In brief
A useful reference explains how a supplier supports day-to-day retail operations. Product quality is one part of the picture; stock changes and returns handling also matter.
Reference checks for retail sourcing partners
A useful reference explains how a supplier supports day-to-day retail operations. Product quality is one part of the picture; stock changes and returns handling also matter.
What to do
- Ask about order accuracy and the frequency of unexpected substitutions.
- Discuss how product defects or incorrect descriptions were corrected.
- Confirm whether the reference purchased a comparable range and volume.
Ask about a concrete past event
With the reference’s agreement, keep a short record of the assignment discussed and the context of the answers. Ask what happened, how the provider responded, and what the buyer had to do. Separate first-hand experience from opinion about work the reference did not observe. Avoid asking for confidential commercial information that is unnecessary to your decision.
Compare the account with the current proposal and note any differences in team, location, volume, or scope. A positive reference is useful evidence for a comparable situation, not a guarantee of future performance. Resolve the most important mismatch directly with the candidate.
Illustrative buying situation
Consider this hypothetical example.
A reference describes reliable deliveries of standard stock, but your order involves customised packaging. Ask how the supplier controls proofs, production changes, and defects on comparable custom work. A useful reference should describe a particular problem and its resolution. If that capability remains untested, use a representative sample or pilot. The reference can support ordinary fulfilment without automatically proving the more specialised work in the new brief.
Your next decision
Use the answers to test the supplier’s promised support after the first order.
Related buying guides
Reference-check guideUAE supplier guides