Why are personal relationships important when buying and selling scrap plastic?
We’ve found that some of the most rewarding work we’ve done in the plastic recycling business has come from personal relationships. Even though scrap plastic is a commodity, and price is always important, we find that most recycled scrap plastic transactions are ultimately based on trust, mutual benefit and genuine working relationships.
If scrap plastic is a “commodity business,” why are personal relationships important? Here are a few reasons why BlackBridge Investments and our customers tend to look for the people behind the product:
- It’s all about trust: Anyone who’s been in the plastic recycling trade for long has heard the stories of trucks that didn’t contain the right mix of materials, or people who couldn’t keep their promises. When you have a trusting relationship with your trading partners, you know that you’re going to get what you paid for, and your partners know they’re going to get paid on time. It’s easier to execute complex transactions when you know the people on the other end of the phone.
- Going the extra mile: Plastic scrap recycling is often a time-sensitive business. If a plastic product manufacturer has a short-term need for scrap plastic bales, it’s often easier to execute the transaction if the scrap plastic brokers have a personal relationship with trusted suppliers who can deliver what the buyer needs. Just like any business, your scrap plastic trading partners are more likely to “go the extra mile” on short notice if they know you, trust you, and have had a positive experience doing business with you.
- Save time: The plastic scrap recycling industry is all about execution. Every transaction needs to have all the details managed properly, with the logistics lined up and the deliveries handled the right way – on time, every time. When you’re dealing with a highly-detail oriented business, it helps to have strong personal relationships with the people on both ends of the transaction. Working with reputable scrap plastic trading partners can help you get faster access to the supplies you need, with an accurate estimate, with an up-to-the-minute price quote and solid information on pick-ups and shipping. It’s just easier to work with someone you know you can count on.
- Relationships lead to other relationships: Every scrap plastic trading partner brings a unique network of relationships. When you build a stronger business relationship with one trading partner, you are also gaining better access to that company’s network of suppliers and partners. rent a car . The next time you need a certain volume of scrap plastic at certain specifications, your trading partner will be more likely to point you in the right direction or introduce you to a valued supplier if they have a personal relationship with you.
Sure, price matters. But in plastic scrap trading, relationships matter too. Ultimately, we’re all people who are involved in making trades and doing deals with other people, and we all have to be able to trust each other and look for opportunities for mutual benefit. If you invest in strengthening your personal relationships with your business partners, you might find that you get better results and better prices than ever before.
How do you build stronger relationships with your scrap plastic trading partners?