Archive for October, 2010

Newer Entries »

Here are Eight (8) good reasons why Super Market Company’s should be doing more with e-procurement tools or getting new ones.

Monday, October 11th, 2010

Let’s not event talk about the economy which should automatically make companies look at their procurement practices. Let’s not talk about adjustments or explanations as to final industry numbers like the food at home inflation rates. If you are a new CEO or for that matter if you still have your job, you should be looking at 2 things aggressively. The first is cost of goods and services and the 2nd is expenses.

Here are eight good reasons why.

1. Fiscal Year 2000/2001        Net Profit Percentage    1.25
2. Fiscal Year 2001/2002        Net Profit Percentage    1.36
3. Fiscal Year 2002/2003       Net Profit Percentage       .95   
4. Fiscal Year 2003/2004       Net Profit Percentage       .88
5. Fiscal Year 2004/2005       Net Profit Percentage     1.16
6. Fiscal Year 2005/2006       Net Profit Percentage     1.46
7. Fiscal Year 2006/2007      Net Profit Percentage     1.91
8. Fiscal Year 2007/2008      Net Profit Percentage     1.84

SafeSourcing can help you fix this problem in the present quarter. Click here for the SafeSourcing Risk Free Trial.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

Posted in , ,

Here are Eight (8) good reasons why Super Market Company?s should be doing more with e-procurement tools or getting new ones.

Monday, October 11th, 2010

Let?s not event talk about the economy which should automatically make companies look at their procurement practices. Let?s not talk about adjustments or explanations as to final industry numbers like the food at home inflation rates. If you are a new CEO or for that matter if you still have your job, you should be looking at 2 things aggressively. The first is cost of goods and services and the 2nd is expenses.

Here are eight good reasons why.

1.?Fiscal Year 2000/2001? ????? Net Profit Percentage??? 1.25
2.?Fiscal Year 2001/2002 ?????? Net Profit Percentage ?? 1.36
3.?Fiscal Year 2002/2003 ????? Net Profit Percentage?????? .95???
4.?Fiscal Year 2003/2004 ????? Net Profit Percentage?????? .88
5.?Fiscal Year 2004/2005 ????? Net Profit Percentage???? 1.16
6.?Fiscal Year 2005/2006 ????? Net Profit Percentage ??? 1.46
7.?Fiscal Year 2006/2007 ???? Net Profit Percentage ??? 1.91
8.?Fiscal Year 2007/2008 ???? Net Profit Percentage ??? 1.84

SafeSourcing can help you fix this problem in the present quarter. Click here for the SafeSourcing Risk Free Trial.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

Posted in , ,

Retail buyers; be careful with your holiday and promotional giveaways purchasing.

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Historically these products may have come from U.S. manufacturers, but today they come from all over the world and don’t ask don’t tell is not the right way to insure product quality and safety. Typically these products are ordered in very large quantities and can be included in programs where you have to buy something  first or are just given away for free as gifts for visiting a retailer’s new location.

If you were to ask retail buyer where they bought these products,they could probably come up with an answer pretty quickly and most likely it is a marketing company. If you were to ask the same buyer where the product was sourced and what materials, compounds, additives etc. were in the product you would draw a blank stare. The additives could be anything from BPA, lead, melamine, cadmium or a variety of other potentially toxic products that we have posted on repeatedly.

This issue recently hit McDonalds where pressure was put on the company from federal regulators to recall 12 million “Shrek” themed glasses that contained cadmium which reportedly could be absorbed at hazardous levels by just touching a glass 8 times per day. McDonalds is a huge and very high quality retail company. If this can happen to them what about all of the mid tier retailers that are not as sophisticated in their purchasing techniques.

Ask your e-procurement solutions provider how they can help you with this problem without you having to ask them every time you buy something.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

Posted in ,

Rest area safety tips for all retail travelers that want to avoid being a victim.

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

I was reading today?s edition of USA TODAY and read the front page article titled Along Highways, signs of serial killings ?by Blake Morrison. The data was shocking to someone that travels a lot and also has family members that do so to make their living. Over the road travel is how most of our goods are shipped and is also a necessary part of how most suppliers representatives travel to call on our retailers and our retailers work with their stores.?

As such I am posting tips by AAA titled Avoid being a victim.

AAA offers these tips for motorists concerned about their safety at rest areas and truck stops:

??Avoid being the only person at a rest area.
??Park in well-lit spaces near the facilities.
??If you see someone suspicious, wait until the person has left or drive to another location.
??Keep your keys in your hands as you walk to your car. That way, you can quickly enter and lock your car.
??If you’re approached by someone seeking help or information while you’re in your car, keep the doors locked and crack your window to talk with them. Offer to call help for them, but do not get out of your car.
??If someone confronts or grabs you, react loudly and fight back. Make a scene.

Be SAFE out there.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

Posted in ,

Creative green oriented education for procurement professionals to support your CSR goals.

Monday, October 4th, 2010

Using creativity to support your educational programs can be as easy as visiting good websites that provide thought leadership as to creative courseware that can be used for schools and other organizations.

At first some may seem a little basic for corporate America but as you drill into the detail the ideas and themes can be easily applied to general education overviews for your teams. Two interesting websites are.

1.?www.edutopia.org
2.?www.gogreeninitiative.org

Both of the above websites offer class oriented or field trip oriented initiatives that can be easily modified for adult audiences in order to provide interesting learning segments that support your companies CSR initiatives and programs.

At www.edutopia.org?? they have a really neat database that can be searched by going to the following site extension www.eduatopia.org/go-green .? You can filter a variety of searches by grade level such as classes for grades 9-12th. Don?t worry to much about the content level, because most kids at this age know more about living a green life than we do. As such, these curriculums can be easily modified to provide interesting learning segments for all associates.

At www.gogreeninitiative.org? there are lots of interesting factoids that can? be explored and expanded upon such as; ?For every ton of paper that is recycled, the following is saved: 7,000 gallons of water; 380 gallons of oil; and enough electricity to power an average house for six months.?? How many off you new that? How many of your store managers know that? When you do a trash hauling e-procurement event is recycling taken into account?

Being creative just takes a little time and research and helps to foster a learning organization and a learning organization is a growing organization.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

Posted in , ,

Retail Contract Management 101 in an e-procurement world. Oral Contracts.

Friday, October 1st, 2010

How much product is purchased by retailers using e-procurement tools for sale or for reuse that never ends up in an electronic or paper document/contract that insures the T&C?s negotiated are written down, tracked or executed upon?

Unfortunately, there are many more of these types of agreements in place than anyone on either side of an e-negotiation wants to admit, and your contract management software provides no answer to this problem unless senior management edicts that all purchases will have a contract in place before delivery or contract execution begins. And, with that in place will come delays you won?t believe that will in most cases insure that dates in your terms and conditions of your e-procurement events are also not met.
?
According to expertlaw.com it can be very difficult to prove that an oral contract exists. Absent proof of the terms of the contract, a party may be unable to enforce the contract or may be forced to settle for less than the original bargain. Thus, even when there is not an opportunity to draft up a formal contract, it is good practice to always make some sort of writing, signed by both parties, to memorialize the key terms of an agreement.
At the same time, under most circumstances, if the terms of an oral contract can be proved or are admitted by the other party, an oral contract is every bit as enforceable as one that is in writing.

Ask your e-procurement solutions provider how they would address this problem and as always, be careful out there.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

Posted in ,

Newer Entries »
© 2025 SafeSourcing