Most operators delay switching distributors because they picture a stockout. Done in stages, the switch is boring — which is exactly what you want.
Week 1 — map your order guide
Pull the last three invoices and list every item with pack size and weekly usage. Send that list for a like-for-like quote. Compare per-unit cost, not case cost, so different pack counts don't distort the picture.
Week 2 — test the fast movers
Order your top five to ten items only. Check fit and feel: does the lid seat on your cup, does the container fit your bag, does the chemical dilute the same. This is where problems surface, and it costs almost nothing to find them now.
Week 3 — run parallel
Order the full guide from the new distributor while your old stock draws down. Nothing runs out because you're holding two sources for a single cycle.
Week 4 — cut over and set par
Finalize par levels from real usage, set your standing order day, and save one contact number for emergencies. If your new distributor is local — ours is, at 43rd Ave in Phoenix — that emergency is a same-day pick-up rather than a lost weekend.
Want wholesale pricing on this list?
Open an account with M&D Distributing — family owned, Phoenix warehouse, free next-day delivery on stocked items across the Valley. Call 602-235-0078.
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