Why register as a diverse supplier? TLC Springwater's story helps answer that question . . .

"Why should I register?" is a question we are asked every day here at DIR. The bottom line is that it makes good economic sense and it will, eventually, save you time as you're out prospecting for new clients. When you register with DIR as a diverse-owned business, your information becomes part of a database that is accessed and searched daily by thousands of buyers at major corporations. Take a look at this short video about how registration helped TLC Springwater in Cleveland, OH grow their business.

Keep in mind that the portal of information DIR manages is only one of a few that major corporations around the world use for sourcing, searching and managing information that they'll eventually need for reporting either inside or outside their organization. The information that you provide is crucial to their future contracting opportunities and that's just one of the reasons they rely on DIR for information validation and verification. In a nutshell, suppliers provide the information, DIR makes sure it stays current and valid.

DIR's client list continues to change, of course, and there are other supplier portals 'out there' that are used as well so don't be surprised if your business grows to the point of being asked to create profiles in numerous databases. Take your time, keep an 'excel' file or other cheat sheet with the often-requested information, and be sure to use a contact email that is not unique to just one person in case there are personnel changes.

Supplier registration at DIR or at one of DIR's clients is free, relatively easy (although time consuming), and comes with additional benefits such as:

• certification expiration alerts by e-mail
• the ability to update your profile once for multiple corporations
• seeing posted opportunities from a variety of corporations
• space to upload marketing information
• 24-7 secure access

When you're ready, you can register here. Thank you!

DIR helps corporate supplier diversity programs thrive.

DIR delivers tool for supplier diversity initiative success. Whether a corporation's need is launching a new supplier diversity initiative or further developing an existing program, DIR has the proven expertise to help SBLOs, supplier diversity and procurement professionals plan, implement and manage a successful supplier diversity program.

This video story is about a corporate supplier diversity professional who began to use DIR's managed services including data management, certification validation and sourcing lists. It helps illustrate how DIR can function as an extension of an-house staff (or lack thereof!). As always, DIR staff is available to answer questions anytime ... please reach out to see how DIR can help you drive supplier diversity success!

2016 Resources from DIR

Looking for help navigating the supplier diversity industry? DIR's resources can help!

The Business of Supplier Diversity: A Handbook of Essential Contacts and Information for Navigating the Industry ($135.00) combines who-to-call with where-to-look and provides a road map to the supplier diversity industry. Diverse-owned suppliers and supplier diversity professionals use the helpful listings for reference, marketing and planning purposes. It offers a detailed contact list of over 900 supplier diversity and procurement contacts at major corporations, government agencies, large non-profit organizations, and educational institutions and supplier diversity industry information regarding certification, legislation and additional resources essential to small- and diverse-owned businesses. This book is available in a hot-linked PDF download, too. The industry contacts only can be purchased as DIR's "Purchasing People in Major Corporations Online". 

The 2016 National Minority and Women-Owned Business Directory ($175.00) is the go-to guide for finding certified MBE/WBEs in the USA. This unique resource, published annually, lists over 7,500 nationally certified Minority and Women-Owned Businesses. Data is organized by Category and State; helpful keyword index included. Identifies: Company Name, Address, Contact, Capabilities, Website, Email, Ownership Type, Certifications, Revenues, Number of Employees, and more.

Visit us online to see excerpts and learn more. Together, we can "Drive Supplier Diversity Success". 

An impressive panel of Supplier Diversity experts brought together by the FCC.

DIR took the time to listen to this impressive panel of Supplier Diversity experts and recommends that you do, too. The FCC‘s Office of Communications Business Opportunities (“OCBO”) hosted a Supplier Diversity Conference and Workshop focusing on private sector business opportunities for small, minority and women-owned businesses on July 30, 2014.

"Representatives from private industry, specifically telecommunications and technology firms (Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, Comcast, and Microsoft) discussed their organizations’ contracting procedures and provided insight on how small businesses should navigate the procurement process generally."

From approx. 18 to 26 minutes [18-26M; all times mentioned are approximate!], each executive recaps the process to join in the consideration for future business.

At about 38M, AT&T and Verizon spend considerable time talking about specific future opps.

The importance of Second Tier opportunity and reporting is mentioned at 57M; comments on the rather impermeable advertising industry start at 61M; "Do's and Don'ts" are at 76M including the importance of supplier branding at 80M.

Highlights include candid, but pointed, words of advice to small and diverse-owned businesses including:

• Be Strategic: research and be aware of future opportunities and directions a corporation is headed; make sure you're in alignment
• Tailor your value proposition to each corporation; supplier diversity teams can help you navigate through this process (at about 24 min.)

Here's the link. It's a fantastic 90 minutes of free! expertise on breaking in to major corporations. Please recommend and pass along. Thank you.

FCC hosted Supplier Diversity Panel

Validate, Communicate, Initiate: Why Registering with DIR as a Verfied, Diverse Supplier is Good Business

DIR redesigned some helpful, at-a-glance fliers recently. In doing so, we wrote, re-wrote and pared down a lot of information. We decided to turn the ‘too long to read on a postcard” copy into a blog post as it gives an informative, detailed recap of what DIR offers to diverse suppliers. We have a lot to say about Supplier Diversity because we’ve been in this industry since 1968 and to this date, supplier diversity is all we do. We know “45 is the new 30,” so we feel as energized as ever about “Driving Supplier Diversity Success”!

REGISTRATION

Registering your company as a verified diverse supplier is good business (SupplierGATEWAY is DIR's tech partner, and their software powers the registration portal). Supplier diversity is about expanding opportunities, not just ‘fair’ business and equal opportunity. It’s about economic development and access to competitive pricing and entrepreneurial ideas throughout the supply chain.

DIR's Supplier Diversity Information Resource Guide is an encyclopedia of information on the Supplier Diversity industry. It's a great reference publication for suppliers and procurement professionals.

Supplier diversity provides flexibility to DIR's corporate clients by offering sourcing solutions that are competitive, creative and responsive to changing markets. Corporations recognize that a diverse supplier base is vital to reaching strategic business objectives while assuring company profitability. Just ask a DIR Board Member!

DIR VALIDATES

Third party certification is extremely important; it’s often used as a first “sort”. Are you certified? Look into it—DIR’s website offerslinks to help. DIR’s unique certification validation gives buyers confidence when sourcing and provides search/sourcing capabilities at their fingertips.

Benefits of registration include:

• priority consideration from thousands of procurement professionals (because your information is verfied by DIR)
• the ability to provide real-time updates and current references to your profile
• online storage of marketing material
• access to online postings and matchmaking sessions

SUPPLIERS COMMUNICATE

Are your sales & marketing materials getting into the right hands? DIR’s “Purchasing People in Major Corporations” database (available online & in print) gives you direct access to supplier diversity professionals who are liaisons to procurement teams. Create targeted, meaningful campaigns and deliver them to the right hands (and email boxes) in major corporations, government departments, educational institutions and large nonprofits. Walk the talk and source from diverse suppliers yourself. You can with DIR’s National Minority and Women-Owned Business Directory.

TIME TO INITIATE

DIR’s online calendar of events keeps diverse suppliers in the loop to initiate conversations at numerous corporate matchmaking events and regional business fairs sponsored by corporations who are seeking a broader supplier base.

Visit DiversityInfoResources.com and learn even more about how your diverse-owned organization benefits from registration. It’s always free to register.