When it comes to hosting supplier diversity outreach events, achieving tangible results goes beyond just focusing on attendance numbers. At JKA Solutions, we have honed our approach to creating meaningful connections and fostering opportunities for qualified suppliers. Here are ten key tips to ensure your outreach events leave a lasting impact:
- Define Clear Goals: Before planning the event, establish a well-defined purpose and set clear objectives. Ask yourself, “What outcomes do we want to achieve beyond attendance numbers?” Whether it’s forging lasting supplier relationships or filling specific contract opportunities, having a clear direction will shape the event’s structure and content.
- Embrace Transparency: Instead of solely inviting a broad audience to the event, provide valuable information on your organization’s website. Make essential details about upcoming opportunities readily available, such as project timelines, submission deadlines, and guidelines for doing business with your company.
- Educate Suppliers: Empower diverse suppliers with knowledge about your organization’s requirements for becoming a qualified supplier. Consider inviting successful diverse suppliers to share their experiences, insights, and best practices, helping aspiring suppliers navigate the process effectively.
- Curate Attendees for Matched Opportunities: Tailor the list of diverse suppliers invited to match specific contract opportunities. Additionally, ensure that decision-makers within your organization are present, creating opportunities for direct networking and relationship building. As an example, we carefully select diverse suppliers based on their expertise and capabilities, matching them with relevant contract opportunities. Decision-makers actively participate in the event, facilitating meaningful discussions and potential collaborations.
- Schedule Time for Networking: Recognize the value of networking during the event and allocate dedicated time for suppliers and company representatives to interact. Facilitate breakout sessions and informal discussions to enable meaningful connections and foster potential partnerships.
- Gather and Address Supplier Questions: Upon registration, encourage diverse suppliers to share specific questions or concerns they may have about engaging with your organization. Allocate time during the event to address these questions, providing clarity and fostering an environment of open communication.
- Engage Local Community Members: If you are hosting an event, consider utilizing space and resources from local community members. This could include collaborating with local event planners, AV set-up services, catering, supplies, and advertising, strengthening ties within the community.
- Capture the Event on Video: Consider recording the event to repurpose the content at a later time. Video footage can be shared on social media, posted on your website, and distributed to diverse suppliers who couldn’t attend but are interested in the event’s insights.
- Ensure Inclusivity in Content: Make sure all event content, advertising, and information packages are inclusive and accessible to everyone, reflecting your commitment to diversity and openness.
- Gather Participant Feedback: Survey event participants to gauge the quality and relevance of the content shared. Use this feedback to make necessary adjustments and improvements for future events.
Conclusion: By incorporating these ten tips into your supplier diversity outreach events, you can create a powerful impact that extends beyond mere attendance numbers. With well-defined goals, transparent information sharing, supplier education, strategic curation, networking opportunities, addressing supplier questions, engaging the local community, utilizing video resources, promoting inclusivity, and gathering participant feedback, these events will become pivotal moments for forging diverse supplier partnerships and fostering mutual success. At JKA Solutions, we remain dedicated to cultivating meaningful connections and creating a lasting impact through our supplier diversity outreach initiatives. Let us help you drive positive change and promote inclusivity in your supplier partnerships.
