Never push a supplier or a customer too hard or too far. Good business needs to be ongoing. If you try to over maximize your profits, your trading partners may go elsewhere in the future.

Replying to [kivi]:Agreed! Business should be ongoin, should be based on mutual understanding.

Replying to [kivi]:

Do agree on you ...

Replying to [kivi]:I agree fully. Business is a 2 way traffic. Driving should be with care from both sides

Replying to [kivi]:
That's the rules of a game of all win and mutual benefit.

Replying to [kkexim]:good example to explain the relationship with both parties.

Replying to [kivi]: Absolutely right.

A long term business is based on mutual benefit on both parties.

Good business is about creating mutual dependency relationships. You built loyalty, trust and a long term business relationship through creating a dependency. A mother child relationship is good example of the dependency relationship. The child is dependent on its mother to feed, protect and care. The mother derives emotional satisfaction in caring that is the reward. No money is exchanged.
When you create dependency relationships many competitive factors disappears for example price, quality, isolated incidents of failures of quality of service etc.( Just like you forgive a child that has been naughty )
How to build dependency relationships is a challenge.
a. Start a transaction.
b. Show a caring attitude. Know more about the customer. There is a person behind every company. No point in memorising the company account number or their telephone to call.
c. Add real value in what you do. When you earn money make sure you provide benefit to the customer. Make sure that the customer is happy with the product and service. If there is a problem make time to resolve this quickly.
d. Free gifts , trials to get the customer started in the path to loyalty. Take example of TV Subscription channels that offer Free to Air for a limited duration.
e. Establish reliability by repetitive good performance. You have bound the customer this way.
f. Integrate processes including IT processes linking systems with that of your buyers and sellers. Providng On-line account enquiry screen to your customer is a simple example of integrating processes.

This way showing a caring attitude to your Suppliers and Customers will keep you in good business for the long term.

Replying to [kivi]:
Actually, It is quite right. When we counter matter in business, the next effort should be pushed by a supplier or a buyer. If one party lose patient, the business will be over, maybe it is not worth you wasting your time, but in the future, maybe you have to work with him again. Always keeps a door to partner, will make you succeed!

Replying to [kivi]:yes never push to the limit but i think consistent commnication is essential and will cut down on miss communication's.