiences. Weigh your options by learning how these solutions differ in pricing, availability, and reliability.

What is a Consumables Specialist vs. a Regular Vendor?

Although specialists and generalists in the consumable market offer similar goods, their backgrounds and approaches differ. A typical vendor casts a broad net over many business types and industries, whereas a consumables specialist focuses on one industry and related companies.

For instance, a big box store’s business division sells commercial toilet paper products to retailers, restaurants, and PROs, among others. It likely offers septic-safe paper and soap refills but may not provide holding tank or urinal cleaner. Meanwhile, specialty vendors cater to certain markets and can serve as a one-stop shop for wearables, deodorizers, cleaners, and supplies.

Comparing Product and Shipping Costs

When buying consumables, affordability is a top concern. Prices per product vary widely between vendors, especially when factoring in shipping costs and market disruptions that increase rates. In addition, comparing per-item costs is challenging since items have different styles, sizes, and quantities.

Specialty vendors may offer lower prices on high-demand bulk items, like toilet paper, whereas regular suppliers run occasional deals. Still, PROs can achieve greater savings through a consumables specialist by combining multiple products under a flat-rate shipping fee. On the other hand, they would need to purchase essentials from several standard vendors and pay shipping fees to each merchant to procure a similar order.

Assessing Quality and Availability

As any PRO knows, low prices don’t mean much if the quality is miserable or products are never in stock. And there’s something to be said about speaking with someone who understands and appreciates the portable restroom industry. Regular vendors may hire and train a few salespeople to market to PROs. In contrast, specialists usually have a background in a related field and know how your business operates and what your customers want.

Standard vendors maintain diverse inventories to support many industries, so long lead times and out-of-stock notices are common. Consumables specialists keep robust inventories of specific items to guarantee quick shipping, better availability, and reliable services.

Procuring Service Reliability for PROs

The bottom line is that consumable market issues haven’t been fully resolved. Too many PROs continue to face long lead times for essential items. All too often, alternative products cost more when customers complain about shoddy toilet paper or technicians use more chemicals to compensate for underperforming cleaners.

Portable restroom businesses deserve the best service from their suppliers. If you’re tired of a procurement standard that doesn’t work for your company, perhaps it’s time to diversify and consider a consumables specialist.

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