The Proactive Supplier and How to Spot One

Being pro-active
The relationship between client and supplier is a delicate thing, but in the event of mutual understanding and respect, a client is likely to hand over all responsibility for creative thinking, if he/ she is nudged sufficiently by the supplier's innovation.

Taking a proactive approach means taking the ball and running with it, it means telling your client what is creative and groundbreaking, rather than asking him what he would suggest. Making these kinds of bold suggestions requires that you break the client out of the traditional mould and supply fresh new ideas, always staying abreast of new industry developments and trends.

Without knowing any better, the marketing department of a company may design a full campaign based on conforming marketing tricks that have served society well over the last 3 decades. Part of the campaign may include a pen with their logo on that will be handed out to visitors at a trade show. Taking the backseat, the supplier would design the logo to fit well on the pen… Proactive behaviour would dictate telling the client to chuck the pen and rather engage the visitors with an interactive game that they can take home and figure out.
Just as there is no fine line between winter and summer, there is no line at all between tired old passive design, and absolutely awe-inspiring creativity. Never allow yourself to settle for mundane and ordinary when at no extra cost you can achieve out-of-this-world.

At Sound Idea
At Sound Idea Productions we take a pro-active approach, and believe in offering our customers only the best solution, by taking their best interests to heart.

When attempting to maintain a pro-active appeal, it is essential that all facets of the project, from conceptualisation to end product, be met with the same responsibility from the client as the supplier, but in the end it is the supplier who must best communicate the brief given by the client in a creative and experienced manner, without requiring much input or any creative thinking ideas to originate from the customer.

Once you have experienced the rewarding results of a proactive supplier you will be amazed at how much more you are getting for your money, and how much input the supplier provides rather than wait for suggestions.

How to spot the proactive supplier
Do you present your supplier with creative ideas, or does the supplier present them to you.

1. A passive supplier expects you, the client, to guide the creative process through every new development.
2. A passive supplier merely executes proposed ideas as the client suggests concepts.
3. A proactive team will interpret a brief and brainstorm concepts as they visualise the brief.
4. In the event that the client has a strict vision of what he/she wants, a proactive supplier will provide the client with the vision, but if the supplier has another vision, may supply a second or even third option.
5. A proactive team will take charge and prove themselves as experts in their field, not expecting the client to drive the creative process.
6. A proactive supplier will involve the client at all times, so that the "final" product is not all he/she sees, yet without needing the client to baby-sit the process.
7. A proactive supplier will put in as much effort for the small jobs as what he/she puts into major accounts.
8. A proactive supplier will be able to pre-empt future pitfalls and risks, and eliminate them before they arise.