diff --git a/core/vendors/__init__.py b/core/vendors/__init__.py
index 864dfe1c..8441b433 100644
--- a/core/vendors/__init__.py
+++ b/core/vendors/__init__.py
@@ -106,9 +106,10 @@ class AbstractVendor:
         self.vendor_name = vendor_name
         self.currency = currency
         self.blocked_attributes: list[Any] = []
+        self.log(LogLevel.INFO, f"Initializing {self}...")
 
     def __str__(self) -> str:
-        return self.get_vendor_instance().name if self.get_vendor_instance() else self.vendor_name
+        return self.get_vendor_instance(safe=True).name if self.get_vendor_instance() else self.vendor_name
 
     def log(self, level: LogLevel, message: str) -> None:
         is_celery_runtime = False
@@ -359,13 +360,17 @@ class AbstractVendor:
 
         return float(psychological)
 
-    def get_vendor_instance(self) -> Vendor | None:
+    def get_vendor_instance(self, safe: bool = False) -> Vendor | None:
         try:
             vendor = Vendor.objects.get(name=self.vendor_name)
             if vendor.is_active:
                 return vendor
+            if safe:
+                return None
             raise VendorInactiveError(f"Vendor {self.vendor_name!r} is inactive...")
         except Vendor.DoesNotExist as dne:
+            if safe:
+                return None
             raise Exception(f"No matching vendor found with name {self.vendor_name!r}...") from dne
 
     def get_products(self) -> None: