Buying outside the box

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jennifer Isom
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Catalogs, product and samples galore were available with rows and rows of vendors proudly displaying their wares. The vendors waited patiently to provide demonstrations, explanations and assistance, and the customers were ready to receive.

This year's 10th Annual 2007 Government Purchase Card Vendor Day, hosted by the 82nd Contracting Squadron and the National Contract Management Association at the Multi-Purpose Event Center April 10, drew a standing room-only crowd for the morning GPC refresher training.

More than 80 vendors were on hand to greet them once the training was complete.

"The GPC refresher training being held during Vendor Day works really well," said Doris Lackey, chief of the plans and programs flight for 82nd CONS. "It's a great drawing tool for the show, but it's also something they have to do and might as well couple it together."

She said there are about 800 accounts with 400-600 individuals involved with the GPC program, and many of them look forward to the event.

Getting individuals to attend the refresher training is not the sole purpose of the event. By coupling the GPC program annual refresher training with the Vendor Day event, 82nd
CONS is able to introduce the purchaser to the vendor.

"The whole purpose of this event is to create a forum for the cardholders to be able to meet the vendors face-to-face and they can see the products they are actually buying," Ms. Lackey said. "These days, we buy so much over the internet and over the phone that this will give (purchasers) an idea of the quality of the products and to actually meet the people."

The event is so popular with many vendors that they return each year. This is the sixth year for attendee Kim Maisano, a partner with USA Impact. She said she keeps coming back not only to keep up with her regular Sheppard customers, but to also meet new ones.

"We also like to meet the new people, too, because of the turnover (with) the enlisted personnel that are the cardholders," she said. "We would like to cement that relationship."

First time attendee Alan Romines, area account manager for Sav-On Office Supplies, is already a fan of the event.

"I really like it. I'm impressed with the set-up and how (purchasers) are really interested in what we have to offer," he said.

Jamie Lavery, manager for Ball Park Sports & Awards, has only attended two events but plan's to attend every year. He said the biggest benefit to this event is that it is the purchasers that attend.

"It has really helped us a lot," Mr. Lavery said. "There are so many people that stop by and say 'Wow! We didn't even know you were there.' So, I think it brought us a lot of attention and really got our name out there."

The popularity of this event among the vendors is also appreciated by the GPC program participants.

Representatives from the Sheppard Inn attend every year but it is the first event Mary McLean, an approving official and the assistant manager for the Sheppard Inn, has attended.

"Although we already use some of these companies, they have ideas that we didn't think about," Ms. Mclean said.