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Solutions December 2005
433
East Monroe
The
Other Supply Chain
More
than a year ago, I interviewed
24-year-old Dustin Dohm for the
back page of this magazine (July
2004, p. 116). While working for
his father’s distributorship,
Dustin and a friend, Van O’Banion,
began selling custom, hand-strung
nylon pockets for lacrosse sticks.
Their business, Stylin’
Strings, has been moving forward
ever since.
Dustin
and I spoke recently. In the past
year, he and Van have redesigned
their web site (www.stylinstrings.com),
started an e-newsletter, launched
an apparel line and opened a retail
storefront in York, Pa.
I
write about Dustin to illustrate
a connection between entrepreneurship
and partnership. In the eyes of
society, entrepreneurs are visionaries
who go it alone. The truth is
that entrepreneurs only succeed
with plenty of help and strong
partnerships.
When
members of this industry talk
about partnership, they usually
mean the relationships forged
among distributors, manufacturers
and suppliers. What we call the
“supply chain” is
something vertical, like a ladder.
Durable supply-chain partnerships
are important because they improve
efficiency and stability. Ultimately,
they reinforce bonds with end
users by increasing the value
of the products and services offered.
This issue’s cover story,
“Printing & Technology
Firms Connect to Increase Sales,”
highlights some prosperous examples
of supply-chain partnerships (p.
20).
But
take a moment to consider your
other supply-chain partners, the
ones that aren’t part of
the vertical hierarchy. They include
anyone who contributes to the
success of your business, including
friends, family, teachers, coaches,
mentors, co-workers, chambers
of commerce, professional groups—even
trade magazines! A broad definition
of the supply chain incorporates
all your interpersonal relationships,
as well as your knowledge, experience
and expertise. They are the people
and things that “supply”
you with tools to be successful.
As a new year approaches, think
about where you’d be without
these influences and ask: What
can I do to make them stronger?
When
Dustin and Van renovated the building
that would house their store,
they called on friends and family
to drill, saw, spackle and paint.
To obtain the metal signs hanging
outside the store, Dustin bartered
his design and photography skills
with a manufacturer. “I
learned very quickly that I couldn’t
do this on my own,” he says.
Words of wisdom for business owners
everywhere.
Andrew
Brown
Assistant
Editor
