Respect Vendors, They Are Not Invisible

Systematic HR

Most people like us assume that vendors are sellers who supply restaurants and other businesses with goods which they need to serve the customers. But a recent post I read by Heather Turner has challenged my assumptions about vendors. “Businesses may not realize it, but many times a vendor is actually, or may potentially be, a customer of your business. And in addition they can be the influencer of others, both positively and negatively.” Vendors are actually the same as any regular customers. Like regular customers, they eat in your restaurant or buy your products. They form opinions about the quality of your business; they tell their friends whether or not your business is worth the price.

In Turner’s blog, she explains that vendors are customers, too. She also describes that she has witnessed a situation where an employee and a vendor have an argument. The vendor tells her that she will not come back as a guest because she does not like her visit. Even though restaurants provide good foods and services, they somehow may treat vendors poorly by arguing with them about certain problems that are related to the business agreement. For example, Turner “witnessed a poor wine vendor get pinned like a butterfly in between two partners exchanging verbally poisoned darts at one another.” This means that the vendor has been in the middle of the argument between the two owners. This situation has made the vendor uncomfortable, and may spread the words that the owners are mean and can’t solve their problems professionally.

I agree with Turner that we should respect vendors because they are people who may be the restaurants’ “potential guests.” These people are just like us who want to look for something to fulfill our needs and wants. When we go to restaurants, we want them to satisfy our hunger and mood.

I think reputation is very important to restaurants because they need to rely on their customers to make money. Since reputation is important, restaurants have to keep their images positive inside and outside the restaurants. Vendors are examples of a setback outside the restaurants because they can tell other people about their experience through word-of-mouth. If the comments are negative, the restaurants may have a problem of losing customers.

The solution of avoiding a bad reputation from vendors and other customers is that employees have to respect them and do not lose their temper. No matter what happens, the employees are supposed to represent and set a positive view for the restaurants. If there is an argument between the vendors and employees, they should work it out by discussing the problems professionally and respectfully.

As a future restaurant employee, I should treat everyone with respect, no matter who he or she is because anyone I meet may be a potential customer. Since vendors are customers, your friends, family, and neighbors may be customers, too. Turner’s blog gives me an insight that you never know when vendors can bad mouth about your restaurant or cause you to lose customers. So, respect vendors as if they are your customers.