Youve got to spend some clams to be a preferred vendor. I'd focus not so much on the supplier aspect than getting a few product specific training and certs behind your back. You should also consider becoming a Bisci member and get some training manuals/classes from them. Being a certified RCDD for example goes a long way for customers that look for that. I think we all are trying to plug our way at the cabling aspect and thats the best advice I can give, just plug away. Don't be a snob to the smaller jobs, granted you won't make alot, but a few small ones here and there, can get you by until you hit a few bigger one's. Name recognition is the game here. I work at a bank as their telecom/resident cable bitch as my full time job, alot of companies like that socially network, and other companies will make vendor desicions not so much based on price but on word of mouth and referrals from their peers in their industry. Good luck, there's plenty of work out there..