What is a Cooperative?|Who Can Become an IDC Preferred Supply Partner|Why Should I Partner with IDC-USA?|Manufacturer/Supplier Accountability|Available Supplier Program|Getting Involved at IDC-USA

What is a Cooperative?

A cooperative is a business organized, owned and controlled by the people who use its products or services. Today, cooperatives serve 100% of the U.S. population.

There are many successful cooperatives in the world today…credit unions, mutual insurance companies, power companies, food and hardware stores are a few cooperatives you may deal with on a regular basis.

A cooperative is democratically controlled by its members through a one-member, one-vote policy. Members own the cooperative through their financial investment in the business. Benefits from the cooperative are returned to the members based on their use of the cooperative during the year.

Cooperatives are part of a self-help tradition as old as our nation. Throughout our history, cooperatives have enabled people to meet common needs through group effort. Today, cooperatives continue to play a dynamic role in our economy and our heritage.

Any manufacturer/supplier in the bearing, power transmission, and related products industry has the potential to partner with the IDC-USA cooperative provided the potential partnership proves to be a win-win-win. IDC-USA, its member-owners and the manufacturer/supplier must benefit from the partnership.

Manufacturers who have partnered with IDC-USA are acutely aware of the advantage they have in distribution channel management as an IDC Preferred Supply Partner. Direct marketing access to some of the best independent distributors in the country and the luxury of one A/R account help the manufacturer gain market share.

Some of the many benefits to Manufacturers/Suppliers include:

Responding to requests from the IDC Supplier Advisory Board for a measurement criteria that would separate extremely successful supplier programs from those that are not achieving their highest potential, IDC-USA has implemented the IDC Supplier Value Index (SVI). This performance rating scale provides a benchmark analysis to measure the value of each supplier program. The SVI consists of four categories: Product, Customer Service, Financial, and Sales & Marketing. IDC Preferred Suppliers who score in the top 10% are recognized as IDC Platinum Suppliers. The next 10% are designated as IDC Gold Suppliers, and the third 10% are designated as IDC Silver Suppliers.

Annual Program Reviews (APR) provide an opportunity for IDC-USA and preferred supply partners to mutually critique the success of the program and partnership. In preparation for an APR, IDC National Headquarters sends an on-line survey to its member-owners asking for their input and feedback as to their satisfaction with the program. The results of that survey along with feedback from the IDC Management Team are discussed. Additionally, considerable time is spent reviewing the individual scores within each category of the SVI. A roundtable setting invites the supply partner to present their marketing plan for the following year and to bring to the meeting any suggestions or concerns they may have about the partnership. The Annual Program Review is a time of collaboration and a key component to the success of supplier programs.

IDC-USA sets high standards and holds our supply partners accountable for achieving superior performance enabling our members to remain competitive in a free enterprise system resulting in a win-win-win.

IDC Preferred Supplier Programs fit into one of three categories: Distribution Center, Drop Ship, or Direct.

As the name implies, Distribution Center programs are those programs that stock inventory in the IDC Distribution Center. IDC houses just under 50,000 square feet of inventory available to our members 24/7. Many products stocked in the IDC Distribution Center are commonly found in our members’ inventory and can be combined to help members meet their IDC prepaid freight requirements. The IDC Distribution Center allows its member-owners to combine product purchases from over 65 suppliers from a single location. In doing this, they can qualify their shipments for IDC pre-paid freight requirements.

For products that are not well suited for the IDC Distribution Center, IDC-USA offers Drop Ship and Direct programs. Drop Ship programs are designed for those product lines that don’t necessarily lend themselves to a distribution center arrangement. Drop Ship programs are common among manufacturers/suppliers who supply large, bulky, or otherwise difficult product to inventory. With a Drop Ship program arrangement, IDC Distributors place their orders with IDC-USA. Product is then drop shipped from the manufacturer’s/supplier’s warehouse. The manufacturer/supplier who offers a Drop Ship program still benefits by having national distribution coverage with a single accounts receivable account.

Direct Programs are designed such that IDC Member-Owners place their orders directly with the supplier. In turn, the supplier ships product directly to the member with a rebate, commission or volume incentive paid to IDC-USA. Suppliers with a Direct Program arrangement may still utilize support and marketing efforts available at IDC National Headquarters. They are also encouraged to participate in the annual supplier trade show and other marketing opportunities available through the IDC Marketing Department.

If you would like more information about becoming an IDC Preferred Supply Partner, click on the link below.

Yes, I want to know more about becoming an IDC Preferred Supply Partner.