Exactly what is DistributorCentral?

by Don Sanders

Many distributors have asked us a variety of questions about DistributorCentral. People want to know if the service is free, if its search capability is as good as the paid services, and exactly how the order processing system works. Instead of trying to answer all these questions ourselves, we have asked DistributorCentral to explain their full range of services in the following article. On a personal note, we have found DistributorCentral to be a reliable and valuable resource.

What is DistributorCentral?

DistributorCentral offers Distributors in the promotional products industry a complete set of FREE business-building tools. Whether you use DistributorCentral for product searches or for designing your company's Web site, you will find solutions that will change the way you do business.

The best thing about DistributorCentral is that it is paid for by Suppliers, so it's free for every Distributor in the industry.

Tell me about the Online Product Catalog.

The DistributorCentral product search catalog is different from other online catalogs, because it gives Suppliers control over their own products. You'll find complete product information (oftentimes more than what is shown in a paper catalog) as well as accurate pricing.

More than 600 Suppliers currently list products with DistributorCentral (May, 2004). A powerful search tool allows you to find products based on keywords, categories, prices, quantities, country of manufacture and other detailed criteria. Theme catalogs like Real Estate Products, Health Care Products or Union Made Products and others help you serve your niche markets. Marketing catalogs like Quarterly Specials or New Products are also available to you. You can even make your own custom catalogs in which you select the products yourself.

Do I get a Free Web site?

There's no excuse for not having a website for your customers to use. When you get your DistributorCentral Online Office account, you also get a free Web site. There is no limit to how many pages you can have or what you can put on your site. DistributorCentral provides free online training seminars and support to help you build your site, but the design work is up to you and your imagination. DistributorCentral will also host your domain name and your e-mail at no charge.

With the customer-friendly version of the DistributorCentral product catalog, your customers can search for products and place orders on your Web site. They see only retail pricing; no Supplier names or discount codes show. If a customer orders through your Web site, the order comes straight to you.

You can use this customer catalog whether or not you use the free Web site from DistributorCentral. If you already have a Web site of your own, it's simple to link the catalog to your site.

Can you help me with Order Management?

Ordering from DistributorCentral Suppliers is easy and error-free. Every product is broken down into a series of questions and answers; ordering is like an easy multiple-choice quiz. All your setup charges and decoration options are spelled out for you as you go along.

You can also use DistributorCentral Order Management to order from Suppliers who are not yet listing their products with DistributorCentral.

When you use DistributorCentral Online Office to place orders, you have a permanent record of them in your account. That makes reports and reorders a cinch. You can also create detailed Proposals and Quotes and send Invoices to your customers.

Sign up for your free DistributorCentral Online Office account today. Visit www.DistributorCentral.com and apply for your free PromoPass username and password.