Buying Office Supplies and Print

24th February 2011
The Sebel & Citigate Hotel,
Albert Park, Melbourne

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About The Special Category Forums (SCF’s)

New to the CIPSA Conferences schedule for 2011 are the series of Special Category Forums (SCF’s) which will provide category managers with the opportunity to learn from a range of expert speakers on new strategies to more effectively manage their category and obtain pertinent market intelligence. The Special Category Forums will also provide opportunities for category managers to engage with their peers in facilitated round-table discussions, to engage in benchmarking exercises and to network with suppliers in an informal environment.

About the programme for “Buying Office Supplies & Print”

While primary focus for the day will be on managing the more complex print category, the programme commences with two sessions examining the challenges associated with managing the office supplies category and a case study from an organisation which has recently reformed its management of the category.

Deliberately positioned early in the programme, there will also be a networking session whereby delegates will be asked to identify themselves, with the aim of enhancing networking opportunities throughout the day.

A session examining the complexities and common drivers of value across the two categories will form the bridge between the two key themes of the programme.

There follows a mix of supply market intelligence and case study sessions, and the benchmarking session, which will address both categories (see below). To ensure that delegates leave with real practical take-aways, the programme concludes with an interactive workshop type session to identify strategies that category managers can use immediately to reduce their total cost of ownership in print.

Benchmarking at CIPSA Special Category Forums

On all of the 2011 Special Category Forums, CIPSA Conferences will work with its benchmarking partner, Purchasing Index, to conduct a benchmarking exercise relevant to each category covered. The benchmarking will address both process and prices. On registration, delegates will be invited to participate in the benchmarking exercise, the results of which will be delivered at the forum. Delegates may choose to participate or not. Naturally all data will be treated as confidential, with the results delivered to the broader audience masked to conceal participants identity. Individual organisations will be supplied with their own visible benchmarks by Purchasing index after the event. Where relevant, Purchasing Index will also provide supplementary benchmarking information from their own research, thus adding further value for delegates.