Archive for June, 2017

Is the Internet helping or hurting us?

Friday, June 30th, 2017

 

Todays’s Post is by Eli Razov, SafeSourcing  Account Manager.

The internet has to be one of the greatest tools of our time. Or is it? The invention of the internet has brought with it changes that have completely altered the way we do virtually everything. From the way we shop, to the way we conduct business. The world is at our fingertips. We need to simply type in what our heart desires and viola the answer appears; but is that helping us? Not too many years ago research reports for school, or gathering information about a potential client required a lot of leg work with just as much paper; but it involved the researcher. It made researcher learn more about what they we searching for. Today it is very simple to find the answer and just copy and paste it into a document . Some may believe this makes us lazy or removes our involvement all together. Some may also say that this is expanding our horizons and gives us the ability to learn more at a faster pace. But what is it doing for us? Is there a correct answer? Look at what we do here at Safesourcing. We help clients in many ways, mostly by helping save a lot in the procurement process. We use the internet and our vast database of companies, locally and internationally to find the right supplier and vendors for our clients. Whether it is helping find a service or a product, we can do it. Communication is a large part of it. From emails, to instant messages, or the VOIP phone services that most companies use, almost every aspect of communication is driven by the internet. Our online tool that we use to run our events depends on the internet to have a seamless successful campaign from start to finish. But that’s not all. We are constantly improving our website and online tools to keep up with the demands of an ever-changing digital age.

Coming from an age where the internet was just coming into play and seeing the changes it has made in almost every aspect of life, from ordering my coffee, to getting live directions to the nearest shoe store, I believe the internet has had a great impact on the advancement of humankind. Yes, there are downsides. Fake news is spreading like wildfire, seeing horrific images that may scar younger viewers, as well as the darker sides of the internet. But just like everything in life, with good there is always bad. It is all up to you, the user, how you weld your power so choose wisely and try to make the world a better place, even if it is just by helping each other by passing on uplifting words or helping to teach younger generations learn to cook.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist you or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Representative we have an entire team waiting to assist you today

Why “Green Bar” Copy Paper?

Thursday, June 22nd, 2017

 

Today’s post is by Steven Belvin, Sr. Account Manager at SafeSourcing.

What is the benefit of using a type of copy paper that is not very recycle friendly.  There are actually many benefits to using Green/Blue Bar copy paper; however, before I explain that, let us understand what Green/Blue Bar Copy paper is.

Green/Blue Bar copy paper is a type of paper that is commonly used in printing terminals such as DEC writers. A few noticeable discrepancies behind this paper, and your standard copy paper, would be the alternating colors on each line of the paper. This is to help people separate the text that is printed out on each line of the page. Another difference to this type of copy paper would be the tear off edges. The edges help the paper flow through the machine, and in some cases keep the top and bottom copy of the paper perfectly aligned.

That also leads us to another noticeable difference. That difference would be that in this type of copy paper has a bottom “Carbon Copy”. This bottom copy can be used for multiple reasons. The most popular reason would be to provide a costumer a “Receipt or Carbon Copy”. You will primarily see these type of “Receipts” in just about any auto parts store. This style of paper is beneficial because not only is it easy to read, but it makes two copies of one page at once. Also, as opposed to your standard copy paper, the Green/Blue Bar copy paper is thinner than your standard paper. Another benefit would be that you would not need to load the printer as much. This is because, with most Green/Blue Copy, paper the pages are connected until they have been torn apart. One can obviously see the benefits of both Green/Blue Copy paper and standard copy paper. Whatever style you prefer, SafeSourcing can help you source it and find the best value for all your paper needs.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist your team with this process or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.

References…….

Green Bar Paper Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2017.

 

Old Glory – The Red, White and Blue.

Tuesday, June 20th, 2017

 

Today’s post is by Gayl Southard, Administrative Consultant at SafeSourcing.

We have recently celebrated Memorial Day and Flag Day and the Fourth of July is coming up quickly. We certainly see a lot of Old Glory this time of year.   The following is just a little flag trivia:

  1.  Betsy Ross is credited with designing the flag, but there is almost no evidence to support this. The only evidence was from her own grandson in 1870, when he presented The Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia with affidavits from his own family members as evidence. Early journals from the Continental Congress claim Francis Hopkins deserves the credit.
  2. Karen Burke of Walmart’s Corporate Communications stated Walmart sold 115,000 flags on September 11, 2001 compared to 6,400 on the same day in 2000.
  3. A 17-year old student by the name of Robert G. Heft, designed the flag as it appears today. With the addition of Alaska and Hawaii as states, he designed the 50-star flag as a history project. He got a B- from his instructor that was later changed to an A when President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose Heft’s design.
  4. Six flags were planted on the moon during the Apollo missions. Only one flag fell. According to Buzz Aldrin, the one that fell was blown over by Apollo 11 liftoff from the moon’s surface.
  5. According to the US Department of State, the official colors are “old glory red” and “old glory blue.
  6. Flag Day is not an official federal holiday outside of Pennsylvania and New York. New York doesn’t observe Flag Day on the 14th, but rather the second Sunday in June.
  7. Richard Williams the animation director of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” said he modeled the rabbit’s colors after Old Glory (red overalls, white fur, blue tie). It looked like an American flag and subliminally everyone like it.
  8. There are federal regulations governing the handling and display of the flag (the U.S. Flag Code) in advertising or printing or anything intended for temporary use or display.
  9. Old Glory was a nickname for a particular U.S. flag. It was owned by a sea captain given to him by a woman in his home town of Salem, MA. He named it Old Glory after seeing it on his mast in 1831. The name became synonymous with the American flag.

For more information on SafeSourcing and how we can help you with your sourcing needs, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

 

Retaining Traditions

Friday, June 16th, 2017

 

Today’s post is by Dave Wenig, Director of Sales, North America at SafeSourcing

Even the best planned eProcurement initiatives, sponsored as they should be at the executive level, are susceptible to one common challenge. Moving to eProcurement, just like any change, will require an organization’s resources to support the change. It’s important to understand that the individuals required to support eProcurement must be coached and must buy into the program. Sometimes, however, individuals or teams within the organization will be reluctant to adopt to the change.

It’s understandable that we all believe our own techniques and processes are best. After all, we’ve learned and honed these over the course of our careers. That makes it more difficult to accept change. Some people may even feel threatened by change.

Knowing this, I’ll offer a couple suggestions to help ease the transition and provide an atmosphere that encourages each individual resource to embrace the change and not fear it. This does not necessarily mean that existing techniques and processes are no longer valuable. In fact, certain traditional purchasing concepts will continue to play as integral a role in eProcurement as they did before eProcurement. For example, vendor relationships will continue to be necessary.

Encourage culture: Spread the good news. Did Marketing just have a great month of savings? Share that with your other business units. We’ve seen tremendous momentum generated by posting a scoreboard where BU’s savings percentages are posted on a regular basis. This often drives friendly competition.

Keep positive: Focus on the wins. When you see big savings, applaud it. The worst thing you can do is to ask why you were overpaying before. Instead, focus that energy on targeting the next category for savings opportunity.

By using these and other techniques to encourage adoption of your eProcurement process and retaining certain key elements of traditional purchasing, you will pave the way for success.

Dave Wenig is the Director of Sales, North America at SafeSourcing. For more information, please contact SafeSourcing.  

We look forward to your comments.

 

What is rPET?

Thursday, June 8th, 2017

 

Today’s post is from our SafeSourcing Archives.

RPET is recycled polyethylene terephthalate. When consumers recycle plastic bottles and packaging it can be cleaned and made into a federally approved material suitable for direct food contact applications. Below is a list of examples for reusing the material:

1. Beverage Bottles

2. Clam Shell Containers

3. Trays

The rPET is fully compatible with virgin PET and can be used for up to 100% rPET content.  There are numerous advantages for these second-life products listed below:

1. rPET bottles reduce the amount of waste taken to a landfill

2. rPET has a more stable price than virgin PET because it is not tied to the oil market

3. rPET improves society’s carbon footprint

The three advantages above give enough data to support the effort to change to rPET. Now, what do you need to know when sourcing these products? SafeSourcing is experienced in sourcing rPET packaging. Whether you are looking for private label spring water in six sizes or a clam shell container, we can help; we can work with your company to define your needs. In addition, we know which vendors are in the market and their offerings.

For more information on how we can help you with your procurement needs or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.  We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.

We look forward to your comments.

Failure to Communicate

Wednesday, June 7th, 2017

 

Today’s post is written by Ivy Ray, Account Manager at SafeSourcing Inc.

The importance of clear and concise communication should never be underestimated. We live in a time where, more than ever, we are receiving multiple streams of communication on a continuous basis.

Failure to communicate in a concise manner can result in an outcome that ranges from minor delay, to missed opportunity, or even major destruction; as in the case of the 1981 skywalk collapse at the Kansas City, Missouri, Hyatt Regency Hotel.

In the collapse, the structural failure was due to a change in the initial design drawings, by the fabricator, which the design engineer reviewed and returned to the fabricator, stamped with the engineering review seal, authorizing construction. The fabricator built the walkways in compliance with the directions contained in the structural drawings, as interpreted by the shop drawings. The change was not clearly communicated through all channels of the construction team, and the load capacity was never tested.

There have been publications and lectures which have come from this unfortunate incident, such as, “Avoiding ‘Failures’ Caused by Lack of Management” and Gerald W. Farquhar’s “Lessons to be Learned in the Management of Change Orders in Shop Drawings.”

When working with or clients for national and international associations, from various time zones, communication tends to be done through email.  People are busy. According to a report prepared by The Radicati Group Inc., in 2015, the average business professional received/sent 125 email messages in one day. This is one reason why long, rambling emails have become such a scourge. Providing a clear concise message will help a person use their time wisely while managing their in-box. Simple, direct language keeps people tuned in to what’s important. These are things that need to be considered when sharing information via email with a group of people working together on the planning of an event.

The 7 Cs provide a checklist for making sure that your meetingsemailsconference calls, and reports, are well constructed and clear – so your audience gets your message.

Communication needs to be:

1) Clear

2) Concise

3) Concrete

4) Correct

5) Coherent

6) Complete

7) Courteous

“Simple messages travel faster, simpler designs reach the market faster and the elimination of clutter allows faster decision-making.” – Jack Welch

For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist you in exploring your procurement solutions for your business or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.  We have an entire customer services team waiting to assist you today.

We look forward to your comments.

References:………………………………………………

http://www.engineering.com/Library/ArticlesPage/tabid/85/ArticleID/175/Hyatt-Regency-Walkway-Collapse.aspx

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm

http://www.radicati.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Email-Statistics-Report-2011-2015-Executive-Summary.pdf

 

 

The Death of Bacon

Thursday, June 1st, 2017

 

Todays’s Post is by Eli Razov, SafeSourcing  Account Manger.

No not Francis Bacon the English philosopher, but that wonderful meat we all love. Don’t worry we kept the treat, but a lot of things have changed. Back in 2011, the CME decided to remove the Pork Belly from the trade floor because of its volatility and a few other reasons. What does that mean? Is this the end of pork trade? Where do I buy a Pig?

Let’s start at the beginning. Bacon is one of the oldest cuts of meat, going back to around 1500 B.C. It has been used in multiple countries and cultures. Around the 16th century it was the European peasant food go-to because it is easy to produce and relatively cheap. This also goes for us Americans as well; we haven’t always loved or claimed this glorious breakfast staple as we do today. It wasn’t really until the mid to later 1900’s that we found our love.  In 1961 seeing the rise of demand the CME allowed Pork Bellies to be traded and that’s where we begin. The “pork belly contract” each consisting of 40,000 lbs of frozen trimmed bellies is how the CME decided to keep track of reserves. Ever since it rolled across that ticker, pork bellies have been a dramatic rollercoaster ride for investors. Everything from weather, feed, disease, other countries demands and even speculation have controlled and dictated this commodity. There have been many jokes made about the pork belly trade as well as movie appearances like in “Trading Places”. But like all good things, this too has come to an end. The country’s demand for pork bellies grew exponentially over the years and in 2010 the CME monitored warehouses were about 73 percent smaller than the previous year. This as we know is not good for most investors, seeing this drastic of a change means prices will skyrocket, but also mean the product can become extremely scarce. Well that was back when we had to freeze and keep in warehouses. But now most of what we consume is all fresh.  So in 2011 the CME decided to remove the Pork Belly from the commodity trade.

Never fear, bacon is not going anywhere.   In fact, we come up with new ways to use it every day. The CME has had “Lean Hog Futures” for many years, which are now the new pork bellies just under the same umbrella. The trade is going strong and our love for the succulent snack is ever growing. And if you are a true bacon lover, and maybe even dabble in investments, you can always go over to the CME website and put some stock in the things we love.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist you or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Representative we have an entire team waiting to assist you today

 

References —————————–

  1. http://bacon.wikia.com/wiki/Bacon_History
  2. http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/porkbellies.asp
  3. http://www.minyanville.com/businessmarkets/articles/pork-bellies-pork-belly-futures-pork/7/18/2011/id/35803
  4. http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/agricultural/livestock/lean-hogs_quotes_settlements_futures.html