Office Depot joins consortium aimed at boosting economy through supply chain initiatives

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot said Tuesday it has joined Supplier Connection, a group of 15 large businesses committed to driving small business growth by simplifying access to their global supply chains.



Supplier Connection streamlines the application process for small businesses seeking to become suppliers to the group. Through the web-based portal, small businesses have the opportunity to present their goods and services to many large enterprises with the goal of winning contracts, expanding business and creating jobs.



In addition to its one-stop registration capabilities, the website enables small suppliers to learn from, collaborate with, and sell to each other so that they can become more competitive and successful in a bid with a large company.



“As an integral part of our diverse supply chain, it’s very important for Office Depot to help small businesses succeed,” said Brent Beabout, senior VP of supply chain for Office Depot.



The Supplier Connection program is maintained by IBM through a grant of more than $10 million from the IBM International Foundation. The program is free for both small and large businesses.