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DECEMBER 2016
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FEATURE
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Powerful Partners
Jonathan
BEYER
Strategic Account Manager
alphabroder
Trevose, Pennsylvania
Nominator and distributor partner:
Linda Jones, MAS, partnership
assurance manager, Geiger
A 10‑year veteran of supplier alphabroder, Jonathan Beyer
has spent the past three years in the customer‑centric role of
strategic account manager. His ability to cultivate relationships
and grow the business of alphabroder’s customers have made
him a well‑respected leader in the industry.
Linda Jones, MAS, partnership assurance manager
at distributor Geiger, has relied on Beyer’s expertise for a
number of years and singled him out for recognition because
of three key qualities he brings to the relationship. “He’s very
quick with responses, helps with projects from start to finish
and always sends other suggestions when an item is out of
stock,” says Jones. “He also provides ideas, keeps an eye
on the order and follows up after the order has shipped.”
She points to a recent example. “When we asked Jon for
ideas and pricing on a 10,000‑piece order, he provided lots
of details and at least five different item suggestions, plus
pricing, production time, full descriptions of the items, free
samples and virtuals. He thought of everything,” she says.
“We got the order and everything ran smoothly. Jon is great!
Love working with him!”
What are the most important qualities in a good
business partner?
Trust. Honesty. Humor. My partners know that
they can trust me to access every resource
alphabroder has available to achieve their goals.
I am always honest about how I can help, what
we can do and how we can do it. And, just as
importantly, I try to connect in a humorous way. A
bit of humor can go a long way.
One of the keys to success is great
communication. Good business partners work
together to find out‑of‑the‑box strategies. By
asking the right questions and having all of the
necessary information, you are able to present
solutions that work.
What do you do that sets you apart from others
in the way you work with clients?
As a supplier, I listen to my clients and work
with them to fill their needs. Having access to
alphabroder’s complete assortment of promotional
apparel products and our full array of value‑
added tools makes us stand out in a crowd
and is unlike anything in the industry. Our goal
is to make sure we can satisfy the customer’s
needs in a timely manner to facilitate growth.
I always make a keen effort to listen. As a
supplier, it’s important to hear what my clients
have to say. I’m always striving to build lasting
relationships and find creative solutions that work.
Basically, my number one goal is to help my
partners grow their businesses. It’s a win‑win.
Is there something your client does that makes
it easy for you to provide exemplary service?
Linda is great at supplying all of the information
needed to complete a project. She is always
available to answer questions and discuss all
options that might be available. We are able to
work together and come up with the solutions
needed. We are both there for each other and use
each other as a resource.
What advice do you have for others who want to
achieve a true partnership with their clients?
Contact, communication and follow‑up. Make
sure you reach out to your partners, find out their
needs and follow up in a timely manner. Become
their “rock”—that reliable resource they can
count on to help them succeed.
JONATHAN BEYER ON PARTNERSHIPS