2021 Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index Report Released

Better Buying^TM Repeat Subscribers Continue to Improve Purchasing Practices Despite Unprecedented Challenge of COVID-19

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SanMar Corporation Becomes First Better Buying^TM Subscriber to Make its Scorecard Publicly Available

About Our Ratings

The Better Buying initiative provides clear, relevant, transparent, and timely information and analysis about good purchasing practices that will change relationships between multinational brands and retailers (buyers), the suppliers responsible for manufacturing their products, and other intermediaries up and down supply chains.

Better Buying is a unique system for suppliers to communicate with their buyers about purchasing practices that are working well and those that need improvement, without risking their business relationship. Created in collaboration with suppliers, our buyer rating system examines seven key buyer purchasing practices that affect a supplier’s ability to adhere to the terms of any contract and operate efficiently while providing a safe work environment and maximizing profitability.

What We Do How to submit a rating

Purchasing Practice #1

Planning & Forecasting

Planning and forecasting measure the visibility buyers provide suppliers into ordering plans. It also measures…

Purchasing Practice #2

Design & Development

Design and development capture the extent buyers are late or inaccurate in providing necessary technical…

Purchasing Practice #3

Cost and Cost Negotiation

Cost and cost negotiation captures whether suppliers receive sufficient funds to meet all the buyer’s…

Purchasing Practice #4

Sourcing & Order Placement

Sourcing and order placement considers two topics–whether supplier compliance to codes of conducts is incentivized…

Purchasing Practice #5

Payment and Terms

Payment and terms measures whether suppliers are paid on time and at the price agreed…

Purchasing Practice #6

Managing the Purchasing Process

Managing the purchasing process looks at whether the time suppliers need for production is offered…

Purchasing Practice #7

Win-Win Sustainable Partnership

Win-Win Sustainable Partnership includes both the internal alignment of buyer staff on corporate social compliance…

What we do

Better Buying allows suppliers to anonymously rate the purchasing practices of the companies that buy their products and tells brands and retailers which practices can be improved.

Learn More Our Impact

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November 15, 2021

Learning To Say No

Lever Style, a leading Hong Kong-based apparel manufacturer, expanded its business during the Pandemic, when many other suppliers struggled, or went to the wall. The… Read More

November 9, 2021

SanMar Corporation Becomes First Better Buying^TM Subscriber to Make its Scorecard Publicly Available

SanMar Corporation, a leading national supplier of wholesale apparel and accessories, has become the first Better Buying™ subscriber to embrace full transparency and accountability by… Read More

November 9, 2021

Better Buying^TM Repeat Subscribers Continue to Improve Purchasing Practices Despite Unprecedented Challenge of COVID-19

2021 Purchasing Practices Index: further evidence that responsible purchasing lies at the heart of supply chain resilience Brands and retailers who have subscribed with Better… Read More

November 4, 2021

Case Study: San Mar Corporation – A Canvas for Good

“Words are one thing, but concrete actions – like partnering with Better BuyingTM – really help demonstrate to our partners that we’re ‘walking the talk.’” … Read More