Why do we have a Supplier Diversity Process? Back to Top ^
The business case:
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Any company that expects to do business in this millennium has to understand the demographics of its customer base.
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The minority population is the fastest growing segment in the U.S.; projected to be at 50% as early as 2020.
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Minority and female consumers are also the fastest growing segments in the U.S. marketplace, and they are loyal customers.
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Minority and woman-owned businesses represent a significant and growing portion of the economic pie.
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Companies that embrace diversity and establish early success in this arena will have a competitive advantage in the future marketplace.
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What we stand to gain: new sources of supply, cost savings, customer loyalty, and good will.
What types of businesses qualify for inclusion in our supplier diversity process? Back to Top ^
The following business types qualify for our supplier diversity process:
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Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) -- MBEs include businesses that are certified by a STAR Consortium Alliance approved agency to be at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a minority individual or group. In the case of publicly owned businesses, at least 51% of the stock must be owned by minority group members. Minorities include persons of color who are Asian Pacific Americans, Sub-Continental Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, or Native Americans. Foreign-owned firms operating in the U.S. are not included in these categories.
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Non-Minority Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) -- WBEs include businesses that are certified by a STAR Consortium Alliance approved agency to be at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a non-minority woman or group of non-minority women who are U.S. citizens. In the case of publicly owned businesses, at least 51% of the stock must be owned by non-minority women.
What is supplier certification? Back to Top ^
Supplier certification is a process whereby businesses are verified as legitimate businesses owned by minorities and non-minority women.
Which supplier certifications does STAR Consortium Alliance accept? Back to Top ^
STAR Consortium
Alliance accepts and approves certification provided by various
third party organizations including the
National Minority Supplier Development
Council (NMSDC),
Women Business Enterprise National Council
(WBENC),
National Association of Women Business
Owners (NAWBO),
Native American Business Alliance (NABA),
US
Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC),
and various federal, state, and local agencies.
What is the strategy behind your diversity partnerships? Back to Top ^
Corporate Express is committed to expanding our diversity offering to make it easier for businesses to meet their diversity purchasing goals and develop mutually beneficial diversity partnership and business mentoring programs. Under these agreements, Corporate Express supports our diversity partners' development and expansion initiatives while providing world-class distribution, state-of-the-art e-business, and volume buying power to support the growth of their own sustainable and profitable business. It is the true spirit of supplier diversity development.
Explain the Tier-1 Program. Back to Top ^
Our Tier-1 Program is designed for companies looking to purchase directly from a minority- or women-owned supplier. Corporate Express has developed joint ventures and strategic partnerships across North America to support our customers' needs to buy direct. As a strategic partner, our Tier-1 suppliers benefit from Corporate Express' brand, purchasing power, distribution capabilities, and supply chain expertise. Our Tier-1 Program gives companies the flexibility to buy direct from award-winning tier-ones like Colorado-based Faison Office Products, who have proven track-records in servicing large national accounts with multiple locations. Click here to learn more.
Explain the Tier-2 Program. Back to Top ^
Our Tier-2 Program offers thousands of items, many ready for next business-day delivery -- from office products and furniture to computer products and supplies -- all manufactured by MWBE certified suppliers. These items are available through Corporate Express' Office and Computer Products Sourcebook, and are clearly identified by the MWBE symbol throughout the book and index. MWBE items are also available on E-Wayâ (www.eway.com), Corporate Express' Internet ordering system.
Our diversity program provides comprehensive, automated usage reports, coupled with quarterly business reviews, to monitor MWBE Sourcebook and E-Way purchasing activities to help companies meet their diversity purchasing objectives. Click here to learn more.
What is DPS? Back to Top ^
Diversity Product Solutions (DPS), Corporate Express' diversity private label brand, makes it easier for companies to achieve diversity purchasing goals with high-volume products like paper and toner. The DPS program is unique in the marketplace because Corporate Express is distributing high-volume products like paper and toner under its own private label, supplied directly by minority-owned manufacturers.
Why was DPS created? Back to Top ^
The DPS program was developed in response to increasing demand from companies and government agencies for solutions to increase their diversity spending volume.
According to The National Minority Supplier Development Council, corporations spent more than $50 billion in 2000 (up from approximately $45 billion in 1999) in the procurement of goods and services from minority-owned businesses. In addition, large companies and government agencies are increasing their diversity spending volume. This is especially true of companies that sell directly to consumers because these companies are responding to changing marketplace demographics. Minority consumers today represent more than $1.3 trillion in consumer buying power, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, which means that large companies want to capitalize on this buying power by supporting progressive diversity spending programs like DPS.
What is the MBE Integrated Supply Program? Back to Top ^
Our MBE Integrated Supply Program allows us to provide customers with the highest quality MRO products and services at competitive prices. The program represents the largest and best-known manufacturers in the Safety and Laboratory Supply industries. The program offers a single-source tier-1 integrator solution, with world-class e-commerce capability, which reduces our customers' purchasing and administrative costs. |
