Unfortunately, not everyone gets along. There are just times when a working relationship does not work out, no matter how hard you try. Establishing a good working relationship with a supplier is one of the most valuable relationships you can build as a company.

Here at Forgeway, our customers consist mainly of manufacturers and construction companies. We value good working relationships with our customers just like most companies. However, before getting into a working relationship, we like to establish whether we are both a good fit for each other in the first place.

Of course, we always want to work with new companies. But, there are always things we check with potential customers first to determine whether we would be a good fit for each other. Sometimes, we just aren’t a good fit.

 If you are at the stage of determining whether we could work together, this article is for you.

This article will go through the key things that help us establish whether someone is a bad fit. It will then go through the characteristics that make someone a good fit. The end of the article will discuss examples of companies that would be our typical customers.

By the end of the article, you will be able to establish whether we would be a good fit for each other.

4 reasons why Forgeway might not be a good fit for you

Before we work with any company, there are a few factors that can help us determine if they are a bad fit right away. We have listed the four main things we look out for so you can check against yourself.

You aren’t ready for the change

We always say that before working with us, there is one thing we need to get absolutely certain; you must be ready for the change process. We have been in discussions with companies who have a problem they need us to solve, only to discover that they don’t have the desire to change.

Not only does it waste everyone’s time, but it also doesn’t solve the problem. So if you don’t have stakeholder buy-in and are likely to face resistance to the change, we would say that we aren’t going to be a good fit for you.

You have a small order quantity

As we manufacture the adhesive and sealant products ourselves, we have minimum order quantities in place. As a rule of thumb, we would say that if you are looking to purchase less than four boxes of the product (four boxes contain 48 cartridges or foil packs) we would not be a good fit for you.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. However, if you are looking to purchase any less than 48 cartridges or foil packs, we would advise you to look at our distributors such as Gludog and Finecal.

You want a cheap and cheerful product

We know that all companies say “our products are high quality, therefore high price.” However, this could not be more true in our case. Sometimes, you only need a cheap and cheerful sealant or grab adhesive for your application to do the job. Whilst our products will also do the job in this instance, they will often be ‘too good’ for what you need.

Our products will also cost a lot more than alternatives on the market. So, if you want a cheap sealant that will do the bare minimum, you are best off looking elsewhere.

You want a product we don’t provide

Here at Forgeway, we provide a range of structural adhesives, sealants, and contact adhesives. We don’t provide silicone products, hot melt adhesives, PVA, aerosols, cyanoacrylate adhesives (superglue), or parquet adhesives. If you are looking for any of those products, we would say we aren’t a good fit for you.

Again, you could head over to one of our distributors who would be better suited to helping you solve your challenge.

What a good fit looks like to work with Forgeway

On a more positive note than the last section, here are some key indicators that you’re a good fit to work with Forgeway.

You are ready for the change to take place

A company that is ready for the change is a key indicator that we are a good fit for each other. Typically, we find that there are three key reasons for a company’s desire to change:

1. They need us to solve a serious quality or technical problem with their adhesive or sealant.

2. They have a new project they are working on and need the help of an expert.

3. They have insufficient technical support from their existing supplier. This lack of support can often be why the existing supplier cost so little in the beginning. There are nine key areas of technical support you should be getting from your adhesive or sealant supplier. 

You are looking for a contract manufacturer

If you are in a situation where you need a contract manufacturer for your adhesive or sealant product, we are likely a good fit for you. We usually find that companies will be in one of three situations:

1. They don’t have the capacity to produce their own adhesive or sealant product and would like to outsource production.

2. They don’t have the knowledge to produce their own formulation (like when the product is flammable).

3. They want to use one of our existing products but put it in their own branding.

Examples of our typical customers

The above sections will have given you an idea of who is and who isn’t a good fit for us. Now, we will give you some examples of our ideal customers to give you a feel for the types of companies we supply.

Manufacturers of:

• Recreational and commercial vehicles
• Buses and coaches
• Boats and luxury yachts
• Aerospace equipment
• Trains

Decorative surface suppliers or manufacturers

• (Such as countertops, shower panels, or flooring).

The next steps; deciding if you are a good fit

You have read through the article and know the different factors that make a company either a good fit or a bad fit for each other. You now need to decide for yourself whether we are a good fit or a bad fit.

Here at Forgeway, we are adhesive and sealant specialists. We believe that there is more to the adhesive and sealant process than just having a high-quality adhesive or sealant product. 

However, we know that you wouldn’t be a good fit for us if:

• You aren’t ready for the change 
• You want to order a small quantity
• You want a cheap and cheerful product
• You are looking for a product that we don’t offer

If this sounds like you, we wrote an article that discusses some of the other top adhesive manufacturers in the UK. You may find one of those to be a better fit for you.

Alternatively, if you are ready for the adhesive change process, or you are looking for an adhesive or sealant contract manufacturer, we are a good fit for you.

If you think you are a good fit, we recommend you read our “80% article”. It answers 80% of the questions our customers want to know about us. 

Or, you can get in touch with us by clicking the button below if you feel ready to get in touch with us.