Are you using Bitcoins in your Sourcing?

November 1st, 2016

A Bitcoin is an online digital currency that is used to send payments from one to another!

 

Today’s post is by Troy Lowe; Vice President of Development at SafeSourcing.

A Bitcoin is an online digital currency that is used to send payments from one to another. Think of Bitcoin as a type of payment such a credit card or Paypal.  The currencies price is very volatile and has had an upward trend since its creation.  It has increased from around $6 in 2012 to over $600 to date.

Bitcoins are created by computers that are connected to the internet. These computers, called miners, work together to process mathematical equations called mining.   Miners use software to complete these equations and are paid with Bitcoins for the processing.  The Bitcoins are rewarded based on computing power so fast computing will equal more Bitcoins rewarded.  The mining software is free to download and there are multiple programs to choose from.

Bitcoins are stored in what is called a Bitcoins wallet. A wallet is like a bank account and without one you cannot send or receive any Bitcoin payments.  There a several types of wallets including software, that can be installed on your computer or mobile device and a web wallet that is hosted online.

Below are some companies that accept Bitcoins:

  • Amazon
  • CVS
  • Dell
  • Home Depot
  • Kmart
  • Microsoft
  • Target
  • WordPress

Interested in learning how SafeSourcing can help your company run more efficiently? Like to try a risk free trial? Please don’t hesitate to contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. Our team is ready and available to assist you!

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Ullage

October 27th, 2016

What is ullage? Envision the top of a bottle of wine.

 

Today’s post is by Tyler Walther; Account Manager at SafeSourcing. Tyler is adding to the SafeSourcing Wiki and defining ullage.

Doing research for my blog today I came across a word I did not know; ullage. What is ullage? It is the free space above a liquid or other content in a container and the “full” level. Envision the top of a bottle of wine.

Many liquids or chemicals will expand during storage. This becomes important particularly in shipping for two principal reasons. The expansion of the liquid or chemical requires pressure relief valves. With many pressurized tanks the load cannot be to capacity because the pressure relief valves will not work when in contact with liquids. In dry loads, such as grain, or liquid bulk cargo, ullage allows the load to shift as the ship kneels from one side to another. This allows for greater stability in the vessel in which a full capacity load would not.

Let SafeSourcing better manage your sourcing projects. We enjoy bringing this blog to you every week and hope you find value in it. 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.

 

 

 

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Times, They Are A-Changing

October 18th, 2016

Congratulations to Bob Dylan on winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.

 

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Executive Assistant at SafeSourcing.

The coveted award has been around since 1901, with such famous winners as Jean-Paul Sartre, William Faulkner, and Ernest Hemingway. However, this year’s award has been cited as “redefining boundaries of Literature” because this year’s win marks the first time the honor has been bestowed to a musician. Bob Dylan, a folk-rock singer and songwriter, released his first album over fifty years ago, continues to make music today, and was awarded the prize “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”

It’s been said, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” and this recent Nobel Prize winner demonstrates that. The appearance of Dylan and his music in the 1960s, during a time of great cultural changes, had a resonating effect on many people at the time. Not only did he poetically echo the feelings of many people going through such things as war, drugs, and civil rights movements, but he also was able to eloquently summarize cultural happenings in a way people understood, highlighting the wrongdoings of a society undergoing drastic change.

Today, once again, Bob Dylan is front and center during a time of change, from global to political to cultural. This honor should show that even if we do not fit into a traditional category of award, we can still make a widespread and lasting positive impact, and that each of us has the ability to change our world through any means, be it personal or through business. While many of us have goals a bit less ambitious, we can still use what Dylan has taught us, “There is nothing so stable as change,” and we at SafeSourcing can help your business through change.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help your business, or are interested in our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

References:

https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2016/

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~zimmerman/students/BobDylan.pdf

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/14/arts/music/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature.html?_r=0

 

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Your Suppliers Performance – Trick or Treat?

October 13th, 2016

Are you getting “tricked” or “treated” by your suppliers? How are you measuring the variables outside of price for your vendors?

 

Today’s post is from our SafeSourcing Archives

Last week we took a look at the life of your purchased products once you have the contract signed and begin to place orders and how you can protect that inventory along the supply chain.  Today we take a look at the job your suppliers are doing while the contract is being executed.  What is the quality of their goods; timeliness of the shipments; pricing being billed versus the contract?   Are you getting “tricked” or “treated” by your suppliers?

Many retailers have looked at the process of developing supplier scorecards that measure how well their vendors are doing in the relationship with them.  If designed and executed well, these scorecards can be invaluable in later stages of negotiating new contracts or in evaluating new vendors against a standard you are used to receiving.  Let’s look at a few of the metrics to consider when creating a good supplier scorecard.

Invoice audits – Many companies work so hard to get a great deal, great prices; finish with a contract that works well for the company only to move forward without well-defined processes for auditing the new invoices to ensure the new pricing is being affected by the vendor.  One of the most important pieces of creating a good evaluation program for your vendors will be to determine how often and which invoices you are going to audit and then stick to that audit schedule.   The bigger your company the more important this will be.

Quality Control – Scoring the suppliers on quality comes in a few different forms.  The first thing to measure is the quality of the product itself: Are you getting the product you contracted and does it meet the specifications that were agreed upon?  Another area is in the packaging of the product when it arrives.  Many times it is how the product was packaged to ship that is the problem and frequently responsible for big losses.  How the items measure up to their warranty will also be another critical area to measure for quality.

Delivery–Even the best product at the best prices has value only if you can get the product in the timeframe that your company needs it.  Vendors should be measured on their ability to deliver within the window agreed upon in the contract but they should also be measured on how capable they are in delivering unscheduled product in emergency situations.  As in any business, circumstances occur that take you outside of the normal schedules and you need partners who can deliver when you need them most.

Service–This leads us to final scoring point for this blog; services.  Delivering unscheduled product within a window of time you need it is one thing but how your suppliers handle the relationship with you business in times of conflict or when issues arise is equally important.   Scoring this area can be slightly more subjective, however developing a strategy by which you can record these bumps in the road and how your suppliers react to them will be valuable in future negotiations.

For more information on scoring your suppliers or for assistance in reviewing or creating automated scorecards, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.  

We look forward to your comments.

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It’s important to stay on top of your Smoke Detectors and Fire Safety Planning.

October 6th, 2016

Ever hear that BEEP at 2 a.m.?

 

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

Ever hear that BEEP at 2 a.m.? Ever end up taking a smoke detector down to make it quiet?  Ever lose a good night’s sleep?  Ever stare up at the high ceiling wondering how you are going to replace the battery in that smoke detector without falling off a teetering ladder?  That’s exactly what happened to me a few weeks ago.  Because my husband was out of town and I was completely on my own, I decided I needed to be fully awake in order to get up on a ladder in the middle of the night.  I made a cup of coffee, drank it, and then got out my 8-foot ladder out of the garage.  I got up on the ladder, and removed the battery.  (Luckily, I had replacement batteries in the house…at lease I thought I was lucky).  It turns out my replacement batteries were old and the BEEPING continued. Because my smoke alarms are hard-wired into the electrical system, once the battery is removed, the BEEPING continues.  My poor dog was a wreck with the constant BEEPING and I was losing my mind!  I had to wait until 8 am for the drug store to open in order to buy new batteries.  Now armed with new batteries, I changed the battery and finally the house was silent.  I thought I was in luck when that whole scenario repeated the next night at midnight.  It sounded like the same alarm, but it turned out it was a guest room smoke detector that was BEEPING this time.   Do they talk to each other?  Who knows.  The following week I had a handyman at the house doing some odd jobs, so I had him change every smoke detector battery in the house.

Smoke detectors are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When a fire begins, smoke spreads quickly.  Working smoke detectors give you an early warning so you can get out quickly.  The following are some safety tips:

  1. A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. Put a smoke detector in every bedroom, as well as outside the sleeping areas. Install a smoke detector on every level of your house, as well as the basement. Smoke detectors should be interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound.
  2. Larger homes need more smoke detectors.
  3. Test detectors monthly.
  4. There are two kinds of alarms, ionization smoke alarms are quicker to warn about flaming fires. Photoelectric alarms are quicker to warn about smoldering fires. It is best to use both types in the home.
  5. Alarms should be on the ceiling or high on the wall. Keep alarms away from the kitchen in order to reduce false alarms.
  6. Replace alarms after 10 years.
  7. Plan your escape route.

Safesourcing can help you with all of your personal and business related fire, safety and inspection needs, whether it is for equipment, services or both. 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.

 

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What Is a UPC Barcode?

October 5th, 2016

Or Universal Product Code……..

 

Today’s post was written by Christine McConnell, Account Manager at SafeSourcing.

A UPC, or Universal Product Code, is a unique 12-digit identification number that appears on most retail products for sale in the United States and Canada. UPC numbers are made up of two components: company prefix and product number. While the companies or their brands normally determine the product number, the company prefix is determined and assigned by GS1 US. GS1 US – formerly the Uniform Code Council (UCC) – is a nonprofit group responsible for regulating international commerce. They introduced the first barcode in 1974. As a business owner interested in establishing your own barcodes, you must first join GS1 US. Once a member, the organization will assign you your own unique identification number which will become the first part of your UPC.  GS1 US’s membership fees are based on your production capacity and start around $250 with annual renewal fees starting at $50. The fees vary depending on the number of unique products your company sells. Here are three simple steps to set you on your way to obtaining UPC barcodes for your company’s products:

  1. Join GS1 US and apply for company prefix – company prefix codes can be anywhere from 6 to 10 digits long depending on the number of products you’ll need identified. Smaller companies are typically assigned a higher number of digits.
  2. Create Your Unique Product Number – you’ll probably need a different UPC code for each type of product you sell. And depending on how many colors and sizes of each style you offer, the number of unique products can quickly add up.  Now simply add your product number to your company prefix and voila you have your UPC.
  3. Decide on print or digital barcodes – each UPC can be used to produce a specific barcode that is then either printed out and attached to products or incorporated into their design so that they can be easily scanned at the register.

Would you like to learn how SafeSourcing could help your company communicate more effectively? Interested in a risk free trial? Please don’t hesitate to contact SafeSourcing. Our team is ready and available to assist you!

 

 

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I’d Rather Eat Bark

September 26th, 2016

Chances are you already have.

 

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Executive Assistant at SafeSourcing.

Most people know that being green is important at home and work. Not only does it provide energy savings, but also benefits the environment, making energy sources more sustainable. Early in school, most are taught about how plants work with our atmosphere, cleaning and providing the air we breathe. This should be reason enough to be green, but there are also numerous benefits to keeping trees around that many don’t even realize. Bark is just one part of the tree that has a multitude of uses that our lives would not be the same without.

First, an annual autumn favorite is anything Pumpkin Spice. So, what makes it so good? Pumpkin alone can be bland, so other spices are usually added, hence the name Pumpkin Spice. Nutmeg, ginger, and cloves are all added in small amounts, but mostly cinnamon is added. While ginger and cloves come from other plants, both nutmeg and cinnamon come from trees. The nutmeg spice is derived from the seeds of a few trees found in Indonesia. A significant ingredient in anything pumpkin flavored, cinnamon comes from dozens of trees found mostly in Indonesia and China, specifically from the inner bark of trees. So, if you have ever tried cinnamon, you have eaten bark. Without cinnamon, pumpkin spiced treats would not be the same, and one can only imagine a world without cinnamon rolls, cinnamon toast crunch, Big Red chewing gum, or even many liquors.

Second, a household staple, believed to be a life saver for many people, and originally came from bark is aspirin. Stemming back to ancient Egypt and even mentioned in works of Hippocrates, people with pain or inflammation would find a willow tree, scrape the bark off, and brew a tea. The willow bark contained a chemical called Salicin (which is metabolized into salicylic acid), which temporarily reduced fever and aches. In our modern society, the active ingredient has been isolated and synthetically manufactured under the name aspirin. The name “Aspirin” was originally a brand name coined by the Bayer Company, but has since become a generic term for the pain reliever. [i][ii]

The non-edible uses for tree bark could be compiled into a long list, many uses we may not even realize, like adhesives, cork, and natural latex. When sourcing any of these products, we at SafeSourcing do the research to find out as much as we can about a product, because sourcing a product is more than just finding someone who sells it. It involves digging in and doing the research. We all know that being green is important for a multitude of reasons, and the uses of tree bark is included.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help think or green, help researching your products, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow

[ii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_aspirin

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To Procure or Not to Procure

September 22nd, 2016

Have you ever considered implementing procurement solutions into your business?

 

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Executive Assistant at SafeSourcing.

Have you ever considered implementing procurement solutions  into your business? Find out the pros and cons before you decide.

The smartest way to make a big decision about your business or organization is to do the research and know the ins and outs of what you are getting into beforehand. Often times, big decisions on how you spend your money come with other side effects, both good and bad.

The idea of whether or not to implement procurement into your business’ processes has been a common theme for much debate and numerous articles. Many of these debates and articles say much of the same thing as they are important aspects to consider. This blog will highlight some of the stronger points on both sides of the debate so you can know better make a decision for your business.

Cost – Typically with procurement efforts, a business or organization will reduce their costs of the services and supplies they are already getting, often significantly, without sacrificing any amount of quality. However, the best way to realize those savings is to use an e-procurement provider, which does cost the business some amount of money, but those are typically small compared to the savings achieved.

Technology – Modern procurement efforts are most efficiently realized through the use of technology, like reverse online auctions. This technology can make things both easier and harder in different ways. More suppliers can participate from any location, diversifying options and enlarging competitive bidding. However, preparing businesses to use electronic systems can be time consuming and always runs the risk of human error.

Service – This is one area that often requires finesse. Negotiations, technical assistance, reporting, training, and management of accounts all fall under customer services and ineffective teams can jeopardize relationships with suppliers, possibly affecting any savings found during the procurement efforts. On the other hand, an experienced customer service team can help strengthen relationships with suppliers and even see increased savings.

Although there are many other pros and cons to implementing procurement, the above areas tend to appear in most conversations on the topic. If you decide to integrate procurement into your organization, SafeSourcing can assist you the entire way. Complete with experienced customer services, modern technologies, and a risk free trial offer, SafeSourcing can exceed your needs.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help you realize the benefits of procurement, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

 

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What are my headphone options with the iPhone 7?

September 20th, 2016

This week is the release of the new Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

 

Today’s post is by Troy Lowe; Vice President of Development at SafeSourcing.

This week is the release of the new Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. With this version they announced they are removing the standard mini-phone jack that is widely used by portable devices.  When I first heard this I was worried that I may have to buy new headphones or buy some sort of Apple adapter.  The good news is that the phone comes with a lightning to mini-phone adapter that will allow users to connect their iPhone to their current wired headphones.  The Phone also comes with lightning EarPods that connect using the lightning port.  Standard Bluetooth headphones will work with the iPhone 7 and will connect using the Bluetooth pairing functionality as before.

Along with the launch of the new phone apple released its new wireless headphones called AirPods that contain a new W1 wireless chip designed by Apple. This wireless chip allows the headphones to connect seamlessly to the phone without pairing and uses less power than standard wireless chips.  This will allow the wireless headphones to run for up to 5 hours of listening time before needing recharged.  The case has a built in charger that will allow for more than 24 hours of charging.  When the battery is low the case and headphones can be charged by connecting the case to the lighting cable.  A fifteen minute charge is equal to 3 hours of battery life.  If you are not a fan of the new Apple EarPods, there will also be 3 pairs of wireless Beats by Dre headphones containing the new W1 chip as well.

Below are some of the new features for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

iPhone 7

  • 12MP camera
  • 4.7” Retinal HD display with wide color gamut

iPhone 7 Plus

  • 12MP wide-angle and telephoto cameras
  • 5.5” Retina HD display with wide color gamut

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

  • Optical image stabilization
  • 7MP FaceTime HD Camera
  • New Home Button
  • Water and dust resistant ip67
  • Stereo speakers
  • A10 Fusion chip
  • LTE Advanced up to 450 Mbps
  • Longest battery life ever in an iPhone
  • iOS 10

Interested in learning how SafeSourcing can help your company run more efficiently? Like to try a risk free trial?  Please don’t hesitate to contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative. Our team is ready and available to assist you!

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The End of Antibacterial

September 15th, 2016

What’s happening with antibacterial soap?

 

Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Executive Assistant at SafeSourcing.

In the past decade or so, the market has seemed to be flooded with antibacterial soaps, sanitizers, detergents, and other cleaning products, but recently the FDA has essentially banned those antibacterial products. Many of us are asking, why would they do such a thing?

In today’s world of keeping things extra clean and preventing the spread of bacteria and other causes of illness, many of us see antibacterial soaps as a step in the right direction to keep our surrounding areas clean and our families healthy. This ban on antibacterial comes as a shock to many people. The problem is, however, that the antibacterial soaps have not been found to be any better than classic soap, and the chemicals used in the “antibacterial” do not even kill bacterial, but rather expose the bacteria to low levels that help the bacteria breed into strong, highly antibacterial-resistant bacteria. To top it off, scientists have found that antibacterial soap chemicals actually do more harm to people, including, according to an article by NPR, a disruption in hormone cycles and muscle weakness.[i]

So is this the true end of “antibacterial”? Not quite. The ban of 19 different antibacterial chemicals in soaps haven’t been banned from hospitals and food service, but rather banned from household use. Many soap companies have already stopped use of the chemicals in question in their over the counter soaps and have begun using other chemicals thought to be antibacterial. In response, the FDA has set a limit of one year to show scientifically proven effectiveness before another ban takes place.

With the soap market changing dramatically, many businesses may find themselves needing new soap products. This opens up a whole new window of opportunity for new business and renegotiating for new products. SafeSourcing can help with both ends of this process through its procurement specialties.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can help you source soap products, or are interested in our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

[i] http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/09/02/492394717/fda-bans-19-chemicals-used-in-antibacterial-soaps

 

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