There’s no getting around it – your janitorial business needs high-quality cleaning supplies and equipment so that you and your employees can do the job of caring for your clients’ buildings effectively. There are several places where you can buy the chemicals you need to clean. Over 50% of respondents to a recent survey by thejanitorialstore.com said they buy their supplies from a large retailer. But there’s a better solution to buying cleaning supplies and equipment than buying Lysol, 409, or window cleaner at a big-box retail store. A cleaning supplies distributor can supply your cleaning business with professional products and much more.

At first glance, cleaning products purchased through a janitorial dealer may seem more expensive than products purchased from a large retailer. However, the professional grade products you get from a dealer are higher quality products that clean better and more efficiently.

Distributors have products available in concentrated form, which means a little goes a long way. In fact, you’ll spend less than you would if you shop at a retailer. The price may initially seem higher, but once you see how much concentrates stretch by simply adding water, you’ll see that buying cleaners in concentrated form is a bargain. Distributors may also offer quantity discounts for large volume purchases.

In addition to higher quality products and the ability to offer volume discounts, there are many other reasons why your cleaning business will benefit from doing business with a cleaning supply distributor:

Dealers keep records of the items you purchase. They also keep track of warranty information. Distributors can also provide you with MSDS sheets and OSHA right-to-know on the cleaning products you purchase from them. As you know, you should have MSDS sheets for all cleaning chemicals you use and have them available to your employees. Most retailers will not be able to offer MSDS sheets.

Cleaning supply dealers have in-depth product knowledge. Are you looking for a product to give your bathrooms a “fresh smell”? Forget buying Pinesol from a retailer. Pinesol has a strong odor that people may find offensive. A dealer will be able to recommend a suitable air freshener for your particular situation. A good dealer can recommend products and will know if a lower priced product is as effective as a higher priced item.

Don’t know how to use a cleaning product or equipment? Your dealer will be able to train you and your employees on the proper use of new products and equipment. Your dealer will also be able to share information on how to use products that can help your staff be more efficient. Instead of saving a few cents buying a product from a retailer, you can save a substantial amount in labor with the product information you can get from a dealer.

equipment failure? Some dealers may even offer repair service for your cleaning equipment, saving you the time and headache of sending your equipment to the manufacturer for repair.

Do you need a specialized cleaning product for a building or job? Your dealer will have suggestions for the product you need, and if you don’t have it on hand, you’ll know where to order it.

Price alone should not dictate where you buy supplies for your cleaning business. The value you get from purchasing cleaning products from an experienced dealer is priceless. Instead of saving a dollar or two on cleaning supplies by buying through a big box store, you can save hundreds of dollars in staff time by working with your dealer. And those savings will lead directly to more profit in your pocket!

Copyright 2006 The Cleaning Shop