Be aware - the product selection advice you receive may be shaped by self-interest. That self-interest may be compounded by indifference to the economics of your operation. You may be exposed to mixed signals, ego-trips, unrealistic product advice, lack of respect for your efforts and outright demands. You won't be the first to encounter this response from your clients or from members of the management team.

Nevertheless, the wise extranet store manger will seek product assortment advice from the store's customers. Over the long haul, how you handle this facet of your job can play a large role in your success.

We suggest this approach:

• Don't wait for product ideas and extranet customers to come to you. Form a user's group at your own initiative. Ask for new product suggestions.

• Seek user's views about the success or failure of current products. Ask how current products can be improved.

• Show samples of potential additions to the merchandise assortment that you have discovered through your own product development and sourcing efforts. Teach them by example to expect you will come up with the best ideas.

• Discuss shifting the inventory investment among product categories - or changing the categories themselves to better comply with users' needs.

• Notify people of your decision about their product recommendation.

• Above all - use contacts with users to explain realities of selling rate, inventory turnover, authorized investment limits and other restraints on your capacity to indulge some valid requests and every whim.

Become known as a collaborator. Keep this interactive process going, be even-handed in product selection, give great service and you'll do just fine in the political minefield of the extranet.