Suppliers FAQs and Guides

Applegate is the UK oldest Business to Business Marketplace est in 1996 predating even Google in the UK.

Applegate is the UK’s largest business to business Marketplace allowing buyers to find the products and services they require. We also feature and entirely free to use “ Request for Quotation” tool that allows buyers to ask us to gather multiple quotations on their behalf.

As a dedicated marketplace for business products and services our search results are far more relevant that generic search engines, allowing sourcing to be quick and easy. Over the 20+ years we have been trading we have built up a loyal base of tens of thousands of users and experience over 10,000 searches per day on the site. The recent addition of our “Request for Quotation” tool allows businesses of all sizes to outsource the gathering multiple quotes for free, saving them both time and money. There are no other sites that offer both the range and breadth of products and services specifically for businesses along with these additional features. It is this that allows us to count registered buyers from companies such as Rolls Royce, NHS, Ministry of Defence, Sony, Lockheed Martin and SpaceX amongst our users to name but a few.

Download our “Applegate Overview” here.

No. Buyers use Applegate entirely free of any charges whether self-sourcing suppliers via search or asking us to gather quotes for them via “Request for Quotation”. There are no fees, commissions etc whatsoever for buyers using Applegate.

Yes. Applegate charges a membership fee for Suppliers to join Applegate. As a member, suppliers receive a Company Profile to give an overview of their products and services. In addition to this an unlimited allowance is given for members to upload all the products, services or “keywords” they would want to be found for in buyer searches. Of course, members are also able to quote on relevant “Requests for Quotation” as buyers place them.

As with all businesses there is a cost associated to generating new customers and sales opportunities. Applegate invests heavily in several marketing activities to generate new users and members can take advantage of that at a very low cost.

Membership prices are determined based on the category, or multiple categories you wish your business to be registered with us under. These categories allow us to send you the relevant “Requests for Quotation” as they come in. You can build your membership package within our online cart by searching and selecting from our categories. Alternative our Customer Service team will be happy to assist with a quote if you would like to call or email via our “Contact Us” page. Please note the categories you select do NOT restrict the content you upload to your profile for search only the Request for Quotation you receive.

We offer 3 packages:

• 3 Month Invoice
• 6 Month Invoice
• 12 Month Direct Debit or Invoice

All plans auto renew to maintain your membership content and enquiries unless 1 month’s written notice is provided in advance of your renewal date. See our Terms of Service for more details.

You will only be directly quoting against others when you are responding to Request to Quotation you are added to. On average across all industries you would be quoting against 3 other parties (if you would like a figure specific to your industry please contact us). Note however that most buyers use our search to self-source and in those visits, we are not adding additional suppliers as we have not been asked to. The more content you add to your Company Profile the more searches you will appear in and the more direct enquires you are likely to receive over and above the Requests for Quotation.

Put simply no, not always. We monitor results and find that, speed of response, quality of communication, location, experience etc, etc all play a part. Of course, in a multiple quotation situation price will play a large part but is not always the decider by any means. Applegate provides monthly reports to all members proving information on performance versus competitors in terms of both speed of response and pricing. This allow Suppliers to see where improvement may need to be made.

When added to Request for Quotation members are sent and email alert to login and review the enquiry. Most requests will include information both company and buyer name along with other contact information such as telephone number and email address. You can choose to take this information offline to follow your standard quotation processes or respond directly through the platform. We also offer a messaging service that allows you to directly communicate with buyers within your logins.

We are proud to say we offer extensive support for all our members. All members are allocated an Account Executive and when you join they will arrange an “Onboarding Call” to guide you through how to login, edit your company profile, upload your product and services and access and respond to Requests for Quotation. Your Account Executive is there to support you throughout your membership and can assist liaising with our Buyer Management team to gather addition information etc you may require responding to quotation requests.

You can join online via our Cart here. Alternatively, you can join via one of our Customer Service representatives by calling 01271852000.

We offer 3, 6 and 12 month plans on invoice with an option to pay by monthly Direct Debit on 12 month terms only.

No. You will only pay your category fee. That is an all-inclusive charge, there are NO other commissions, fees etc. Simply that one monthly fee per category taken. Still have unanswered questions? Let us know –

• Speak to Customer Service on 01271852000
• Email - enquiries@applegate.co.uk
• Book a demo - click here