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REGULARS
Lessons mean
better business
I AM sitting thinking about
the year that is just coming
to an end. Reflecting on the
achievements in 2012, the
good the bad and building
the learning into our forward
planning for – I can’t we believe
it – 2013!
I remember at last year’s bpma
AGM, in my president’s speech,
talking about how tough it was
out there and that the doom and
gloom was predicted to continue
into 2012 – with the glimmer of
hope that the Diamond Jubilee
and the Olympics would bring
us all a well-deserved business
boost!
It may not have been the case,
but at least these two events gave
us all a brief burst of excitement
and national pride.
I went on to highlight what we
can do to help our businesses
stand out from the crowd, with
the ambition to be best in class in
terms of accreditation, ethic-ability
and product conformity.
Step by step, putting plans in
place for our business improvement,
team development and our
own personal growth.
Being the best we can be, at
what we do in the promotions
market – building in those little
steps so that they are achievable,
no matter how big or small your
business is.
Understanding that we need to
add value in order to move away
from simply price competition.
I was recently asked to support
Accenture in a presentation
because they have been so impressed
by our approach to this
high risk market.
I was amazed at the feedback
I received after the presentation.
It was so refreshing to know so
many global clients do really care
and, more importantly, value ethical
businesses.
I was asked, if there were three
things that the corporates could
do to support small business,
what would they be?
I responded: live their values,
i.e. tenders should not be a
box-ticking exercise. For a more
open sharing and collaboration
between corporate and distributor,
understand there is a cost
implication in doing things right
Wearing several hats – my
bpma president’s role, as a CIPS
Fellow committee member and
of course the day job as MD of
The Sourcing Team – I try to share
some of the learning across from
our sector within our trade association
and out to my corporate
procurement network.
Gill Thorpe
gill.thorpe@ppda.co.uk
We share what best practice
looks like and I can also help to
increase awareness to our specific
challenges and the role the bpma
plays in improving standards, and
of course the benefits of our Chartered
Membership.
At another conference this year,
I was delighted when I was introduced
to someone by a connection
from Cisco, who referred to
The Sourcing Team as “one of the
major players”.
Well, we are nowhere close to
the size and scale of what we see
as the “big boys” (although I was
not about to say that!) but we
have been committed over the
years to be as good, or actually, I
would possibly argue, to be one of
the best in regard to process, ethic-ability,
sustainability, diversity
and in our team’s creative thinking
and approach.
It is not about the size of your
business – it is about commitment
and, frankly, hard graft to
aim high, taking small steps, year
on year, which we can all do – no
excuses that we can’t afford to be
ISO-accredited or spend time at
seminars, conferences etc. What
gets planned gets done!
The reason I am so passionate
about both personal and business
improvement is that it pays back
to you and your business massively.
This market is changing all the
time. The world is becoming more
and more competitive and we
need to compete globally, offering
great product, great service and
constantly reinventing ourselves
to remain relevant.
At the Trade Only National
Show, the bpma is ready to help
you, with the launch of our exciting
new education program. The
Education Day is a prime opportunity
to gain expert knowledge
from some outstanding speakers.
I wish you all great success in
2013.
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