Procurement
19 articles tagged Procurement
Shelf-ready packaging should earn its place in the retailer's aisle
A tear-off carton is only useful if it works from delivery through replenishment to the last item sold. Specify and test shelf-ready packaging with the receiving retailer.
The supplier says it is equivalent: approving product substitutions properly
A replacement may look similar and still fail the customer's specification. Establish which substitutions are pre-approved and how proposed changes are reviewed before dispatch.
Last month's sales are not next month's demand: building a usable wholesale forecast
Promotions, stockouts and one-off orders can distort a sales history. Build a forecast that keeps those effects visible and gives purchasing a clear basis for replenishment.
A 3% supplier rebate can mean two very different amounts
The headline rebate percentage is only part of the agreement. Its calculation basis, thresholds and exclusions determine what a wholesaler will actually receive.
Supplier bank details have changed: build verification into the payment workflow
A genuine invoice can carry fraudulent payment instructions. Treat supplier bank-detail changes as controlled account amendments, with verification before the next payment run.
A backup supplier is only useful after you have tested the order
Keeping another supplier's phone number is a start. A usable second source needs tested specifications, realistic capacity and a workable activation plan.
Enough shelf life for whom? Agree the usable selling window before buying stock
A product can be within date yet unsuitable for your customer. Work backwards from their minimum shelf-life requirement before agreeing a wholesale order.
Before buying stock for Amazon, test the product at a price you might actually get
The gap between a supplier price and an Amazon listing price is not your profit. Test the exact product, likely selling price and complete cost before committing.
The 5% supplier discount that can leave you worse off
Doubling an order to earn a lower price can be expensive. Compare the complete buying cycle before calling the discount a saving.
Buying liquidation pallets: price the saleable stock, not the retail-value headline
A pallet advertised at £8,000 retail value can still be a poor £1,000 purchase. The useful number is what you can recover after sorting, selling and dealing with the rest.
Supplier scorecards: measuring delivery, quality and claim resolution fairly
A useful supplier scorecard explains the work behind the price. Measure real deliveries and claim resolution, then agree something concrete to improve.
Goods receiving: how to reconcile shortages, damage and supplier paperwork
Ten cartons can still contain a shortage. Record what actually arrived so stock availability, supplier claims and invoice checks start from the same facts.
IKEA’s European price cuts raise the stakes for homeware value comparisons
IKEA’s European price cuts move a familiar reference point. Homeware sellers need specific comparisons before sacrificing margin across the whole range.
H&M reports higher profit as purchasing changes and goods in transit reshape stock
H&M reported higher profit and more stock, with goods in transit part of the explanation. Inventory value does not tell the whole availability story.
OEM or ODM manufacturing: choosing the right route for a product
Your design or the factory’s existing product? Look beyond OEM and ODM labels to the development work, rights and responsibilities involved.
How to approve a manufacturing sample before placing a production order
The sample looks good. Can the factory reproduce it? Turn approval into a clear reference for the batch you are about to buy.
Minimum order quantities: how to make a large supplier order workable
A factory wants 1,000; you want to test 100. Find out what drives the minimum before deciding how much stock to commit to.
How to write a wholesale purchase order that prevents avoidable disputes
A short purchase order can leave a long argument. Give the supplier, warehouse and accounts team enough detail to get the deal right.
How to check a wholesale supplier before placing your first order
Before paying a supplier you have never used, check the offer, test a small order and find out how problems will be put right.