Today’s post is from our SafeSourcing Archive.

Throughout the years many industries have discovered that their smaller companies and independents can benefit greatly from cooperatives; business organizations that are owned and operated by their members for the mutual benefit of pooling their resources in a more productive manner.

As time has gone by, and more and more companies merge and consolidate into huge super-corporations, these cooperatives become even more important for their members as they try and compete with companies 10 times their size.

This week we are going to take a deeper look at some major cooperatives in different retail verticles and focus on some of the similarities and differences between them as well as some of the unique things that each is doing to provide greater purchasing power for its members.

Although there are some obvious differences between retail “co-ops” that coincide with how their industries work, there are a few items that are shared by all.  We will start today by looking at some of those common advantages.

Economies of scale – One of the main reasons companies join a cooperative is to be part of an organization with the purchasing power of a large corporation, benefitting from the lower prices achieved by purchasing much higher quantities of goods than they could on their own.

Group Training/Education – In many cases smaller companies must either forego much needed training and education opportunities because of the cost or they must settle for online or webinar courses.  As a cooperative, the group can easily schedule and host multiple training and education sessions throughout the year that would normally be available only to the biggest companies in that industry.

Enterprise product/service opportunities – As mentioned above, purchasing as part of a larger group can reduce the cost of things you are already buying.  As a cooperative, companies also have the opportunity to purchase enterprise products and services such as enterprise software that they could never possibly have afforded on their own.  With so many software companies offering Software as a Service (Saas) models, this is becoming a more important benefit of cooperatives every year.

These are just a few of the basic advantages for becoming part of a cooperative.  The rest of this week we will be taking a closer look at some of the different retail industry cooperatives and what they are doing to help their members with purchasing different products and services.

For more information on the retail industry’s cooperatives or how your cost-of-goods can be positively affected by joining one, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service Representative.  

We look forward to your comments.

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

There are many things that can be done to save energy and money. One of the easiest ways is to replace your current lighting.  With the technology changing, there are more options available than there were a few years ago.  Each one of these options has its pros and cons, and certain types will work better in certain applications.   One of the most popular commercial lighting is linear fluorescent lights.  These bulbs were the most efficient to run but now they can be replaced by linear LED bulbs.  The LED bulbs are more efficient, mercury free, dimmable and have a longer lifespan.  They also have an optional shatterproof plastic model that can be used in areas where glass in not applicable.   Unlike other improvements this can be done over time.  Just replace each bulb with a more efficient bulb when they need to be replaced.  Below are some of the types of lighting available.

• Incandescent
• Halogen
• Fluorescent
• Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL)
• LED

If you would like some help finding the right lighting solution, we can gather all the necessary information for you and help you decide which application meets your needs. If you would like more information on how SafeSourcing can help you, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative.  We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

We look forward to your comments.

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

If NYC is offering $13.50 per hour for laborers for Snow Removal, what’s that mean to companies that are trying to get their snow removed?

Over the last two days Gayl Southard, Administrative Consultant at SafeSourcing has offered some interesting information regarding Snow and Snow Removal in a 3 part post titled Snow, what you might not know Part 1 of 3 and Snow, what you might not know Part 2 of 3.

In part 3 of this series I’d like to take a look at the data in parts 1 and 2 mean or implies. It’s the data about the data or the Meta Data that’s important.

I think the underlying question here, is what does this mean for companies or even individuals about when they consider sourcing Snow Removal Services. When should you do it and how reliable will the service be even if you have a contract in place.

As I was watching the television broadcast of Super Storm Jonas as it buried the Eastern Seaboard in snow, one of the comments I head is that many cities could only plow the main roads and that surface streets and other places would have to wait. New York City as we noted above is offering $13.50 per hour for snow removal laborers. Might those same laborers be the 3^rd party’s that you contract with for your businesses snow removal? Maybe you might want to check the language in your contract.  If your price is lower, the service provider most likely won’t be coming, at least in a timely manner so you better get out your shovel.

So, what does this all mean? It means you need to be aware of what services you have sourced, what language is in the contract and any actions that you might take in order to preempt service needs when unusually large storms approach.

Snow Removal is normally sourced during the spring or early summer months and is quite often sourced from the same companies that provide your landscape services. You determine what language goes into a contract. Examples might be.

1. Hourly Rates
2. Price escalators based on fuel consumption
3. Ice Melt or Salt Applications
4. Time of day for services
5. Amount of snow required to kick off service
6. Rebates for missed services.

While there are many mom and pop operators that provide these services, there are only a few national providers. There are also a good number of regionals. Most of the nationals and regionals also outsource their work to the many mom and pop operators and the nationals outsource to the regionals. As such, it’s important to ask who will actually be providing your service and to make sure that they have the required liability insurance coverage in place. This is particularly important if your business may have consumers on your premises while the services are being performed.

The important point here is that while there are multiple types of snow and ice as well as the storms that deliver them, there are also multiple types of service and service providers. If you are not comfortable that you know enough about all of the information provided in this three part series, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Services Project Manager. We have sourced this category dozens of times across all of North America. We can make sure you get the services you need at a price that is acceptable.

We hope you have enjoyed this Three Part Post.

We look forward to and appreciate your comments.

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

After a three-week holiday in, Ohio we prepared for three-day journey back to Arizona. We had not encountered any significant weather on the way to Ohio, but learned that our final day would entail heavy snow from Albuquerque to Sedona.  By the time we reached Flagstaff, it was white-out conditions.   As we hadn’t seen any snow removal on the highways until we reached Flagstaff, I was curious how that process was handled.  I  learned the following:

Snow Removal Status – Key Phases:

Phase 1: Alert

What the county does –

-A winter storm has been forecast for the region. Snow crews are on alert and treat roads and designated trail where necessary

What you do –

-Move parked cars off the street, or coordinate with neighbors and/or civic organizations to move cars to one side of the street only. Snow removal vehicles need at least 15’ to pass down a street.

-Be prepared. A three-day supply of food and water is recommended.  Stay informed.

-Neighbors may need your help. Register through you civic association as a volunteer.

Phase 2: Primary Routes

What the county does-

-A winter storm is in effect. Snow crews are treating and plowing primary (red) and secondary routes (blue) only while the snow is falling.

-Roads may only be passable with one lane in each direction. Roads may be icy and have snow accumulations of 2-4” or greater.   Designated high-volume routes are treated and plowed.

What you do-

                -Do not drive unless necessary – roads are for emergency use and snow removal vehicles.

-Help neighbors clean sidewalks on the same side of the street where cars are parked.

-Keep snow cleared from hydrants, storm drains, and downspouts on your home.

Phase 3: Residential Streets-

What the county does-

-Snow crews are treating and plowing residential streets.

-Residential areas may only be passable with one lane. Red and blue routes are being widened to the shoulder.   Additional county trails are cleared.

What you do-                                                   

-Help neighbors clean sidewalks. Snow Removal Ordinance enforcement begins 24 hours after snow stops falling.  Clear driveways and entrances.  Shovel snow into yard instead of the street.

Phase 4: Clean Up

What the county does-

-Snow crews are working on cleanup operations. After treatment and the sun have done its work, crews are removing ice and slush off roads and designated trails.

-Staff is removing snow from schools and county property.

SafeSourcing can research your snow removal needs, whether its services, equipment or supplies. Want to try us out risk free?  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.

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

After a three-week holiday in, Ohio we prepared for three-day journey back to Arizona. We had not encountered any significant weather on the way to Ohio, but learned that our final day would entail heavy snow from Albuquerque, NM to Sedona, AZ.  By the time we reached Flagstaff, it was white-out conditions.  We had left snowy conditions behind us some thirteen years ago when we moved to Arizona and I was not ready to drive through wintery conditions.

I had grown up in New Hampshire and I was used to significant snow. I can remember shoveling our long driveway, walkway, as well as my mother’s clothesline area (yes, the olden days).  We had shovels, sand, and salt at the ready.  Growing up in a large family, there were many helping hands to get the job done.

Times have changed now. Many people own their own snow blowers; some have trucks with plows attached, some hire the work out, and some people still do it the old-fashioned way by shoveling.

I researched the snow removal process and phases during a major snow storm. I learned the following:

During the Snowfall

1. Snow crews focus on keeping main arteries open for emergency vehicles and public transportation (red primary routes). This includes snow emergency routes, arterial streets, high volume routes, bus routes, and roads to hospitals, fire stations, police stations, and metro stations.
2. Plowing begins when snow reaches 2-4 inches deep.
3. When accumulation is less than 2 inches, the roadways are only treated (sand or salt).

After the Snowfall

1. Snow crews clean snow from all streets and county trails as soon as possible.
2. Neighborhood streets are cleared last.
3. After a severe storm (greater than 10 inches), it may take 36-48 hours after the snow stops   falling for snow crews to start clearing residential areas.

SafeSourcing can research your snow removal needs, whether its services, equipment or supplies.  Want to try us out risk free?  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.