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

Home security options have come a long way over the past few years. It used to be that your security system would be setup with sensors located on doors and windows and would alert you of a possible intruder.  They would be connected to a land line that would notify your provider and they would notify the police.  One problem with this scenario is that the land lines can be disconnected or cut from outside the home and the notification would not be sent.  Newer systems now come with cellular connections so this is no longer an issue.  Houses no longer have to be pre wired because of the cost effective wireless options that are now available.  With some of the providers today you can not only be protected from intruders, but also from fire and carbon monoxide.  The systems also come with cameras so that you can monitor your home remotely, giving you peace of mind when you are not home.  Below are some other benefits of owning a home security system.

• Deters Crime
• Access and Control lighting and Thermostats
• Monitor Kids Activities
• Instills Peace of Mind
• Increases the Value of Your Home
• Discounts on Home Owners Insurance

If you would like some help finding the right solutions, we can gather all the necessary information for you and help you decide which system 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 Alyson Usserman, Project Manager at SafeSourcing.

Within the Stretch Wrap industry, there are hundreds of thousands of SKUs of stretch wrap. Most of the stretch wrap that SafeSourcing sources are for warehousing purposes and shipping freight.   When reviewing the specifications there are some things to note.

The second type of film that I will be focusing on is the Cast Film. The “Cast” indicator on the stretch wrap refers to the manufacturing process that the film undergoes. There are advantages and disadvantages using cast film versus blown film outlined below:

Advantages:

1. Cast film is much stronger than blown film.
2. Cast film is more durable in warehousing situations.

Disadvantages:

1. Depending on the manufacturer, cast film can be more expensive.
2. Cast film can be difficult to read through after layering it.
3. Stretch Wrap Machines may have difficulty stretching the cast film properly.
4. Cast film is considered the old technology.

In order to achieve the best specification, call SafeSourcing today.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.

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

There are many brands and options available and researching can take a lot of time.  Knowing what type of application you will be using can help narrow the search criteria.  Do you need a projector for presentations while traveling, for an office conference room or for a home theater?  In each of these cases, the size and features may be different.  If you are going to be traveling, you may want a smaller lighter weight model.  For the projector in the conference room, you may want to have a larger model that has a brighter display.  For the home theater you may want a model that supports a widescreen display and higher definitions.  There are several different types of technologies available including DLP, LCD and LED.  Each one of the technologies offers different advantages and disadvantages so it important to research which will work best for you.  Below are some other things to consider when doing your research.

• Display Resolutions
• Lamp Life
• Type of Inputs
• Brightness
• Size
• Weight

If you would like some help finding a projector, we can gather all the necessary information for you and help you decide which one 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 Tyler Walther; Account Manager at SafeSourcing. 

Have you heard the term GPO, group purchasing organization, or purchasing consortium? What is that? A group purchasing organization is a partnership that is created to improve the purchasing power of a group of businesses allowing them to attain greater discounts from vendors based on the collective buying power of the GPO members.

Of course a GPO’s primary goal is to get members the best price for their products being fulfilled; quality must be equally as important. GPO’s supplier bases traditionally incur a more rigorous vetting process helping to ensure the credibility and value of the supplier, as well as required product quality. A GPO goes beyond item price alone and considers overall value, which reflects a greater savings in the long term.

You can still keep that direct relationship with your vendors. Becoming a member of a GPO does not mean you eliminate your direct connection with your suppliers. GPO members can still receive drop shipments from their supplier. The GPO partner will still be able to contact the supplier when issues arise and still have the opportunity for personal meetings when required.

Not only do GPOs leverage the purchasing power of multiple entities, they also bring balance to the purchasing model because they already have relationships with vendors and suppliers.

We enjoy bringing this blog to you every week and hope you find value in it. Look to SafeSourcing for assistance with your GPO. 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. 

Today’s post is by Alyson Usserman, Project Manager at SafeSourcing

After an RFP or RFQ,  we are sometimes asked to communicate with vendors to schedule face-to- face meetings in relation to their quote and future business opportunities.   The following is a list of what you can typically expect as a supplier:

1.  An agenda:   This will be a list of everything the client will want to discuss with you during the meeting.
2. Meeting time, place, and contact: The client will typically decide on a location at their convenience, be prepared to travel. The client will then provide a contact who will also be in the meeting as well.
3. Additional documents: On occasion a client will request additional documentation on the business opportunity to discuss.
4. Questions: Prepare your questions ahead of the meeting in list format. This will help the client and the supplier think through any concerns.In person client meetings are the way onto the final negotiation process and contract signing, typically.

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.