(96) SafeSourcing Blog

Why “Green Bar” Copy Paper?

June 22nd, 2017

What is the benefit of using a type of copy paper that is not very recycle friendly?

Today’s post is by Steven Belvin, Sr. Account Manager at SafeSourcing.

What is the benefit of using a type of copy paper that is not very recycle friendly. There are actually many benefits to using Green/Blue Bar copy paper; however, before I explain that, let us understand what Green/Blue Bar Copy paper is.

Green/Blue Bar copy paper is a type of paper that is commonly used in printing terminals such as DEC writers. A few noticeable discrepancies behind this paper, and your standard copy paper, would be the alternating colors on each line of the paper. This is to help people separate the text that is printed out on each line of the page. Another difference to this type of copy paper would be the tear off edges. The edges help the paper flow through the machine, and in some cases keep the top and bottom copy of the paper perfectly aligned.

That also leads us to another noticeable difference. That difference would be that in this type of copy paper has a bottom “Carbon Copy”. This bottom copy can be used for multiple reasons. The most popular reason would be to provide a costumer a “Receipt or Carbon Copy”. You will primarily see these type of “Receipts” in just about any auto parts store. This style of paper is beneficial because not only is it easy to read, but it makes two copies of one page at once. Also, as opposed to your standard copy paper, the Green/Blue Bar copy paper is thinner than your standard paper. Another benefit would be that you would not need to load the printer as much. This is because, with most Green/Blue Copy, paper the pages are connected until they have been torn apart. One can obviously see the benefits of both Green/Blue Copy paper and standard copy paper. Whatever style you prefer, SafeSourcing can help you source it and find the best value for all your paper needs.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist your team with this process 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.

References…….

Green Bar Paper Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2017.

Posted in Business Sourcing, Green eProcurement Practices | Comments Off on Why “Green Bar” Copy Paper?

Old Glory – The Red, White and Blue.

June 20th, 2017

We have recently celebrated Memorial Day and Flag Day and the Fourth of July is coming up quickly

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

We have recently celebrated Memorial Day and Flag Day and the Fourth of July is coming up quickly. We certainly see a lot of Old Glory this time of year. The following is just a little flag trivia:

Betsy Ross is credited with designing the flag, but there is almost no evidence to support this. The only evidence was from her own grandson in 1870, when he presented The Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia with affidavits from his own family members as evidence. Early journals from the Continental Congress claim Francis Hopkins deserves the credit.
Karen Burke of Walmart’s Corporate Communications stated Walmart sold 115,000 flags on September 11, 2001 compared to 6,400 on the same day in 2000.
A 17-year old student by the name of Robert G. Heft, designed the flag as it appears today. With the addition of Alaska and Hawaii as states, he designed the 50-star flag as a history project. He got a B- from his instructor that was later changed to an A when President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose Heft’s design.
Six flags were planted on the moon during the Apollo missions. Only one flag fell. According to Buzz Aldrin, the one that fell was blown over by Apollo 11 liftoff from the moon’s surface.
According to the US Department of State, the official colors are “old glory red” and “old glory blue.
Flag Day is not an official federal holiday outside of Pennsylvania and New York. New York doesn’t observe Flag Day on the 14^th, but rather the second Sunday in June.
Richard Williams the animation director of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” said he modeled the rabbit’s colors after Old Glory (red overalls, white fur, blue tie). It looked like an American flag and subliminally everyone like it.
There are federal regulations governing the handling and display of the flag (the U.S. Flag Code) in advertising or printing or anything intended for temporary use or display.
Old Glory was a nickname for a particular U.S. flag. It was owned by a sea captain given to him by a woman in his home town of Salem, MA. He named it Old Glory after seeing it on his mast in 1831. The name became synonymous with the American flag.

For more information on SafeSourcing and how we can help you with your sourcing needs, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.

Posted in E-procurement | Comments Off on Old Glory – The Red, White and Blue.

Retaining Traditions

June 16th, 2017

Merging eProcurement with Traditional Sourcing

Today’s post is by Dave Wenig, Director of Sales, North America at SafeSourcing

Even the best planned eProcurement initiatives, sponsored as they should be at the executive level, are susceptible to one common challenge. Moving to eProcurement, just like any change, will require an organization’s resources to support the change. It’s important to understand that the individuals required to support eProcurement must be coached and must buy into the program. Sometimes, however, individuals or teams within the organization will be reluctant to adopt to the change.

It’s understandable that we all believe our own techniques and processes are best. After all, we’ve learned and honed these over the course of our careers. That makes it more difficult to accept change. Some people may even feel threatened by change.

Knowing this, I’ll offer a couple suggestions to help ease the transition and provide an atmosphere that encourages each individual resource to embrace the change and not fear it. This does not necessarily mean that existing techniques and processes are no longer valuable. In fact, certain traditional purchasing concepts will continue to play as integral a role in eProcurement as they did before eProcurement. For example, vendor relationships will continue to be necessary.

Encourage culture: Spread the good news. Did Marketing just have a great month of savings? Share that with your other business units. We’ve seen tremendous momentum generated by posting a scoreboard where BU’s savings percentages are posted on a regular basis. This often drives friendly competition.

Keep positive: Focus on the wins. When you see big savings, applaud it. The worst thing you can do is to ask why you were overpaying before. Instead, focus that energy on targeting the next category for savings opportunity.

By using these and other techniques to encourage adoption of your eProcurement process and retaining certain key elements of traditional purchasing, you will pave the way for success.

Dave Wenig is the Director of Sales, North America at SafeSourcing. For more information, please contact SafeSourcing.

We look forward to your comments.

Posted in Business Sourcing, E-procurement | Comments Off on Retaining Traditions

What is rPET?

June 8th, 2017

When consumers recycle plastic bottles and packaging it can be cleaned and made into a federally approved material.

Today’s post is from our SafeSourcing Archives.

RPET is recycled polyethylene terephthalate. When consumers recycle plastic bottles and packaging it can be cleaned and made into a federally approved material suitable for direct food contact applications. Below is a list of examples for reusing the material:

1. Beverage Bottles

2. Clam Shell Containers

3. Trays

The rPET is fully compatible with virgin PET and can be used for up to 100% rPET content. There are numerous advantages for these second-life products listed below:

1. rPET bottles reduce the amount of waste taken to a landfill

2. rPET has a more stable price than virgin PET because it is not tied to the oil market

3. rPET improves society’s carbon footprint

The three advantages above give enough data to support the effort to change to rPET. Now, what do you need to know when sourcing these products? SafeSourcing is experienced in sourcing rPET packaging. Whether you are looking for private label spring water in six sizes or a clam shell container, we can help; we can work with your company to define your needs. In addition, we know which vendors are in the market and their offerings.

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.

Posted in Strategic Sourcing | Comments Off on What is rPET?

Failure to Communicate

June 7th, 2017

Today’s post is written by Ivy Ray, Account Manager at SafeSourcing Inc.

The importance of clear and concise communication should never be underestimated. We live in a time where, more than ever, we are receiving multiple streams of communication on a continuous basis.

Failure to communicate in a concise manner can result in an outcome that ranges from minor delay, to missed opportunity, or even major destruction; as in the case of the 1981 skywalk collapse at the Kansas City, Missouri, Hyatt Regency Hotel.

In the collapse, the structural failure was due to a change in the initial design drawings, by the fabricator, which the design engineer reviewed and returned to the fabricator, stamped with the engineering review seal, authorizing construction. The fabricator built the walkways in compliance with the directions contained in the structural drawings, as interpreted by the shop drawings. The change was not clearly communicated through all channels of the construction team, and the load capacity was never tested.

There have been publications and lectures which have come from this unfortunate incident, such as, “Avoiding ‘Failures’ Caused by Lack of Management” and Gerald W. Farquhar’s “Lessons to be Learned in the Management of Change Orders in Shop Drawings.”

When working with or clients for national and international associations, from various time zones, communication tends to be done through email. People are busy. According to a report prepared by The Radicati Group Inc., in 2015, the average business professional received/sent 125 email messages in one day. This is one reason why long, rambling emails have become such a scourge. Providing a clear concise message will help a person use their time wisely while managing their in-box. Simple, direct language keeps people tuned in to what’s important. These are things that need to be considered when sharing information via email with a group of people working together on the planning of an event.

The 7 Cs provide a checklist for making sure that your meetings, emails, conference calls, and reports, are well constructed and clear – so your audience gets your message.

Communication needs to be:

1) Clear

2) Concise

3) Concrete

4) Correct

5) Coherent

6) Complete

7) Courteous

“Simple messages travel faster, simpler designs reach the market faster and the elimination of clutter allows faster decision-making.” – Jack Welch

For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist you in exploring your procurement solutions for your business 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.

References:………………………………………………

http://www.engineering.com/Library/ArticlesPage/tabid/85/ArticleID/175/Hyatt-Regency-Walkway-Collapse.aspx

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm

http://www.radicati.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Email-Statistics-Report-2011-2015-Executive-Summary.pdf

Posted in Sourcing Strategy | Comments Off on Failure to Communicate

The Death of Bacon

June 1st, 2017

No not Francis Bacon the English philosopher…….

Todays’s Post is by Eli Razov, SafeSourcing Account Manger.

No not Francis Bacon the English philosopher, but that wonderful meat we all love. Don’t worry we kept the treat, but a lot of things have changed. Back in 2011, the CME decided to remove the Pork Belly from the trade floor because of its volatility and a few other reasons. What does that mean? Is this the end of pork trade? Where do I buy a Pig?

Let’s start at the beginning. Bacon is one of the oldest cuts of meat, going back to around 1500 B.C. It has been used in multiple countries and cultures. Around the 16^th century it was the European peasant food go-to because it is easy to produce and relatively cheap. This also goes for us Americans as well; we haven’t always loved or claimed this glorious breakfast staple as we do today. It wasn’t really until the mid to later 1900’s that we found our love. In 1961 seeing the rise of demand the CME allowed Pork Bellies to be traded and that’s where we begin. The “pork belly contract” each consisting of 40,000 lbs of frozen trimmed bellies is how the CME decided to keep track of reserves. Ever since it rolled across that ticker, pork bellies have been a dramatic rollercoaster ride for investors. Everything from weather, feed, disease, other countries demands and even speculation have controlled and dictated this commodity. There have been many jokes made about the pork belly trade as well as movie appearances like in “Trading Places”. But like all good things, this too has come to an end. The country’s demand for pork bellies grew exponentially over the years and in 2010 the CME monitored warehouses were about 73 percent smaller than the previous year. This as we know is not good for most investors, seeing this drastic of a change means prices will skyrocket, but also mean the product can become extremely scarce. Well that was back when we had to freeze and keep in warehouses. But now most of what we consume is all fresh. So in 2011 the CME decided to remove the Pork Belly from the commodity trade.

Never fear, bacon is not going anywhere. In fact, we come up with new ways to use it every day. The CME has had “Lean Hog Futures” for many years, which are now the new pork bellies just under the same umbrella. The trade is going strong and our love for the succulent snack is ever growing. And if you are a true bacon lover, and maybe even dabble in investments, you can always go over to the CME website and put some stock in the things we love.

For more information on how SafeSourcing can assist you or on our “Risk Free” trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Representative we have an entire team waiting to assist you today

References —————————–

Posted in Business Sourcing | Comments Off on The Death of Bacon

Supply Chain Management

May 31st, 2017

Reducing Costs in a Convenience Store World

Today’s post is written by Robert Rice, Account Manager at SafeSourcing Inc.

There is mounting pressure that distributors need to better align themselves with convenience store retailers to trim costs from the industry’s distribution network.

Cutting costs remains a challenge for convenience store chains big and small. Dealing with distributors and local foodservice providers, c-store’s are learning ways to grow more efficiently without sacrifice of goods and services. Some ideas they have implemented include maximizing product turns, reducing out-of-stocks, and removing slow-moving items to make room for better sellers.

It is very important to embrace category management and recognizing the potential of the store by stocking high-margin impulse items like candy and snacks in the highest traveled aisles.

Owners also need to make sure they have the best selling items. The top 50 SKUs, which only represent about six-tenths of 1% of all SKUs in the convenience store, drive 32% of the business. The key is to have a very good focus on the assortment of these core items.

Not Just Cost

Many c-store owners tend to focus on cost rather than all the elements that go into their purchases. This could include the terms they have set up, order quantities, delivery decisions and a host of support services. One of the most successful ways to control costs is consolidating the number of vendors coming through your store, something 7-Eleven has perfected. They realized they had vendors with over-lapping items. By consolidating them, they reduced costs through volume purchasing with less vendors.

The challenges for convenience store chains and owners will continue but taking the time to evaluate your supply chain, the vendors you do business with and what items sell and which don’t could lead to huge savings.

We look forward to your comments.

Posted in Supply Chain Procurement | Comments Off on Supply Chain Management

What’s in Your Water?

May 25th, 2017

Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974

Today’s post is by Ivy Ray, Account Manager at SafeSourcing.

Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974 to protect drinking water. This act also protects rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, springs, and ground water wells. There are approximately 54,000 public water systems that serve the same people year-round. Most residences, including homes, apartments, and condominiums in cities, small towns, and mobile home parks are serviced by Community Water Systems. The safety of these water systems is detrimental to our health, and the health of our ecological environment.

Why should we be concerned with vehicle washwater?

Washwater from vehicle/equipment cleaning activities may contain significant quantities of oil and grease, suspended solids, heavy metals, and organics, as well as pollutants from detergents. These pollutants can be toxic and harmful to living organisms, including fish. The ingestion of the affected fish by people can also be harmful. Washwater from pressure washing and steam cleaning are likely to have more pollutants than cold, low-pressure water.

Oil and grease contain hydrocarbon compounds, some of which can injure or kill aquatic life even at low concentrations. Oil and grease can also coat fish gills and prevent oxygen from entering water, starving fish and other aquatic life.

Some detergents may contain metals such as arsenic. Low concentrations of dissolved metals can be toxic to living organisms. Detergents contain emulsifiers that break up oil particles. Emulsifiers can also cause harm to aquatic life. Many detergents also contain nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen. High nutrient levels in streams and lakes can harm water quality by stimulating excess weed and algae growth. This overgrowth causes unpleasant odors and scents, and depletes oxygen levels necessary to support fish life.

Washwater discharge options

There are three options available for the disposal of vehicle washwater (one is not recommended).

■ Preferred option: Zero discharge, or closed-loop water recycling

■ Second option: Discharge to a municipal wastewater system

■ Third option (not recommended): Discharge to land or ground

Of these options, zero discharge, or the use of water recycling systems is the preferred option and is strongly encouraged. The second most preferred option is to discharge to a municipal wastewater system. (Program Development Services Section, Revised November 2012).

The International Carwash Association has completed a two-year study that is designed to gather and analyze data regarding wastewater discharges, as well as contaminant levels in solid wastes. Professional car washing is unique in the fact that it has the capability of collecting both discharges of water and solid waste. (Chris Brown, Water Conservation Consultant, 2002).

The SDWA sets up multiple barriers against pollution, but the public is responsible for helping local water suppliers to set priorities, make decisions on funding and system improvements, and establish programs to protect drinking water sources. Water systems across the nation rely on citizen advisory committees, rate boards, volunteers, and civic leaders to actively protect this resource in every community in America.

We look forward to your comments.

Works Cited —————————————————

Chris Brown, Water Conservation Consultant. (2002). Water Effluent and Solid Waste Characteristics in the Professional Car Wash Industry. Chicago: International Carwash Association. Retrieved from https://www.carwash.org/docs/default-document-library/water-effluent-amp-solid-waste-characteristics-in-the-professional-car-wash-industry.pdf?sfvrsn=0

Program Development Services Section. (Revised November 2012). Vehicle and Equipment Washwater Discharges/Best Management Practices Manual. Olympia: Washington State Department of Ecology. Retrieved from https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/95056.html

Posted in Sourcing Safe Products | Comments Off on What’s in Your Water?

How does it taste so good?

May 22nd, 2017

We all enjoy a soda from time to time, but does anyone ever think about how it was manufactured ...

Today’s post is by Steven Belvin, Sr. Account Manager at SafeSourcing.

We all enjoy a soda from time to time, but does anyone ever think about how it was manufactured and botted to later be sold? Fun fact about the origins of soda is that it is believed to have been created in the 1700s. www.madehow.com explains that here: “In the late 1700s Europeans and Americans began drinking the sparkling mineral water for its reputed therapeutic benefits. The first imitation mineral water in the U.S. was patented in 1809. It was called “soda water” and consisted of water and sodium bicarbonate mixed with acid to add effervescence.” Obvious these delicious drinks have been around for some time now. But that still does not answer the “how does it get on the shelf?” question. Well it is actually broken down into 5 simple steps as seen below:

Clarifying the water – Filter the water until it reaches the desired pH level by adding ferric sulphate or aluminum sulphate into the water causing the floc to expand so it can then be filtered out.
Filtering, sterilizing, and dechlorinating the water.
Mixing the ingredients – the dissolved sugars and flavor concentrates are pumped and conveyed into batch tanks, where then the water and syrup are carefully combined until the desired flavor has be achieved.
Carbonating the beverage – once the liquid is at a controlled temperature the carbonation is added. The amount of carbon dioxide used is dependent upon the type of soft drink.
Filling and Packaging – Finally the drink is distributed into its correct bottle or can and is then sealed and sits in the warehouse until it is ready to be distributed to multiple locations across the world.

As you can see there is so much more that goes into making those delicious drinks than Coke™ or Pepsi™ may want you to see. Another aspect of this would be how does it get sold to the store? This is where a company like SafeSourcing may come into play. We work with multiple companies to help them find the right soda company for them. So why not give us a call yourself and see what we can save you on your soda, plastic goods, labeling and much much more.

Ref:……………………..

Avizienis, Audra. “Soft Drink.” How Products Are Made. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 May 2017.

Posted in B2b Supply Chain | Comments Off on How does it taste so good?

Landscape Maintenance

May 19th, 2017

How do I find a quality landscaping maintenance company?

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

Now that things are warming up, it doesn’t take long for your landscaping to get out of control. Whether that be lawn, flower beds, bushes, plants or trees. Most of these items will need to be cared for on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to keep them under control and looking nice throughout the summer. In order for this to be done successfully, you will probably want to hire a reliable landscaping maintenance company to maintain your property. There are a lot of factors that go into selecting the right company. Are they bonded and insured in case there is any property damage during the routine maintenance? How long have they business? Going with a more experienced company will help ensure that the job is done professionally and right the first time. You may want to check around with others in your area and make sure that the company has a good reputation. Also, ask for references and ask key questions regarding the type of work that you will need to have performed. Does the company offer other services such as weed control, fertilization and insect management? These services will help keep the lawn and bushes healthy and may be less expensive if they are provided by the same company. Below are other things that need to be considered when searching for a maintenance company.

➢ Contract Options

➢ Is the company Regional or local

➢ Experience of Management

➢ Customer Service

➢ Price

➢ Warranty

If you need help finding a licensed landscaping maintenance company, feel free to contact SafeSourcing. We can gather all the necessary information for you and help you decide which company 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.

Posted in E-supply Chain | Comments Off on Landscape Maintenance

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Why “Green Bar” Copy Paper?

Old Glory – The Red, White and Blue.

Retaining Traditions

What is rPET?

Failure to Communicate

The Death of Bacon

Supply Chain Management

What’s in Your Water?

How does it taste so good?

Landscape Maintenance