Improving purchasing practices in global supply chains

Better Buying works with suppliers in global supply chains to rate the purchasing practices of brands and retailers.

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Results of Better Buying's First Rating Cycle Coming Soon!

A benchmark report of purchasing practices in the apparel, footwear and home textile sectors, will be released in April, 2018. The report, which will examine performance on seven key categories of purchasing practices, is based on 218 buyer ratings submitted by 156 suppliers headquartered in 24 countries. The 218 ratings will cover 65 different buyers.

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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…

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Purchasing Practice #2

Design & Development

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

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Purchasing Practice #3

Cost and Cost Negotiation

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

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Purchasing Practice #4

Sourcing & Order Placement

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

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Purchasing Practice #5

Payment and Terms

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

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Purchasing Practice #6

Managing the Purchasing Process

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

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Purchasing Practice #7

CSR Harmonization

CSR harmonization includes both the internal alignment of buyer staff on corporate social compliance goals and…

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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.

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April 16, 2018

Ethical Trading Initiative and Better Buying Announce Partnership

Better Buying and Ethical Trading Initiative to join forces for 18-month program to encourage Bangladesh garment suppliers to rate international brands’ purchasing practices. Brands’ buying… Read More

November 17, 2017

New Ratings Platform Set To Transform Purchasing Practices Of Brands And Retailers Throughout The Global Garment Industry

NEW RATINGS PLATFORM SET TO TRANSFORM PURCHASING PRACTICES OF BRANDS AND RETAILERS THROUGHOUT THE GLOBAL GARMENT INDUSTRY NEWARK, Del. Better Buying is a new… Read More

November 14, 2017

Interview with Dr. Marsha Dickson, Co-Founder and Project Director, Better Buying

Dr. Marsha Dickson, Irma Ayers Professor, Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware discusses Better Buying in this interview. Read More

November 13, 2017

How to Complete a Better Buying Rating

Attached is a video tutorial instructing on how to rate buyers using our interface. Read More

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