Running a distribution business comes with the same handful of problems, no matter how big or small you are. Having dealt with these across three generations, here's an honest look at the biggest ones — and what actually works.
Too little stock means lost sales. Too much means money sitting unused on a shelf. The fix is simple in idea, hard in practice: watch what's actually selling and order based on that, not guesswork.
In this business, retailers often pay us after they've sold the product, not before. So we have to be smart about who we give credit to, and stay on top of collecting payments on time.
If a truck takes a longer or messier route than it needs to, that eats into profit every single day. Good route planning, built from years of experience, saves real money.
This usually happens when a distributor stops staying in touch — only showing up to sell, never to check in. Regular visits, even without a sale, keep the relationship strong.
This mostly happens with time-sensitive items. The fix is simple: always sell the oldest stock first, and don't push retailers to order more than they can realistically sell.
None of these problems ever fully disappear — they're something you manage every day. That ongoing effort is exactly why experience in a specific market matters so much.
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