Supplier Collaboration: How To Do It Right

Contributed article in our business series. Enjoy! – Kimberly

A relationship with a supplier should not be viewed as an “us and them” scenario. It is much more productive for all parties to see your relationship as a collaborative one as you both want the supply chain process to be as smooth as possible and the best way to achieve this is to work closely alongside one another. So, how do you go about establishing a collaborative relationship with a supplier? There are a few effective methods for doing this, but it can take some time and effort to get on the same page and to optimize the process.

Joint Strategy

First, it is helpful to come together with your supplier to develop a joint strategy. All businesses have different outlooks and approaches to working which can make integration a challenge, but if you sit down together, you can outline a vision and strategy for success which is beneficial for both parties.Continue reading

How to Best Avoid Product Problems and Handle Them When They Occur

Contributed article in our business series. Enjoy! – Kimberly

Developing a line of successful products is no small task. There’s much that goes into the creation of physical goods and it’s a highly involved process. Many steps are required, which opens the possibility of something going wrong at any point along the line.

Here are some thoughts about how to avoid problems with products and what to do should they arise.

First, Research the Target Market

One of the biggest mistakes when creating a new product is not doing the market research first. Commonly, a triumphant decision is made that that “we can create this product” while making the erroneous assumption that the product is needed or wanted in the marketplace.Continue reading