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Friday, May 16, 2008
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I once had a very smart boss whose favorite expression was "Fish where the big fish are!"
Great advice: especially for busy people, who constantly need to re-prioritize their work, because they have no hope of ever getting everything done! |
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Friday, May 16, 2008
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RFP’s (and RFQ’s) can actually increase project costs and decrease the likelihood of finding the best suppliers for professional service engagements. Here’s why.
Unlike sourcing goods or equipment, when purchasing professional services, your goal should be to narrow down your evaluation to a few, well-qualified firms.
The RFP process is designed to produce the opposite. It broadly invites many firms to bid, in the name of competition, fairness, and transparency. The intended result is to ensure a job well done at the lowest possible price. Unfortunately, this is usually not achieved when tendering professional services... |
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Friday, May 16, 2008
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If you want to really use your buying power to make a environmental difference, make sure that any "green" criteria for vendor selection are widely publicized so that your suppliers’ competitors hear about them too. In this way, encouraging a change in one supplier can have a "multiplier effect" on many others. |
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Friday, April 20, 2007
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The struggle to find "good fit" suppliers never ends. How do you make sure – really sure – that your supplier is capable of going the distance providing you with the price, quality and service that your company and your customers demand? |
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Tuesday, February 27, 2007
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In the factory-built home business it's easy to feel you're at the mercy of your
suppliers – especially with their sad tales of price increases they simply can't
put off any longer, because of rising commodity costs.
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Friday, February 02, 2007
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Imagine the negotiating edge you would have if you knew—and could demonstrate—what
you SHOULD be paying for the products you buy, especially when suppliers come to
you with sad tales about price increases they just can't hold off any longer because
of global commodity price rises. |
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Tuesday, January 09, 2007
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Anyone who survived the social pressure cooker of high school knows about the power of peer pressure. For purchasing professionals trying to drive down cost, the good news is that peer pressure can have the same impact in corporate corridors as it did in the blackboard jungle. |
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Friday, January 05, 2007
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In a world where more & more things are commoditized, commodity-based
contracts make a lot of sense. Not only can they bring you peace of mind,
they can save you money. |
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Friday, January 05, 2007
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What is Wal-Mart doing for the planet? In 2007 they are planning to invest in the largest privately funded alternative energy source using solar power. Why? It saves them potentially millions of dollars in reduced heating and air conditioning costs. W-M has turned on to energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs for the same reasons. Their next objective is to divert miles and miles of waste plastic in the form of shrink-wrap that they... |
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Tuesday, January 02, 2007
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Suppliers are always quick to point out when their input costs go up - and then raise their prices, of course!
But the reverse seldom happens. When was the last time you got a call from a supplier telling you his costs had gone down? |
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