SanMar Corp., Issaquah, Wash., has become the first Better Buying subscriber to make its Purchasing Practices Index scores publicly available.
The scores are based on anonymous feedback from its suppliers, which are aggregated via Better Buying’s proprietary algorithm, analyzed for trends, and turned into actionable data-driven insights, according to the organization.
Since 2019 SanMar has taken part in two consecutive ratings cycles. The company’s Better Buying Scorecard outlines its overall score for 2021, and in seven key purchasing practice categories. The results show where the company has improved its performance, stayed the same or declined from previous years in terms of how it is rated by its suppliers, and how it compares against the industry benchmark.
“We have agreed to share our Better Buying 2021 Scorecard and Company Report because we believe transparency and leadership are essential to being a great partner to our global vendors,” says Pat Noonan, SanMar’s chief product officer. “We also believe in strong, fair partnerships with our factories, and we want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to help our vendors succeed.”
SanMar has also made public its 2021 Company Report, which provides a detailed breakdown of how suppliers rated the company on specific purchasing practices, as well as priorities for improvement. The report also includes anonymized, open-ended comments from suppliers detailing examples of best and poor practices, and suggestions on how the company might improve in each of the seven categories.
“Better Buying is a remarkable tool,” Noonan says. “We particularly like the totally anonymous nature of Better Buying as it makes sure there is no pressure on vendors to be anything other than completely open in their reviews of us. By encouraging other subscribers to the platform, we think we can help drive meaningful change in the way apparel companies work with their vendors beyond just SanMar – moving the needle for the whole industry.” — D.S.
