Build reliable supplier relationships and robust supply chains that ensure product quality whilst maintaining competitive pricing and delivery reliability. Learn vendor evaluation, contract negotiation, and supply chain risk management strategies that protect your business whilst supporting growth objectives. From single sourcing to diversified supply networks, discover how to build supply relationships that provide stability whilst enabling competitive advantage.
This episode extensively covers strategic sourcing across Asia, supplier evaluation, cultural considerations, and navigating supply chain challenges during trade disruptions like tariffs.
Learn JK's proven framework for building direct factory relationships in China, avoiding costly trade company markups of 20-40%, and maintaining consistent quality through proper supplier verification and communication strategies.
Learn Sebastian's proven framework for finding and managing global suppliers, including his strategy of contacting 30-60 potential producers per project to secure the best prices and quality. Discover how to implement quality control systems throughout production and build relationships with verified manufacturers worldwide.
Kristi shares how COVID-19 transformed her supply chain from 2-6 week production cycles to 8-12 weeks, forcing complete operational restructuring. Users will learn how to navigate factory closures, manage critically low inventory (Encircled got down to two weeks on hand), and adapt business models built on agility when supply chains slow dramatically. The episode covers pivoting supplier relationships during lockdowns, the reality of local production advantages and limitations, and strategic decisions around which products to prioritise when manufacturing capacity becomes constrained.
This episode explores supplier relationships from a manufacturer's perspective, revealing what makes dropshipping partnerships succeed or fail. Brian shares insights on choosing reliable suppliers, negotiating dropshipping terms, understanding UK versus overseas manufacturing advantages, and building collaborative relationships where suppliers adapt products to your specifications. Users will learn how to evaluate potential dropshipping partners, recognise red flags, and create arrangements that benefit both parties whilst protecting their reputation.
This episode provides a masterclass in supplier relationship management and sourcing strategy. Listeners learn how to evaluate suppliers beyond price and product, examining values alignment, trading requirements, and long-term viability. The content covers critical aspects of supply chain management including minimum order quantities, territorial restrictions, pricing policies, and the legal complexities of supplier agreements. Matt shares practical frameworks for building resilient supplier relationships that can withstand market changes, including regular review processes, relationship-building strategies, and extracting maximum value through marketing support and growth incentives.
Chelsea discusses critical supply chain optimization strategies including carton optimization that saved £82,000 annually, container mapping, freight forwarder selection, and managing relationships with third-party logistics providers. The episode reveals how Amazon Freight and Partner Carrier programs impact delivery times.
Explore strategic frameworks for optimising your supply chain network, from understanding product origin points to customer concentration mapping. Justin shares his approach for UK businesses considering US distribution, explaining why starting with third-party logistics reduces risk whilst gathering critical data. Learn how to balance manufacturing location, entry points, and customer clustering to determine optimal distribution strategies for international expansion.
Protect your competitive advantage by keeping manufacturer relationships confidential and understanding how marketplace giants use your sales data to reverse-engineer successful products. Learn strategic sourcing approaches that maintain your market position.
Whilst not the primary focus, Harry discusses critical supply chain considerations for growing eCommerce businesses. Listeners will understand how fulfilment infrastructure connects to broader supply chain decisions, including when to build internal capacity versus outsourcing to third-party providers, how to evaluate fulfilment partnerships strategically, and the importance of flexible infrastructure that handles demand volatility. Harry shares insights on managing supplier relationships in fulfilment, the economics of shared resources versus dedicated capacity, and how to build supply chain resilience through modular approaches that scale incrementally rather than requiring massive upfront investment in fixed capacity.
