Could you achieve more from your print buying if you stopped getting three quotes for every job?
Friday night is curry night
Martin always goes for a curry on a Friday night. Martin always goes to the same curry house. And he always chooses lamb saag. It has never occurred to Martin to go for a pizza, or fish and chips, or a Thai or a Chinese. It has never occurred to him to try a korma or a jalfrezi or a tandoori. Martin has never even wanted to try a different curry house. Martin knows what he likes. He is comfortable with it. Some might say that he is a bit too comfortable and a bit too set in his ways.
Sometimes print buyers can be a bit too set in their ways
Many print buyers consider that they have tested the market sufficiently for their jobs by asking for prices from three different suppliers. The suppliers typically come from a small group of “preferred suppliers”. Print buyers could achieve so much more. There are three reasons why obtaining three prices means that buyers don’t achieve as much as they might:
- You don’t know if you are really using the right print supplier
- You never challenge your existing suppliers
- Your existing suppliers get used to your pricing
You don’t know if you are really using the right print supplier
Most suppliers have something different from their competition in their plant list. Or a supplier has a different way of doing things. So are you really sure that you have chosen the right three suppliers to quote? Is there a supplier out there who could print your job in a more efficient way? Do you know your print suppliers really, really well? Do you understand their processes? Are you an expert on print equipment? Are you absolutely certain that the printer who wins your job is the right one? Sometimes it is worth looking for new printers. This way of challenging your current suppliers can be worthwhile.
You never challenge your suppliers
Challenging your suppliers can bring great results. You don’t have to challenge them with alternative printers. Instead you can ask them to do things differently. For instance you can ask them to split out the paper cost. Or you can ask them to suggest an alternative specification. You need to get them to sit up and take notice of you. But you will not achieve this just by asking them for a quote and hoping for the best. If you don’t challenge suppliers they can become very complacent. And one way in which suppliers become complacent is with price.
Your suppliers become used to your pricing
If you always use the same pool of suppliers to get three quotes for every job then they become used to what you want. More worryingly, they get used to what they can get away with. Changing things challenges them. They are challenged to make sure they are giving you competitive quotes. They are challenged to make sure they are producing your work in the most efficient way.
So how can you challenge your suppliers?
- Invite new suppliers to quote. Try some new suppliers who contact you, or try researching some alternative suppliers and contacting them yourself
- If you have some new suppliers ask for more than three quotes for a job sometimes
- Sometimes less is more. Try pricing a job with one supplier only. This is the ultimate challenge to make sure that you have really thought about if you have chosen the right supplier
Make sure that you try some new things with your suppliers
Don’t become too comfortable or set in your ways. Otherwise you might end up eating exactly the same curry every Friday night.
================================================================
P.S. If you have found this article useful, you may also be interested in Print & Procurement’s practical purchasing workshop. Click here to find out more
5 Responses to Could you achieve more from your print buying if you stopped getting three quotes for every job?
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
I have worked with Matthew for just over a year now and he has delivered a number of highly successful training events for the IPIA during that time. He is very organised and produces seminars which are full of
Read the testimonial from Andrew PearceMatthew provided an excellent “Print Processes” training session for myself and some of my colleagues. The feature that I liked most about the training, was that the day itself was very interactive – which not only
Read the testimonial from Rhoda DayIf you think you are on top of your print buying you might be in for a surprise! We asked Print & Procurement to undertake a print audit. Matthew said ‘’If we do not find savings sufficient to earn back our fee
Read the testimonial from Rod FletcherMatthew is a consultant who is totally committed to his clients and to delivering on his promises. He has an excellent understanding of both the challenges of the print channel and the opportunities it presents. As a
Read the full testimonial from Jacky MorganApart from being a thoroughly decent chap Matthew is scrupulously professional, ruthlessly efficient and always delivers excellent results.
I genuinely have no hesitation whatever in recommending Matthew. He
In an industry renowned for its pressure, Matthew Parker delivers a very gentle but insightful intelligence about the ways of print. Somewhere between art and science there is a place that defines the balance of what
Read the full testimonial from Andy DowenDo you struggle to find enough hours in the day? Whether you’re a full-time purchaser or managing a more general administration role, the pressure on your [more]
Why beating printing companies down on price is not the best way to reduce costs
For me, few things are better than standing on the summit of a mountain The route up a mountain is hard. There’s a lot of work [more]
Three reasons why print buyers should challenge supplier choice
My daughter was about to burst into tears I had asked her what flavor of ice cream she would like. She gave me the same answer [more]
Why print buyers who stick to cost-cutting are failing to do their job
Wouldn't a garden look bare without anything in the flowerbeds? My wife is a keen gardener. One of her most regular jobs is the weeding. It's [more]
Three specification questions that can reduce the cost of printed items by over 30%
The print industry is dying There are huge amounts of overcapacity. Printing companies are tendering suicidal prices. So all a print buyer has to do is to [more]
Three questions print buyers must use to challenge process and prevent 30-address syndrome
Can you imagine writing the same address over 30 times? Wouldn’t it be a complete waste of your time? Aren't there are so many better things [more]
- Rebecca Gardner on How eight simple questions can prevent you choosing the wrong print supplier
- Kannan K on Three reasons why print buyers should challenge supplier choice
- Blanca San German on How supplier evaluation forms prevent wasted meetings with print sales people
- Nomi on Three reasons why print buyers should challenge supplier choice
- August 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
Pingback: Have you ever given your print company the Supplier Challenge? | printandprocurement.co.uk
Pingback: Why sexiprint prevents you from using your purchasing skills | printandprocurement.co.uk