Despite Meager Beginnings, Vendorseek Outshines Outsourcing Competitors

Unfortunately, efficiency is often the last priority of large companies in today’s business world. There are simply too many obstacles -- think “red tape” -- that get in the way of productive environments. While many people can acknowledge the problem, how-ever, it’s truly the unique individual who can take it upon them-selves to step outside the traditional to strike out on their own.

In the case of VendorSeek (http://VendorSeek.com) president Kenneth C. Wisnefski, nothing could be closer to the truth. “I was working as a regional sales manager for a temporary staffing firm when I came up with the concept of VendorSeek,” says Wisnefski. “Anytime we needed to source some sort of service, the process was incredibly slow. We even lost a very large con-tract on one occasion because of it. From that point on I knew there had to be a better way.”

Not one to let ideas fade into obscurity, he started VendorSeek as a Web-based company in2002 with only $2000. For the first two years of business, Wisnefski ran the company out of his basement with the assistance of friends and family members. The process, he reports, was both rewarding and unpleasant at the same time. “I was working my normal nine-to-five job and running VendorSeek in my off hours,” states Wisnefski. “I eventually quit my full-time job and rented a small office to focus on it completely.”

With plans to increase staff numbers to 25 in 2007, his efforts have paid-off more than he ever imagined possible. “We currently have over 7,000 vendors that we out-source to companies seeking cost effective, business-based services and we expect to continue growth. We’re simple, we’re fast and we’re effective, and that’s why we continue to be successful,” adds Wisnefski.

MarketingSherpa features VendorSeek as Leading Lead Generator

If your looking for leads, then look no further then VendorSeek.com. In their latest article, the wildly popular business advisory company MarketingSherpa puts an emphasis on the effectiveness of VendorSeek. The vendors in the VendorSeek Approved Network receive quality leads from business consumers that are ready to buy.

MarketingSherpa notes that many companies in the B2B arena claim to provide "leads", but that can be far from what you may expect. MarketingSherpa writes "the general definition [of a lead] includes a company that’s a good match for your product but that also has a need for your product and has indicated some interest in listening to offers." VendorSeek provides exactly this! Watch out for companies that are selling you unqualified lists of contacts that may not be looking to buy.

Click Here to read the entire article by Marketing Sherpa titled " Tutorial: Buying Leads - How to Select a Vendor, Available Services and Strategies to Get the Best Leads"

Outsourcing for nonprofits - Article in Philanthropy Journal

Ken Wisnefski educates on three services nonprofit organizations can outsource found on the Philanthropy Journal web site. Wisnefski explains that nonprofit’s can capitalize on website design, lead generation, and inbound constituent support. The advantages of the three reasons are further illuminated, with the unifying points being that outsourcing will augment the notoriety, funding, and insight in their respective fields.

VendorSeek.com Expands Quoting Categories: New Categories Devoted to Business Finance

VendorSeek.com, a third-party business-to-business referral service, has recently expanded the array of services offered. Amidst the popularity of business expansion and outsourcing possibilities, companies like VendorSeek offer their aid to businesses in search of other businesses for the purpose of augmentation. Prompted by the passion and determination of its founder, Ken Wisneski, VendorSeek now bestows a larger exhibition of services sought after by the public. The array of niche services VendorSeek finds for other businesses has been supplemented into fifteen new categories.

Past success and positive customer feedback made it both economically feasible and logical to expand the accommodations of VendorSeek to the public. Company CEO, Ken Wisneski explains, “We have a dynamite team here that is committed to serving our clients to accomplish optimal results. Thankfully, our vision is being seen by our clients and beyond and in turn inspired us to expand upon what we have to offer. The nature of business these days makes it possible for small to medium-sized businesses to compete with the older and bigger companies and we are more than happy to offer our insight and introduce them to opportunities of advancement.”

VendorSeek now handles referrals in the areas of business liability insurance, group dental insurance, business group health insurance, mortgages, workers compensation, corporate event planning, business accounting, court reporting, corporate training, executive coaching, mergers and acquisitions, voice over internet protocol (VOIP), commercial loans, commercial mortgages, and factoring. With the supplement of these new areas, VendorSeek obliges businesses in over 150 facets. Wisneski stated, “The occasion for amplification is limitless for us as long as we continue our ascendancy and exceed our clients expectations. We are prepared to transcend our own expectations of ourselves as more businesses begin to look in our direction, and we believe they will.”

The nature of VendorSeek’s services awards them accolades from both spectrums of the business-to-business industry. The company not only helps a business with chances of growth, VendorSeek in turn facilitates the clientele of the businesses in which they refer to. Much of VendorSeek’s pride comes from the testimonials of their clients. Phillip Weaver, CEO of Revenue Assurance Partners, has complimented, “We have had tremendous success with our Vendor Seek leads. Not only are we closing more than our fair share, they are with-in the parameters stated and have become meaningful clients for us. Vendor Seek is a top-notch organization and has been very responsive to any questions or needs we have. I highly recommend Vendor Seek for sales leads generation.”

VendorSeek.com is located in Mount Laurel, NJ and was launched in 2002 to serve as a vital business resource for companies seeking to locate cost-effective business based services. Currently, the VendorSeek.com Approved Vendor Network consists of over 4,000 pre-screened national and regionally based vendors. By providing quoting services in over 150 different business based categories, VendorSeek.com has become a trusted resource for prospective buyers as well as a time saving tool for pre-approved vendors to sell their services.

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About the Author:

Ken Wisnefski is founder and Vice President of Operations for VendorSeek.com, the online marketplace leader, connecting thousands of businesses with qualified, professional and competitive business-to-business vendors each week. At its online hub, VendorSeek.com connects businesses of every size and scope with more than 3,000 pre-qualified vendors with expertise in as many as 150 categories. Every month, VendorSeek.com processes more than 5,000 requests from businesses who recognize its value as an impartial resource for reputable, professional and expert service providers.

Philadelphia Business Journal Features the VendorSeek Story

Ken Wisnefski offers enlightenment about the genesis and implementation of his company VendorSeek in an article featured in the Philadelphia Business Journal. Serving as online aide for small to medium-sized businesses in search of vendors, the company enables their clients to spend more time on their business and less time looking for customers. VendorSeek offers links to over 150 service categories and has represented over 3,000 vendors in the short span since its inception.

Vendor Selection Tips For Small- to Mid-Sized Businesses Adds Experts Resources

As small- to mid-sized businesses grow, so does their need to find qualified, reputable vendors for everything from call center services, to commercial printing, to search engine optimization, to website design. How can companies maximize their chances of finding the professional, service oriented business-to-business vendors that are best suited to their particular needs? The tips that follow can help.

1. Define the scope of work. What specific services do you need? What are your expectations for the vendor? When will work begin? When must work be completed? What are your budget parameters? Give your vendor prospects all the information they will need to provide you with informed and comprehensive estimates.

2. Are there specific vendor requirements for performing this work? For example, is the work limited to, or best performed by, vendors within a specific geographic area? Are you seeking RFPs or estimates from minority-owned and/or unionized businesses? Are vendors required to demonstrate adherence to international and/or industry-specific business or quality standards? Qualifying your vendor search at the front end can shorten your search time.

3. Explore the competition. It’s easy to use the same vendors you (or your company) have always used, but how do you know you’re getting the most bang for your buck? Research the range of vendors who provide the services you need, and make a point to seek out impartial sources who don’t have a stake in the outcome of your vendor selection process. Remember, the greater the competition, the better your chances of finding a competitively priced vendor who wants your work and will work hard to meet your objectives.

4. Tell your vendor prospects exactly what you want their estimates to outline. Depending on the project, for example, you may wish them to define timeframe for work to be completed, person or people who will conduct the work, specific elements/aspects/units of work to be performed, and, of course, cost for work outlined in the estimate. Your goal is to come away estimates that can be easily compared as you narrow your vendor search.

5. Ask for, and compare, estimates from at least three vendors. Don’t stop your search with just one estimate in hand; you’ll never know what you’re potentially missing, in terms of value and/or quality of work! Estimates can vary widely; the more quotes you have the better your chance of selecting the best vendor for the job.

6. How quickly do vendor prospects respond to estimate requests? Vendors that want your work will work for it by acting in a professional manner and will reply promptly to inquiries.

7. Ask your top vendor prospects for references, and follow through by calling them. Ask they were happy with the quality of work performed and the service they received. Was the work completed on time, and within budget? Would they use the vendor again? Don’t ignore potential red flags.

8. How “legitimate” is the vendor? Competitive estimates and good references don’t always provide a complete picture. How long has the vendor been in business? Has it been cited by the Better Business Bureau or other watchdog agencies? What’s the vendor’s credit rating? Your goal is to avoid untrustworthy vendors who may be inclined to take your company’s money and run.

Finding qualified vendors can be time consuming, but the consequences of conducting a hasty vendor search can be severe. For better (or worse) vendors you select have an impact on your company’s success. In today’s fast-paced business arena, time is an increasingly rare commodity, yet companies cannot afford to leave vendor selection to chance. Prudent business decision makers streamline their vendor searches by using VendorSeek.com, America’s B2B online marketplace, to access to the most extensive network of pre-qualified business service providers in the U.S.

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About the Author:

Ken Wisnefski is founder and Vice President of Operations for VendorSeek.com, the online marketplace leader, connecting thousands of businesses with qualified, professional and competitive business-to-business vendors each week. At its online hub, VendorSeek.com connects businesses of every size and scope with more than 3,000 pre-qualified vendors with expertise in as many as 150 categories. Every month, VendorSeek.com processes more than 5,000 requests from businesses who recognize its value as an impartial resource for reputable, professional and expert service providers.

Companies Find Match Through VendorSeek.com

What if there were one place where you could find everything you need for your company under one roof -- almost like a mall for businesses.

One South Jersey company has set up a virtual marketplace to fulfill business needs -- from payroll to Web design.

Vendorseek.com is a business-to-business Web site that connects businesses to the services they need. Whether a mom-and-pop needs an outside company to create its Web site, or a large company is seeking a smaller one to help screen applicants, the Mount Laurel-based site has 3,500 registered vendors to help.

Created by Ken Wisnefski in 2004, then a regional sales manager, Vendorseek was created after he worked on a project and needed to outsource different parts of the task.

"We needed background screeners and it was such a labor-intensive process to find the company to do that," Wisnefski, 34, said. "We knew this would be a decently sized deal."

Wisnefski, a Galloway resident, and a team of people attempted to do the work themselves and found it wasn't worth their time in the end. He knew there was a need for a service that can pair businesses up while weeding out the disreputable companies.

"Vendorseek is a time-saver," said Wisnefski, who is now working full time for his start-up. "The ability to find prequalified companies to work with quickly is valuable."

How it works:

Vendors who want to be listed with the site are screened and placed on probation for 30 days. Vendorseek looks at their references, reviews customer feedback and weeds out vendors who are not legitimate.

"We do credit checks to prevent fraud and check business directories like the Better Business Bureau," he said. "We have had to remove vendors for being too aggressive with customers."

Vendors pay a $99 annual fee and then are charged $10 to $40 per request received, depending on the size of the deal.

Companies seeking vendors fill out a search form stating what they're looking for. The Web site scours the database and alerts the vendors. Then, the vendors respond to the company directly, usually within hours. Companies that use the Web site are not charged a fee.

Vendorseek has expanded to 50,000 registered users, mostly from the U.S., and is looking to expand its categories of services, which now number more than 100.

"A lot of the companies we work with don't have a super-large sales team," he said. "Now many of them are just working off the requests coming from the site."

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About Vendorseek.com

VendorSeek.com, based in Mount Laurel, NJ, is the leading online business-to-business marketplace, offering quoting services in more than 150 business service categories. The company processes more than 5,000 requests per month from businesses that are seeking to receive competitive price quotes from its Approved Vendor Network. A vital resource for companies, VendorSeek.com was launched in the Fall of 2002, and since that time has helped thousands of businesses find the right outsourced partners who offer the best balance of quality and cost effectiveness.