Archive for the ‘Sourcing Strategy’ Category

Bankruptcy is not fake news, and you might be next if you don’t pay attention.

Thursday, November 9th, 2023

 

Today’s post is by Ron Southard, CEO at SafeSourcing.

I read an article today on TheStreet.com by Kirk O’Neil titled Beloved fast-food chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Quite frankly it took a while to figure out what chain the article was referring to because it spent a lot of the article talking about the problems Rite Aide is having who also filed for Chapter 11. Then it went on to talk about  a furniture company that had to close 27 stores in 14 states and ultimately had to file for Chapter 7 liquidation.

The article did finally mention a restaurant chain that had to file for chapter 11 because sales have not recovered from the Covid Pandemic. How often have we heard this?

The fact is the fast-food sector of the retail is suffering, the model has changed quite a bit. How often do you go inside your favorite location to order your food (it is faster). Most of the takeaway or to go traffic is done through the drive-up windows. I’m pretty sure we are going to start seeing them again in the c-store space as they continue to try and capitalize on fresh food offerings, some of which have become outstanding. Even food service distributors are shifting their attention to the c-store vertical as a new source of business.

So, what’s the point? There is a lot of pain in all retail, it’s a war for the customers reduced spending. Thank the FED, The current Democrat Administration, and the Banks for that. However, where there is pain there is opportunity. If you look for it, it may just save some jobs or pay for that new self-checkout because you can’t find enough staff  for the shift work in 24-hour operations.

If you ask, you can find lower prices on just about everything. Capital Projects, Cost of Goods and Expense. Here’s the thing, you are understaffed for the job you have to do. There are other projects that the company will never get to.  You don’t have the time to do it yourself. That’s where SafeSourcing comes in. We know the categories as well or better than you do. We know where all of the suppliers are and have relationships with them, that you do not.

If you wan to reduce costs, I mean really reduce them so you can afford to do other things, Contact SafeSourcing. We guarantee our work, and our ROI is often greater than 10X and immediate.

All of you Retailers are paying way more than you should be for just about everything.

Tuesday, November 7th, 2023

 

Today’s post is by Ron Southard CEO and Chief Money Saver at SafeSourcing Inc.

The pandemic scared everyone. The retail industry had moved largely toward single source supply chain initiatives. The last two years has not really seen much movement away from that. The result is that retailers are paying way too much for everything. As a good cop in this equation, I try to keep customers and prospects informed as to market movement on as many commodities, supplies and services as I can. It’s pretty easy, because I can actually look back at what retailers were paying two to four years ago and I can compare it to what other retailers are paying now. The best I can do with that information is share it in a nonspecific way. Example: Two Years ago, you paid X for Y. Last week another customer ended up paying X for the same Y. They are paying less than you are.

My reaction to the above would be, tell me more and tell me how soon we can fix it. In fact, SafeSourcing has reduced its costs on everything we do including interest rates on all types of debt. We can do the same for you.

I know planning for the future and worrying about what to do about shrinking labor pools or lack of shift workers or how to attract more customers away from one format (fast food to C-Store) to yours is all top of mind, but many a fine MBA professor has told their students ITS ABOUT THE MONEY. What are the two most important things to a retailer? People (customers) and Money (cashflow/profit).

I can help you get there sooner rather than later.  Or maybe you’re just waiting to be bought out or get fired.

SafeSourcing is a Procure to Pay SaaS based Managed Services provider of a number of e-Procurement solutions and associated white glove services that are part of our SaaS offered SafeSourceIt™ eSourcing suite . Our average annual savings against all categories are in excess of 24%. Think about what those numbers would do to your bottom line whether they are from cost of goods or expense. Protect your precious headcount because it is the right thing to do,

For more information, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Services Associate.

 

 

Post-Consumer Materials and the Circular Economy

Thursday, October 26th, 2023

 

Today’s post is by Ronald D. Southard, CEO at SafeSourcing Inc.

How is your company planning to work with evolving circular economy issues?

According to Wikipedia A circular economy (also referred to as circularity and CE)[2] is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible.[3] CE aims to tackle global challenges as climate changebiodiversity loss, waste, and pollution by emphasizing the design-based implementation of the three base principles of the model.

Global business is now thinking way past post-consumer materials which as we all know drove many of the early recycling initiatives implemented by businesses. A definition of that term which is a beginning point but less broad than circular economy is below.

The term post-consumer materials are finished productspackages, or materials produced or created by a business or consumer.  Post-customer materials have served their intended uses and have been recovered or diverted from the waste stream with the intention of recycling or reuse. An example of post-consumer materials is paper recycling.  The purpose of paper recycling is to turn paper into new paper products.

SafeSourcing is an eprocurement company that operates across multiple industries. Our SafeSourceIt™ Global Supplier Database of over 457,000 suppliers provides easy access to alternative sources of supply based on post-consumer materials and or circular economy requirements. To learn more, please contact a SafeSourcing customer services associate.

Sources: Circular economy – Wikipedia

 

Ghost of Prices Past

Tuesday, October 17th, 2023

 

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Director of HR and Administration at SafeSourcing Inc.

Fall has arrived and with it comes the anticipation of the holiday season. October starts with the cooling temperatures, theme and costumes galore, and the eerie décor of all thinks spooky. Some of us celebrate with the day of the dead, remembrance, and those spirits that are never truly gone.

Something often remembered fondly are the prices we once paid for the things we needed, often just a few years ago, as if the spirit of what the price used to be still lingers when they are far from present. Indeed the spookiest things to be seen are rising grocery bills and prices tags of the things we need.

But there is hope. You can still utilize procurement partners to help find the suppliers, goods, or services you need and potentially stop the ever escalating prices. In fact, many customers wind up saving more than they expect when utilizing a procurement partner, like SafeSourcing. We can help you find what you need and help to save money too. There’s nothing spooky about begin able to get what you have already been buying, but for less than you thought you could.

In addition to finding what you already purchase, a procurement partner can help identify areas that could be good candidates to save even more. If you are starting a new project, the entire process can take resources and time away from your team and partnering with SafeSourcing can help streamline your process, provide central reporting tools, and also keep your team’s time free for their other activities. A collaborative opportunity would be a great treat, just in time for the season!

For more information on what the SafeSourcing team can offer you, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Did you win Monday night’s Powerball?

Wednesday, October 4th, 2023

 

Today’s post is by Ronald D. Southard, CEO at SafeSourcing Inc

While I can’t provide the customer’s name, they are NOT a $5B retailer per yesterday’s posts example. However, they are smart and focused and may well be some day. They took SafeSourcing up on our No Risk Offer. Their ROI will more than pay for their contract moving forward. Most procurement teams do not believe these types of results are possible in the current economy. Most of your teams will tell you this is a waste of time. I’ll bet you could use another $338K right now.

Here are the results:

  1. Expense Category: Pilot Event Number One:
    1. Savings $298,270.80
  2. For Resale Category: Event Number Two:
    1. Savings $40,072.32
  3. Total Savings: $338,343.12
    1. ROI 26X

You can still test me, if you’d like, this link will come directly to me. Your team will tell you this is not possible. I guarantee that your odds are better than 1 in 292 million to win Powerball.

SafeSourcing is a Procure to Pay SaaS based provider of a number of e-Procurement solutions and associated white glove services that are part of our SaaS offered SafeSourceIt™ eSourcing suite. These include but are not limited to SafeContract™, SafePO™, SafeDocument™ and our SafeSourceIt™ Global Supplier Database that includes over 557,000 vendor/suppliers.

For more information, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Services Associate.

 

 

 

How does your company protect their important non-contract documents?

Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

 

Today’s post is by Ronald D. Southard, CEO at SafeSourcing Inc

How does your company protect their non important noncontract documents?

Every company, in fact every individual has important documents that they would like easy access to as well as tracking and check in and checkout sharing features to maintain continuity and history of use. While maybe not to the degree of a contract, but then again why not?

SafeDocument™ is a document repository that allows companies to collaborate on documents through an online tool that is a cloud-based SaaS offering available through simple internet access. This tool Provides document sharing and collaboration options where users can organize, edit, protect, and track their documents.

SafeDocument™ includes safety features and controls that enable users to safely share large files across their organization, including the ability to save and recall multiple versions of a document and a notification system that alerts users when changes to the document have occurred.

Implementing SafeDocument™ provides companies with a cost-effective alternative to enterprise content management solutions that is safe and easy to use.

SafeSourcing is a Procure to Pay SaaS based provider of a number of e-Procurement solutions and associated white glove services that are part of our SaaS offered SafeSourceIt™ eSourcing suite. These include but are not limited to SafeContract™, SafePO™, SafeDocument™ and our SafeSourceIt™ Global Supplier Database that includes over 557,000 vendor/suppliers.

To learn more, please contact a SafeSourcing customer services associate.

 

 

Category Development Index (CDI)

Monday, September 11th, 2023

 

Today’s post is by Ronald D. Southard, CEO at SafeSourcing Inc.

How do you follow the trend in the categories that you source? If you only source them once a year or less frequently, does it make sense to talk to a partner that sources them globally dozens of times a year like SafeSourcing?

A Category Development Index, or CDI, is a trend analysis that indicates the turnover of sales of a given productcategory in a specific area. The CDI can give vital data for marketers to allocate advertising to specific areas maximizing product category knowledge and profit. The category Development Index is often used in conjunction with the Brand Development Index or BDI.

SafeSourcing is an eprocurement company that operates across multiple industries. As such we have specific experience in almost any commodity, service or capital related spend. Our SafeSourceIt™ Global Supplier Database provides access to suppliers across multiple categories in order to support single or multiple source opportunities both near shore and offshore. To learn more, please contact a SafeSourcing customer services associate.

 

 

Watch your commodity markets very closely!

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

 

Today’s post is by Ronald D. Southard, CEO at SafeSourcing Inc

In an article by Bryan Doherty in Successful Farming titled EXPECT TIGHTER SUPPLY OF CATTLE IN 2023, ANALYST SAYS. Though cattle marketing numbers were heavier than expected late summer and fall, expect that beef production and the number of cattle marketed will be lower in the year ahead.

Why? The quick answer: higher input costs and drought conditions in key cattle-producing states will mean less inventory in the months ahead.

How do you make sure you are sourcing your commodity needs correctly? Contact SafeSourcing Inc. We buy it more often than you do and know the levers to pull. Glad to share some recent examples when you reach out.

SafeSourcing is a Procure to Pay SaaS based provider of a number of e-Procurement solutions and associated white glove services that are part of our SaaS offered SafeSourceIt™ eSourcing suite. These include but are not limited to SafeContract™, SafePO™, SafeDocument™ and our SafeSourceIt™ Global Supplier Database that includes over 557,000 vendor/suppliers.

For more information, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Services Associate.

References:

Successful Farming: Bryan Doherty

Have you invested in EGGCoins yet? 

Thursday, August 24th, 2023

 

Today’s post is by Ronald D. Southard, CEO at SafeSourcing Inc

EGGcoins or just plain old farm fresh eggs are outperforming Bitcoin and most other crypto assets.

However, you cannot hold them for quite as long because they spoil quickly, or even worse they hatch and turn into ChickenCoins that require physical housing versus a virtual wallet.

While bitcoin is up 38.92% YTD. Eggs are up over 60% in the last 12 months and headed higher yet. Maybe you can exchange EGGcoin with Bitcoin.  At least if the price drops sharply, you’d have something to eat. Or even have a pet (not suggested as my grandfather was a chicken farmer so I know things).

While I know you all like tongue in cheek posts, please remember that like everything, egg prices vary drastically based on type, size, color, and farming styles like free range versus caged.

If you really want to get your best price for this commodity, Contact SafeSourcing Inc. We buy more of all commodities more often than you do and know the levers to pull. Glad to share some recent examples when you reach out.

SafeSourcing is a Procure to Pay SaaS based provider of a number of e-Procurement solutions and associated white glove services that are part of our SaaS offered SafeSourceIt™ eSourcing suite. These include but are not limited to SafeContract™, SafePO™, SafeDocument™ and our SafeSourceIt™ Global Supplier Database that includes over 557,000 vendor/suppliers.

For more information, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Services Associate.

 

 

Are you sourcing a new category or cannot find a specification for a current category?

Monday, August 21st, 2023

 

Today’s post is by Ronald D. Southard, CEO at SafeSourcing Inc

Often when speaking with customers and prospects I am asked why SafeSourcing can reduce their current pricing as dramatically as we do.  My fist response to ask how often they source the category. The answers range from annually to every few years or longer. From there I ask them how they keep track of industry changes and evolution. This normally draws a blank look. My answer to them is that categories that they source even annually are evolving every day. Just think about waste removal the transition to a circular economy. What you might source for service today may not be the same as what is available six months from now, and at what cost SafeSourcing may source those categories dozens of times in a year and all of those changes are kept in our The SafeSourceIt™ Event Templates Library and are up to date to the present day. Often these templates are more complete than data the customers have on file.

Our SafeSourceIt™ Event Templates Library is available to customers of SafeSourcing Inc. This library is designed to shorten the process of procuring a variety of not for resale and for resale products by making SafeSourcing’ s best practices tools available to our customers to shorten the amount of work one must do to prepare for quality e-procurement events. For more information or a demonstration of this tool please contact marketing@safesourcing.com.

SafeSourcing is a Procure to Pay SaaS based provider of a number of e-Procurement solutions and associated white glove services that are part of our SaaS offered SafeSourceIt™ eSourcing suite. These include but are not limited to SafeContract™, SafePO™, SafeDocument™ and our SafeSourceIt™ Global Supplier Database that includes over 557,000 vendor/suppliers.

To learn more, please contact a SafeSourcing customer services associate.