As tough as this recession has been, I see nothing but good, even great, opportunities for smart businesspeople in the kitchen and bath industry. To finally get your operation “lean and mean,” to diversify into new products and markets, to gain market share over the competition and to earn more value from a key industry organization to which you belong are but a few of the opportunities that present themselves now.

But none of these is more important than the opportunity for dealers to forge tighter bonds with key vendors. The need for each other’s support is paramount for both parties to emerge from this deep recession relatively unscathed and prepared to grow again.

Working Together

Yet in my travels, I encounter dealers who have made egregious mistakes – perhaps, but not always – due to stress from the tightening vise of this economic decline. I also encounter dealers who are unsure about how to communicate particular situations they are facing that would impact their vendors either directly or indirectly. Following are some common questions I have heard and the actions I have coached owners to take.