How does LION select products that are right for me?

You’ve likely just had a qualification meeting with LION and are progressing to the next step: your proposal. So what are the team at LION doing right now to pick the right products for you? And what do we need from you to ensure that your proposed products result from informed decisions?

This document will answer any questions you may have about our product selection process and will highlight the next steps we are taking internally to guarantee we have selected products that will meet your requirements. 

Sometimes, customers know the exact products they want before they come to us, which significantly shortens the process below. But, this isn’t often the case, and in the event that more collaboration is needed, our process always begins with you. 

What is the product selection process? 

Our product selection process always begins with questions; it is very important for us not to assume that we know the answer before clearly understanding your requirements. 

The best way we can do this is by understanding the results of your risk assessments. We also need:

• Knowledge of the environments the products will be used in 
• Insight into the background of your PPE and Safety Workwear usage (what has worked for you, what hasn’t, any history of accidents)
• Clear budget expectations 

Once we have a grasp of the above details, we will be able to proceed to the next steps in our process:

• Internal review of requirements. Here, we draw on our over 100 years of combined  experience internally to examine the best-fit solutions for you. Have we had any clients with similar requirements before? What worked for them?

• In some cases, our internal review extends at a technical and representative level to our trusted Partners (for example; ProGARM, Leo Workwear, ORN, V12 Footwear and Traffi), to ensure any technical requirements are fully explored.  
• Once we have explored the different avenues of solutions for you, we agree upon suggested products that we think are the best fit for your unique requirements and prepare your proposal based on this.

What information does LION need to start the product selection process?

LION need to know:

• What are the hazards and risks? (including any relevant findings of your risk assessments)
• What are your expectations around the time scale? 
• How many employees will be involved? 
  • Are they permanent staff or short-term contracts?
• What environments do they work in?
• Do you have any history of workplace accidents?
  • If so, what was their nature?
• What PPE and workwear have you used before? 
  • Did it work for you?
  • What didn’t work for you?
  • Why are you looking to change?
• What is your budget?

If we have this information, we are able to see a full picture of your circumstances and what products you require. This can lead to deeper collaboration on both sides. 

How do we select the best products for you?

The foundation for how we select the best-fit products for you is set by the answers you give to the questions above. We build on that foundation with our combined experience and engage manufacturers as technical experts where necessary. 

By involving the relevant authority voices, we know that we have gone the extra mile so that you don’t have to. Our knowledge of the market and access to relevant subject matter experts ensures that the products we select for you are not only well-informed but have been assessed from all angles first. 

How do I know if they meet the standard my company requires?

We always include standards and specifications in our exploration, as they are key factors in your requirements. We then look for parity between our experience, our manufacturers’ knowledge and your understanding of the risks the products we are looking at will help mitigate. 

We also use our BSIF affiliation and access to other industry experts when necessary to be sure that products are compliant. 

Where does sustainability come into the selection process?

When we pick a manufacturer or brand to work with, we always take sustainability into account. We believe that protecting lives should not cost us the Earth, and so sustainability is one of many stages in our process of choosing who to work with.

We take into account:

• What is the map of their geographical locations?
• Do they have Sustainability and Environment Initiatives at a policy level?
• Are they carbon neutral?
• Do they have sustainable products?
• Where are their factories? 
• Do they have any end-of-life product options?
• Do their products rely on heavy water usage or carbon-related products such as oil derivatives?

Those are just a few of the questions on sustainability that we consider when working with any supplier.

If you have specific sustainability targets, initiatives or requirements that you need us to meet, let us know in advance so that we can make sure we source a product that helps you achieve them.

How long will it take for LION to match products to my requirements?

This depends on the complexity of your requirements. Some situations are less complex than others and therefore a response within a few hours can be expected, others can take much longer if requirements are multi-faceted or present new challenges. 

Where does price come into it?

Price has to be relevant and proportional; we do not just hike up the price for the sake of it.
When we price an item, we price based on the below variables:

How will the products LION select be presented to me?

You will receive your proposal via email. Some clients prefer a spreadsheet, which is particularly usefully for larger product ranges with 30-200+ items. Others will receive their pricing on a PDF document that details the product code, description and our price. Sometimes clients want to have specific graphics of proposed products, usually to compare certain garments with others to choose, for example, the best colourways. We accommodate this by storyboarding their options and sending this over for their teams to look over. 

Is there room for discussion and revision if I am unhappy with what has been suggested?

Yes! Our purpose is to help you to keep your teams safe with the best products for them. If you are unhappy with what we have proposed, let us know as soon as possible so that we can resume discussions and find better-fit solutions for you. 

What is the protocol for revisions?

All suggestions are subject to change. For larger projects, more time may be needed due to complexity and staff engagement. 

If you want us to make changes to our proposal, these are your next steps:

• Contact the sales director in the first instance:

• State clearly which parts of the proposal you would like to be changed
  • Make sure you include why you want the products to be changed (what don’t you like about them, what qualities would you prefer?)

How do I proceed when I am happy with my proposal?

When you are happy with your proposal and ready to move forward with the buying process, you can accept your proposal via email confirmation to the person you received the proposal from.