Author: Brett Knox
April 15, 2025 - 6 MIN. READ
Are your quotes competitive enough?
As a trades contractor, a fast, accurate, and competitive quote can make or break a deal. High material costs eat your margins, so securing supplier discounts should be a top priority.
While suppliers sometimes lower prices independently, the best way to save is to actively negotiate with them.
But here’s the catch: negotiating discounts takes time, and suppliers often overlook small businesses. There’s a better way with Raiven.
Even though your business is growing and you’re taking on larger projects, you’re still a small fraction of a vendor’s sales.
It’s a common issue as 51% of electrical contractors are classified as small businesses with $1 million or less in revenue.
In other words, you have limited buying power. You can reach out to a supplier and ask to negotiate a discount or better terms, but there isn’t much of an incentive for the vendor to give you what you want.
They will probably offer something in the name of customer satisfaction – but you’ll likely end up paying close to the original price since losing your business isn’t a major concern for them.
Plus, you don’t have much leverage. As a small business, you likely rely on a handful of trusted vendors you’ve worked with for years. Would you really switch suppliers just for a discount?
Vendors know vetting someone new takes time. You’ll have to find another product that aligns with your requirements and conduct due diligence. Suppliers know you rely on them – and they use it to dictate prices.
42% of procurement leaders are concerned about supply chain disruption. High prices and bottlenecks are a reality. If a supplier has something in stock, they know they have a clear advantage and might not be willing to discount it.
Let’s say a vendor is willing to give you a discounted price. Reaching an agreement takes time. You’ll have to communicate back and forth and find a pricing point that works for you and them.
Negotiating discounts can get in the way of other important tasks you have to focus on. Besides, you might not have the negotiation skills to get to the lowest price point your vendor is willing to settle for (which is lower than you might think).
With Raiven, you could save 7 to 30% on the electrical or HVAC materials and supplies you need. The best part? Our experts negotiate discounts for you.
Here’s how it works.
Raiven is a leading digital supply chain network for the building trades, connecting more than 2,500 contractors and vendors.
As a contractor, you order the parts and supplies you need through the Raiven marketplace. Suppliers get a single large order from Raiven instead of multiple smaller orders.
This gives you the leverage you were missing to get good discounts. For suppliers, your business now represents a significant percentage of their sales. They are willing to offer bigger discounts and will prioritize your order. And if you need help, the reps have time for you.
The best part of joining Raiven? You don’t have to negotiate the supplier discounts yourself.
The experts at Raiven do it for you. They have years of experience and strong negotiation skills. They also know all about current market trends and understand where and when suppliers are willing to lower their prices.
Having professionals negotiate discounts for you saves you tons of time – and you get larger discounts than you can negotiate on your own.
You’ll find upfront information about pricing and contractor savings on the Raiven marketplace. You know exactly how much you’re paying (and how much you’re saving) before you place your order.
For your business, it means accurate quotes and spending projections. It’s crucial for protecting your profits and preventing your projects from going over budget.
The Raiven network gives suppliers plenty of visibility. They don't have to engage in marketing activities to reach contractors like you.
Plus, suppliers don’t have to engage in marketing activities to reach you. Visibility on the Raiven marketplace and browser extension – and access to an active group of buyers – translates into repeat business for them.
In exchange, suppliers are willing to offer you lower prices.
Joining Raiven gives you instant access to discounts of 7 to 30% on leading brands. Examples include Lowe’s, Home Depot, Grainger, Schneider Electric, HD Supply, ChargePoint, ABM, Carrier, and many more.
Electrical contractors will find discounted panels, conduits, breakers, wires, EV chargers, and many other product categories. For HVAC contractors, Raiven offers discounts on HVAC equipment, IAQ devices, filters, and replacement parts, among other options.
You can shop for everything you need in one platform, place a single order, and have complete visibility over your spending.
This streamlines your buying and saves you time (on top of spending less for the materials and parts you need). Plus, Raiven offers convenient AI buying tools to help you compare prices in real-time.
Remember when we said most contractors are limited because they work with a small pool of vendors? Raiven can change that.
The Raiven marketplace gives you access to a wide selection of vendors. Raiven vets them for you, and you can easily compare your options if your usual vendor doesn’t have a part in stock – or if you’d like to see more prices.
Joining the Raiven network is easy. All you have to do is complete a simple signup form and tell us a little more about your business.
After the 90-day free trial, you’ll pay a small flat monthly fee.
Are you ready to save on the parts and materials you need?