ASI PromoGram Spotlights
Company Selling Direct
A PromoTips reader contacted us regarding an ASI PromoGram that promoted Alibaba, a company that launched a 30 million dollar marketing campaign in the United States to promote their sourcing services in the United States.
This reader, who is a supplier, was not happy about this. See below for his e-mail response to ASI.
The story brings up a question about the strength of the traditional supplier/distributor relationship in today's marketplace. ASI is reporting the information here, but the very idea that what is actually happening in our industry is being exposed, causes quite a stir.
Suppliers selling direct is always a hot button issue and conversely, buyers having access to oversees factories also upsets our industry's business model.
I'm sure many of you receive e-mails these days from factories soliciting your business, bypassing industry suppliers. Now industry distributors may be eliminated from more significant business opportunities as larger clients can buy direct. Where does this leave us?
Your comments on this controversial topic are welcomed. You can post them at the end of the article on FPT.com.
Below is the letter sent to ASI from Tim Flynn, CEO of supplier RelKey, in response to the PromoGram story.
Jeff Solomon, MAS, BCF
FPT.com
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PromoGram