The kind of business you are in, the potential market, availability of employees and the number of competitive establishments all determine where you should put your business. This is a good question and needs to be considered carefully. Careful weighing of alternatives and a cost analysis will help you make the best decision. Most suppliers want new accounts. A prime source for finding suppliers is the Thomas Register, which lists manufacturers by categories and geographic area.
Most libraries have a directory of manufacturers listed by state.
If you know the product line manufacturers, a letter or phone call to the companies will get you the local distributor-wholesaler. In some lines, trade shows are good sources of getting suppliers and looking over competing products. Copyright 2000 by Stewart-Gordon Associates, Inc., Dallas, Texas, all rights reserved.