What Buyers are searching for – September 2025

Summary:

• August snapshot: steady interest in facilities services and construction trades, plus early planning searches for event support, branded merch, and digital help as teams prepped for fall. Logistics and packaging were active but not yet peaking.
• September to date: clear spike in event production, AV, exhibit services, and on-site staffing. Logistics is heating up in final-mile and kitting, and sustainable packaging terms are trending. IT support and cybersecurity assessments are getting renewed attention as budgets firm up.
• October outlook: based on last year’s pattern, expect repeat peaks in branded merchandise, exhibit and show services, seasonal fulfillment and kitting, translation and localization, and closeout facilities work like access control, HVAC, and low-voltage upgrades ahead of year end.

What buyers are searching for right now, and how small suppliers can win

If you sell to large enterprises, buyer interest will rise and fall across the year. That is normal. The key is understanding what buyers are looking for this month and why it is changing from last month or last year. Using SupplierOne PLUS data, we see a clear pattern. Event season heats up after summer. Facilities and construction searches track nearshoring and year-end projects. Logistics and packaging pulse with inventory build and promotions. Digital work returns to the front burner as teams lock budgets.

Below are the categories and search terms surfacing most often right now, with practical tips to help small and local suppliers get discovered and selected.

Marketing and events are back in motion

Top terms – Event production, AV services, exhibit design, branded merchandise, photographers, social media support, paid media, content studios.

Why now
September marks the restart of conferences, customer summits, and internal kickoffs after the summer lull. Teams scramble to source flexible, local partners who can move fast, manage on-site changes, and deliver within tight windows.

How to win
Keep your profile keywords specific to event season deliverables. Add proof points like rush timelines, venue familiarity, and union or safety clearances. Showcase local inventory or rental capabilities that reduce freight and risk.

Quick data callout
• Biggest riser vs. August: event production and AV
• Repeat seasonal peak vs. last October: branded merch and exhibit services

Construction trades and facilities services keep climbing

Top terms – General contractors, electrical, HVAC, low-voltage cabling, flooring, painting, janitorial, landscaping, security systems.

Why now
Enterprises are advancing nearshoring and regional expansions, refreshing offices, and closing facility projects before budgets reset. Many are also adding security and access control to meet new policies.

How to win
Highlight geographic coverage, licensing, safety records, union capabilities, and after-hours availability. List manufacturer partnerships and warranty support. For multi-site rollouts, call out program management and standardized pricing.

Quick data callout
• Month-over-month movers: HVAC, low-voltage cabling, access control
• Common filter used by buyers: proximity to site

Logistics and packaging pulse with inventory builds

Top terms – Regional carriers, final-mile delivery, LTL capacity, sustainable packaging, custom corrugate, kitting and fulfillment.

Why now
Retail and consumer brands build inventory for fall promotions while B2B teams prep for year-end shipments. Reliability and speed matter most, and sustainable packaging is now a frequent requirement, not a nice to have.

How to win
Publish service maps, cut-off times, on-time performance, and peak season surcharges. In packaging, specify recycled content, certifications, and MOQ flexibility. Offer pilot runs and fast quoting.

Quick data callout
• Rising terms in September: sustainable mailers, final-mile delivery
• Returning interest vs. last October: kitting and seasonal fulfillment

IT and digital services re-accelerate with budget clarity

Top terms – Managed services, cybersecurity assessments, M365 support, data integration, web maintenance, staff augmentation.

Why now
Teams come back from summer and lock in Q4 and next-year plans. Security assessments and managed support tend to spike as audit and compliance calendars kick in.

How to win
Spell out certifications, frameworks, response SLAs, and tooling. Emphasize small supplier strengths like faster turnaround, senior talent access, and flexible contract terms. Include case snapshots with measurable outcomes.

Quick data callout
• Consistent interest across all three periods: cybersecurity assessments
• September add-on searches: data integration for marketing and finance stacks

Professional services surge around planning cycles

Top terms – Temporary staffing, recruiting, training, change management, translation and localization.

Why now
Year-end projects and new initiative launches need people. Short-term staffing and specialized training help teams cover peaks without permanent headcount. Some companies are also turning to temporary staff before staffing up, given economic uncertainty.

How to win
List skill taxonomies, clearance levels, time-to-fill, and bench depth. For training, show curriculum outlines and delivery formats. For translation, publish language pairs, industry expertise, and turnaround tiers.

Quick data callout
• Faster growth vs. August: temporary staffing for operations roles
• Seasonal repeat vs. last October: translation for marketing and legal

Sustainability and local sourcing stay in the mix

Top terms – Local and diverse small businesses, recycled materials, energy efficiency upgrades, environmental reporting support.

Why now
Program goals and disclosures require verifiable data. Buyers look for small suppliers who can deliver impact, traceability, and documentation.

How to win
Tag your profile with local coverage, small business status, and recognized certifications. Include sample attestations and reporting formats so buyers see you are documentation-ready.

Quick data callout
• Frequent filter across months: small and local suppliers
• Notable interest vs. August: energy-efficient retrofits

What to do next

Tune your keywords to buyer language. Mirror the search terms above in your SupplierOne profile so your profile surfaces you more often.

Lead with proof. Add recent customer logos where allowed, project photos, and two to three quantified outcomes.

Offer fast starts. Publish pilot packages, rush options, MOQs, and service maps so buyers can move quickly.

Stay seasonal. If September is slow for you, October may not be. Adjust your outreach to match the calendar and the patterns above.

Want to see how buyers are discovering suppliers like you right now? Sign up for SupplierOne PLUS to learn how buyers are searching for your specific category and get up to 3x more visibility with buyers.