Order your first batch from the new supplier before your old inventory runs out, reuse your existing logo file if it's a vector or high-resolution image, and treat the switch as a design check-in rather than an automatic like-for-like swap — frame styles and imprint areas differ between manufacturers even when the material sounds the same.
What are the most common reasons dealerships switch plate frame suppliers?
Quality that doesn't match what was promised — frames fading, cracking, or corroding earlier than expected — is the most common trigger. Others include rigid minimum order quantities, slow or opaque pricing, a design process that requires a sales call for every change, and a straightforward brand refresh that's a natural point to re-evaluate vendors.
A dealer group acquiring or merging with another rooftop is another common trigger — bringing every location onto one supplier and one consistent design is often part of folding a new location into the group's existing brand standards.
How do we avoid running out of frames during the switch?
Place your first order with the new supplier while your existing stock still covers several weeks of installs, rather than waiting until you're down to zero. Frontline Frames' standard lead time is 2–3 weeks from order confirmation; other suppliers may run faster or slower, so confirm their current timeline before you count on it for your overlap window.
Can we reuse our existing logo files with a new supplier?
Vector files (SVG) transfer cleanly between suppliers because they scale to any size without losing sharpness. High-resolution PNG or JPG files usually work too. A low-resolution logo pulled from your website often isn't sharp enough for physical production — if that's all you have, ask your new supplier what resolution they need before submitting it.
How do we make sure the new supplier's colors match our old frames?
Request a physical sample and hold it next to a current frame rather than trusting a digital swatch or color code alone. Different manufacturers use different pigment batches and plating processes, so even an identical brand color code can render slightly differently between two suppliers' finished products.
What should we ask a new supplier before placing a first order?
- Actual current lead time, not a best-case estimate
- Minimum order quantity and pricing at your typical volume
- Whether proofs and samples are available, and any cost involved
- Subscription or recurring order options if you reorder regularly
- Where the frames are manufactured
- What logo file formats they accept and what resolution they need
- Whether a physical sample is available before you commit to volume
Write the answers down and compare them against your old supplier's actual performance, not their marketing claims — the gap between the two is usually where the decision to switch came from in the first place.
Do we need to cancel our old subscription before starting a new one?
Check your old supplier's own cancellation and notice terms directly with them, since policies vary by vendor. A common approach is timing the cancellation after your new supplier's first shipment has arrived and passed inspection, so you're never depending on a vendor you're actively replacing to cover a gap.
Should we switch all at once or start with a small batch?
Start with a small first order or a single location as a pilot, evaluate it against your actual standards for finish and durability, then roll out to the rest of your inventory or dealer group once you're confident. Switching every location at once on an unproven new supplier concentrates all the risk of a bad first batch in one place.
How do we keep every location consistent during the transition?
Centralize the decision with one person or team rather than letting each rooftop switch on its own schedule, and move every location onto the new design and supplier within the same reorder cycle. A staggered, uncoordinated switch is how a dealer group ends up with three different plate frame looks across its own lots.
If a full simultaneous switch isn't practical because locations reorder on different cycles, set a firm cutover date by which every location must be on the new design regardless of where they are in their own reorder cycle, rather than letting the transition drift indefinitely.
Should we tell our current supplier we're switching?
That's a business relationship decision more than a practical necessity — nothing about placing an order with a new supplier requires notifying the old one first. Some dealerships prefer to give feedback on the way out, especially if it's a quality issue the old supplier could fix; others simply let the relationship lapse once the last order is fulfilled.
What are warning signs it's time to look at other suppliers?
Frames fading, cracking, or corroding well before you'd expect; lead times that keep slipping past what was promised; no way to preview a design before ordering; pricing that isn't transparent until you're on a call; and no bulk or subscription options for a dealership that reorders regularly are all reasonable reasons to shop around.
What if our dealer group is mid-contract with our current supplier?
Check the actual contract terms before you commit to a new supplier's first order — some vendor agreements include minimum volume commitments or notice periods that affect your timing. If you're not sure what your current agreement requires, that's worth confirming with whoever signed it before you start winding down the old relationship.
How long does onboarding with a new supplier usually take?
It varies, but if the supplier offers an online builder, the design and preview step can happen the same day — most of what feels like "onboarding" time is really just standard production lead time on the first order, not a separate setup process. A design that's already finalized from your brand guide moves through this step fastest.
When should we tell our sales team about the change?
Tell them before the new frames arrive, not after. Sales and delivery staff need to know the new design and any installation differences so they're not installing outdated stock alongside new frames, or explaining an inconsistent look to a customer who notices two different designs on the lot.
What should we do with leftover frames from our old supplier?
Undamaged stock doesn't need to be thrown out — use it for lower-visibility spots, service loaners, or event giveaways rather than your primary delivery inventory, and phase it out naturally rather than discarding usable product. Reserve your new supplier's frames for the vehicles and moments where brand consistency matters most.
A clean transition plan — overlap the orders, verify the sample, phase in the new design, phase out the old stock — takes the guesswork out of what could otherwise feel like a risky change to a small but visible piece of your brand.
If the old design carried an outdated logo, phone number, or address, retire it outright rather than repurposing it anywhere customer-facing — an old supplier's frame with wrong contact information is a worse outcome than simply discarding the leftover stock.
See current pricing and design your new frame in the builder, or review our full process on the how it works page. Questions about switching go to our team.