Referring a customer elsewhere

Bolton Stores   6 High Street  Manchester UK Dear Sirs, Thank you for your enquiry of 5 May concerning silk blouses. We regret to say that we do not manufacture finished apparel. Our factory produces only silk cloth which we sell to textile merchants and clothing manufacturers. We can, however, recommend a factory here that produces high quality silk apparel and would be able to manufacture clothing to your own designs to the highest European standards: Swan Textiles Corporation The Industrial Zone Shekou We supply the factory with all their silk materials. I enclose a swatch of our stock materials for your examination. Should you desire any of these samples made up into finished products, we can supply the Swan factory with them. We hope that this will be of help to you and wish you every success in your business dealings. Yours faithfully,		Useful phrases Line 1 Thank you for your enquiry of . . . concerning Line 2 We regret to say that we do not manufacture . . . Line 4 We can, however, recommend . . . Line 11 Should you desire any of these samples made up into finished products . . . Line 13 We hope that this will be of help to you. Notes Para. 1 Identify the enquiry. Para. 2 State why you cannot supply the goods. Para. 3 Recommend a factory that can supply the goods. Para. 4 If possible, obtain a share of the business. Para. 5 End with a friendly message.
Comments The letter sets out to assist the prospective purchaser by suggesting a supplier. At the same time, it tries to win a share of the business. The purchaser will be grateful for the help given. The inclusion of samples might lead to sales by the silk company.	Alternative phrases Line 1 We refer to. .. Line 2 We are sorry, but. . . Line 4 We would, however, like to suggest. Line 10 I enclose samples of . . . Line 13 We are pleased to be of assistance. ..