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Referrals
If you are a customer who would like to refer another business owner to The Immediate Resource, use this Referral Form.

If you are a business who has been referred to The Immediate Resource, please call the New Customer Manager at 800-344-6005 or use this application for a new account. Please note that there is a box called, Referrals, where you can provide us with the information about who referred you.

Here are the Frequently Asked Questions about referrals.
Use these as Tips for Successful Referrals.

Recommend another business owner to The Immediate Resource!

1. What is a referral?
2. Why should I refer another business to The Immediate Resource?
3. Who should you refer?
4. What if I sell mainly on the Internet, such that my customers are women who shop online?
5. What if I sell mainly at shows and conventions?
6. What information do I give the shop or boutique?
7. What information should I keep about the referral?
8. What do I do to follow up on the referral?
9. Should I call the business to follow up after I make a referral?
10. What happens to my referrals?
11. What happens if the referral becomes a new customer but forgets who referred her?
12. How do I qualify to make referrals?
13. What is the 'thank you gift' for making a referral who becomes a new customer?
14. What happens if someone uses my name when I did not make a referral?
15. How do I qualify for the 'thank you gift' for referrals who become new customers?



1. What is a referral?

When you meet someone who operates a business selling women's clothing, do you talk shop? If she carries merchandise in the categories that The Immediate Resource sells, do you ever consider telling her about us? When you suggest that she contacts your rep or go online to see The Immediate Resource website, that is a referral. In other words, you are recommending that she consider doing business with us.

2. Why should I refer another business to The Immediate Resource?

Referrals are important to our business, just as they are important to your business. They are our best source of new business.

We appreciate your referrals. They help keep our business strong. And since we are an important source of wholesale merchandise for you, your referrals to us help keep your wholesale source strong.

As a thank you for your referrals, we offer you a "thank you gift" During 2010, the "thank you gift" is a bonus redeemable in merchandise from our current stock. Ask your rep for details.

How do I qualify for the "thank you gift" for referrals who become new customers?

The person you referred must become a qualified new customer and complete at least one purchase at the minimum $500 first order. In addition, we must be able to verify that you referred her.

3. Who should you refer?

In your local market area:
Only refer businesses that sell a different category of merchandise than you sell. For example, if you sell mainly classic church suits and hats, don't refer your competitor who also sells classic church suits and hats. But across town, there is a bridal shop. If she sells bridal and wedding supplies, she would be a good referral for The Immediate Resource special occasion merchandise.

Outside your local market area:
What if you are outside your local market area or in another town? That's the perfect place to find businesses that you can refer to The Immediate Resource.

4. What if I sell mainly on the Internet, such that my customers are women who shop online?

Then, don't refer another business that sells online. But if you are visiting another town, look for shops that cater to women who only shop in boutiques. There are still lots of women who prefer to shop in person.

5. What if I sell mainly at shows and conventions?

No matter how you sell, don't refer another business that would compete with you. If there is another seller at the show, don't refer your competitor. If there is a woman who attends the convention, a woman has a business in her hometown but doesn't not sell at the convention, ask lots of questions. Get to know her. She might be a good referral. But if you sense that she is asking questions in order to start selling at the convention, then this would not be a good referral for you.

Look for shops in the towns and cities you visit. If a shop doesn't compete with you at the show or convention, that shop might make a good referral. Since most businesses specialize, either she serves local customers in a shop or she travels to shows and conventions, you can find referrals in the towns and cities you are visit.

6. What information do I give the shop or boutique?

Use your business card, write the name "The Immediate Resource" on the back of your card. Write your rep's name on your card, too. Tell her to call your rep, or to go The Immediate Resource website.

7. What information should I keep about the referral?

Take one of her business cards. Note the date on the back. Write her name on the card, too. Some cards only have a business name, so her name is important.

8. What do I do to follow up on the referral?

Send an email or call your rep to give her the name of business that you have talked to. Your rep can help follow up on the referral.

9. Should I call the business to follow up after I make a referral?

Of course, that is a great idea. Sending her an email or calling will help you stay in touch with another business and helps you create a network of owners to share ideas with. An email that provides the contact information for The Immediate Resource is a simple way to follow up. But if you are in a hurry or don't want to take the time to call or email, don't be concerned about it. After all, it's your business that is your main concern.

10. What happens to my referrals?

If your rep has the information, she will follow up with the business that you referred.

Otherwise, if the business you referred makes a call or sends an application using the website, the New Customer Manager will assist her. One important piece of information is about the referral. Some business owners forget who referred them to The Immediate Resource.

11. What happens if the referral becomes a new customer but forgets who referred her?

That's a challenge. If we can't verify that you made the referral, you don't get the "thank you gift". So you have an interest in ensuring that we know whom you refer. If you give the name of the person and her business name to your rep, then it won't matter if the referral forgets your name when she speaks to us.

12. How do I qualify to make referrals?

Anyone can make a referral suggesting that a business consider The Immediate Resource as a source of merchandise for a women's apparel business. Referrals are made by current active accounts, previous accounts, inactive accounts, other suppliers, vendors, interested businesses who are considering opening an account, employees and friends. All referrals are welcome and very much appreciated.

To qualify for the referral "thank you gift" you must be a current customer of The Immediate Resource with an active account in good standing at the time of the referral. The referral "thank you gift" is not available retroactively. The final decision about qualifying for the referral "thank you gift" is made by The Immediate Resource.

13. What is the "thank you gift" for making a referral who becomes a new customer?

To say thanks for your referrals, we offer you a "thank you gift". The "thank you gift" is a bonus redeemable in merchandise from our current stock. Only available to active accounts in good standing. Ask your rep for details.

14. What happens if someone uses my name when I did not make a referral?

The New Customer Manager verifies the referral by contacting you. If you did not make the referral, a follow up call is made to the applicant. If it turns out that the applicant is not a legitimate retailer, then the application is turned down.

15. How do I qualify for the "thank you gift" for referrals who become new customers?

Once we have verified that you referred her, the person you referred must become a qualified new customer and complete her first purchase of the minimum $500 order. Only available to active accounts in good standing. It's that simple.