I call it the «New Ideas Welcome Fair» where you invite all interested market vendors to meet with your stakeholders and present a vast degree of information to them from the side: Why do you need us? Why are we so special? So, let`s say, they only have 15-30 minutes to wow potential business stakeholders, hence they need to skip a full standard presentation and focus only on the benefits or advantages which their products or services can give us. This is an excellent idea to keep up with current market products, services, and trends as well as to keep your existing suppliers on their toes. These meetings are also an excellent opportunity to build stable relationships with diverse vendors who usually have limited opportunities to be invited into the big RFxs.
How to start? Just discuss it with your stakeholders, book their 3-4 hours in advance, write a message to market (via social networks, calls, or you might have tons of intro emails during the year), choose who mostly fits and do the fair. As a procurement professional, you can do a round of «Fairs» covering different commodities. For example, Summer is for IT; Fall is for Administrative, etc…
P.S. I know that some procurement professionals also have charity entry fees for such meetings.
Are you in?
@olegremizov
4-June-2017
https://www.linkedin.com/hp/update/6277184815657680896