Good morning, Marketer, don’t let summer pass you by. Irritation with vendors is almost universal in business and sometimes it’s even justified. Everyone has a story about the time a vendor did “that thing” that almost ruined the project. We tell them to each other because it’s an experience we all have in common. Also, they’re a lot more fun than stories about everything going smoothly or “the time the vendor saved the day.” Those happen, too. As much as we hate to admit it, usually we are partly responsible if there’s a problem with a vendor. To help with that read Gene De Libero’s great, quick guide on handling vendors. The short form: Do your homework, know what you’ve got and how it operates, and have a very clear understanding of where you want to be when the project finishes. Gene’s version is a lot more helpful than that. Constantine von Hoffman, Managing Editor |