Dell Launches ‘Direct Talk’ for Diverse Suppliers

Initiative Makes It Easier for Diverse Firms to Do Business with Dell

Round Rock, Texas, July 19, 2007, Representatives from diverse businesses across the United States today met with Dell managers to learn about upcoming procurement opportunities and to better understand the company’s supplier guidelines and processes related to doing business with Dell.

The first in a series of Direct Talk forums, the session was based on feedback from diverse firms and included one-on-one meetings and extensive information sharing on how to participate in near-term requests-for-quote (RFQ) or how to develop capabilities to participate in future RFQs. During the event, attended by representatives from a dozen firms, Dell procurement managers described the company’s needs, high standards and expectations as it seeks to expand it supply chain through diverse partnerships.

“As Dell continues to grow, it’s important that our supply-chain partnerships reflect an increasingly diverse set of customers and employees,” said David F. Brown, vice president of Dell Worldwide Procurement. “Direct Talk is a means for us to engage directly with a set of potential partners who are eager to grow with us and who mirror our commitment to diversity.”

Brown also said that expanding its relationship with diverse firms, which represent a growing customer base for Dell, is “smart business” and an element of the company’s strategic growth plan. According to a 2006 report from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the number of U.S. companies from 1997-2002 increased by 2 million, with more than 50 percent of the increase accounted for by minority-owned firms. Since 2001, Dell has increased its spending with diverse suppliers by more than 66 percent, last year spending $2.1 billion.

Dell is focused on diverse supplier development throughout its global supply chain. Earlier this month, the company sponsored the National Minority Supplier Development Council’s first Mission to China. The mission was designed to share best practices on minority business development with the Chinese government and help U.S. diverse firms become more knowledgeable and globally competitive by forming business ties with diverse firms in China. Last month, Dell held its first Global Citizenship Workshop in Shenzhen, China, where it encouraged key suppliers to adopt Electronic Industry Code of Conduct workplace standards.

The company this year rose to second place on DiversityBusiness.com’s list of the Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities and received the “2005 Corporation of the Year” award from the Central & South Texas Minority Business Council. The annual award goes to the member corporation that demonstrates the deepest commitment to minority business development. In August 2005, Hispanic Network magazine listed Dell as a Top Company for Supplier Diversity. One of the leading corporations in supplier diversity, AT&T, recently recognized Dell’s efforts in driving supplier diversity with it annual supplier diversity achievement award.

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