Serving as your Advocate

A recent local chamber of commerce email had an article that talked about a CEO advocating for his employees during a merger with another company.

This phrase caught my attention…serving as your advocate.

How does this phrase apply to IMS?

Advocating for your business is at the core of what an IMS broker does. Your broker sells your product or service to other IMS clients for trade dollars, and then helps to reinvest those trade dollars on cash-saving products and services for your own business. Your broker will help negotiate terms, follow through on key dates during the process, and then even help settle any disputes should something go wrong.

In other words, your IMS broker is serving as an advocate for your business.

When was the last time you talked to your IMS broker? If it hasn’t been recently, carve out 10 minutes to call and talk to them about your business’ growth strategies during the economic downturn. Growing your business can be as simple as increasing your sales though IMS to increase your buying power for needed (but often cut) expenses like marketing, advertising, and market expansion into new areas. All of which bring in new cash customers. Take a few minutes to discuss with your broker the latest product or service offerings and who they should sell that product or service to in order to fund these expenses.

In addition to your growth strategies, discuss with your broker how you can implement additional employee benefits to your current benefits package to retain your existing employees and attract new employees. Along with employee benefits like health care services, your IMS broker has a slew of opportunities to offer your business for sales incentives, team-building exercises, sales training, employee recognition and so much more.

As an advocate for your business, your IMS broker loves to hear from you regularly. Call your broker any time you find yourself with an opportunity to convert a cash expense into a trade expense.