Art of Supply Kelly Barner, Art of Procurement
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Art of Supply, hosted by Kelly Barner, draws inspiration from news headlines and expert interviews to bring you insightful coverage of today’s complex supply chains.
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Net Zero in New York? JBS Accused of Greenwashing
On February 28, 2024, New York Attorney General Letitia James sued JBS, the largest meat company in the world, for civil fraud. James is accusing the company of ‘greenwashing’ or making statements to sound more environmentally friendly than they truly are.
In 2021, JBS made a commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2040. James says this statement is “unsubstantiated” and “unachievable” without reducing production, and that their marketing campaigns “in effect, provide environmentally conscious consumers with a ‘license’ to eat beef.”
What earned JBS the unwanted attention of the Attorney General’s office in New York? The company has plans to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange before the end of the year - and a vocal chorus has risen up to oppose the move.
In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner looks at this case in the context of the overall corporate sustainability movement:
Reviewing the details of the complaint filed by Attorney General Letitia James Considering relevant legislation and rulings that she and her team will have to overcome And highlighting the impact that all of this may have on the push to get large companies to become more environmentally responsible Links:
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Even with +1, China is still #1
“China’s supply chain has gone through significant, transformative changes in the last five years. For executives or engineers, designers or buyers, who have not been here since before COVID, they’re going to see a completely different China.” - Jeffrey Goldstein, Founder & President of Onward Global
It is impossible to discuss global supply chains without being hyper aware of the role of China. Whether it is their access to critical raw materials, specialization in certain production processes, or labor advantages, relocating supply chains to other parts of the world is harder than it sounds.
Even companies looking to embrace a China +1 strategy have found that few +1s are ready to come online as quickly as industries need.
Jeffrey Goldstein is the Founder & President of Onward Global. Based in Shanghai, he and his team serve as the ‘boots on the ground’ for companies around the world that are sourcing in China, helping them overcome cultural and strategic obstacles to value.
In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner welcomes Jeffrey to share his first hand perspective on doing business with Chinese suppliers today:
Where he has seen the most change in supply chains since COVID’s impact began to wind down Generational workforce trends that may be more global than they first appear Why suppliers in China are so hard to replace - and why they may be even harder to compete with Realities that any company looking to move their sourcing out of China or diversify their sources should be aware of Links:
Jeffrey Goldstein on LinkedIn Kelly Barner on LinkedIn Boots on the Ground in Shanghai, China feat. Jeffrey Goldstein, President of ONWARD Global (Dial P for Procurement) Art of Supply LinkedIn newsletter Art of Suhttp://artofsupply.compply on AOP Subscribe to This Week in Procurement -
What You Don’t Know Can Hertz You
In October of 2021, Hertz announced that they would purchase 100,000 Tesla Model 3’s for their rental fleet, followed by 175,000 from GM, and 65,000 from Polestar. The move was supposed to help them overcome shortages of conventional cars, lend the recently ex-bankrupt company a ‘cool factor,’ and lean on the sustainability trend to drive revenue.
Instead, it backfired. On April 1, 2024, Hertz will get their fifth CEO in four years. How could this strategy, one that seemed to be in alignment with corporate and consumer sentiment, go so wrong?
In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner looks at the series of events that have made it hard for a series of CEOs to lead the company successfully:
The economic conditions that gave Hertz more trouble than competitors like Avis and Enterprise The choices they made in response to those conditions and how they may have tipped their hand Early signs that heavy investment in EVs may not have been the way out Hertz was looking for Links:
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Treasure Hunting with TJX
The global off-price apparel and home fashion market is estimated to be worth $900 Billion. While retailers like Macy’s and Bed Bath & Beyond faltered or fell over the last few years, the chains owned by TJX - notably TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Home Goods - have thrived.
TJX has seized the opportunity to snatch up excess brand name inventory and sell it at a discount over the last few years, but their growth is not a COVID-related fluke. The foundation for their success was laid decades ago, and continues thanks to investments in talented buyers, strong supplier relationships, and company culture that wisely puts profits above pride.
In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner goes on a treasure hunt much like the TJX shopping experience to discover:
How TJX operates and why it has positioned them for success in an economy that has been difficult for other retailers The competitive advantage represented by their approach to buying and the 1,300 person team that carries it out Why TJX’s success is likely to last regardless of what happens with the economy Links:
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Three Strikes for the New Baseball Uniform
In early February, news hit that there was a problem with the new Major League Baseball uniforms. Redesigned by Nike and made by Fanatics, the new uniforms were unveiled with tremendous fanfare. They were designed to be more comfortable, cooler, and better at moisture wicking.
Unfortunately, one man’s breathable is another man’s translucent.
Pictures started to appear on social media that revealed far more than anyone would want. The LEAST of the players’ concerns was that tucked in jerseys were visible through the pants.
In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner covers the supply chain relationships and issues at play in this year’s MLB uniform debacle:
Three problems with the uniforms: fabric, fit, and design The string of business relationships required produce the uniforms and put them into play Potential ulterior motives for the players’ negative reactions The lessons everyone can learn from this embarrassing situation Links:
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Surviving the Supply Chain Arena
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena…” - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
The last four years of supply chain challenges have taken a toll. People are exhausted, stressed, and scarred. Unlike many areas of life that have gone back to ‘normal,’ supply chains continue to be batted about by geopolitical strife, the economy, and literal attacks.
The result of all that pressure? A generation of brilliant supply chain professionals ready for anything the future might throw at them, says David Moran, a 25-year supply chain executive with experience working for companies like Procter and Gamble, Diageo, and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
In this week’s Art of Supply, Kelly Barner welcomes David to share his perspective on the unique opportunity to have survived supply chain work since 2020:
The operational differences between supply chain teams that were empowered to set their own priorities and teams that were handed their priorities by the business The power and value of the ‘scars’ earned by supply chain teams over the last few years (and how they should treat them) Why instinctively being able to decide what is important and what is not will be the greatest skill these professionals carry with them into the future Links:
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Customer Reviews
Kelly Barner makes Procurement juicy
Does this gal have a background in Journalism? She strings a story from the complex web of dynamics at play and makes an otherwise often tedious/dry topic accessible & engaging. Her genuine passion for Procurement & Supply Chain is infectious. Proving women change the game when we show up with our hearts & minds.
She had me at Dial P…..
Signed, Procurement nerd …& fangirl of this pod