October 28, 2025

Welcome to The Sidekick, a monthly procurement newsletter dedicated to Sourcing Heroes around the country.

Una is a group purchasing organization that helps over 10,000 active members save more money and simplify procurement.

Join us today at www.una.com.

The power of a true partnership.

“If you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.”

Thomas Edison

The best procurement teams understand that “no” doesn’t have to mean the end of savings. In this issue of The Sidekick, we unpack the foolproof method for landing huge discounts that may have been near-impossible to negotiate on your own.  

We also cover the latest in supply chain, AI news, and more. 

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Let's get into Issue #022...

How to find savings, even when suppliers say "no."

You’ve pressured.

You’ve begged.

You’ve cajoled.

You’ve tried these seven practical ways to nudge suppliers toward helping you cut costs.

But your vendors are still digging in their heels and refusing to budge on discounts. It's a common headache in procurement, and it can leave you scratching your head wondering where to go next.

In a tight economy, everyone’s feeling the pinch. Suppliers might be dealing with their own skyrocketing costs, or they genuinely think their goods or services are worth full price. Another common reason they might say “no” is a power imbalance, like when you're a smaller fish dealing with a giant supplier who couldn't care less if you swim away.

The best procurement teams, however, know that “no” doesn’t have to mean the end of savings.

Joining a group purchasing organization (GPO) might be your next best bet.

Businesses can use a GPO to unlock average savings of up to 18% to 22% across indirect categories via the power of volume purchasing. Una wields over $100 billion in buying clout with over 2,500 ready-to-go, pre-negotiated supplier contracts, all free to tap into.

Suddenly, you're not some lone wolf begging for scraps; you're part of a pack with massive leverage. This saves time, money, effort… and your sanity.

Our members love the power of group purchasing, and so do our suppliers.

How can this be? According to the rules of zero-sum, anything that’s great for procurement teams must be bad for suppliers, right?

Wrong. At Una, we’re all about the win-win that leaves everybody happy. Buyers access massive savings in money, time, and effort, while suppliers snag bigger orders, predictable business, and less admin through standardized contracts. This paves the way for partnerships that foster growth.      

Image: Dave Bailey

Let's see this in action with some real-world examples in specific sectors.

Behavioral Health

Behavioral health centers are crucial for communities, but tight budgets and rising demands mean every dollar has to count. GPOs step in to slash costs without cutting on care, offering 18-22% savings on goods and services like medical supplies, cleaning gear, linens, office suppliers, and IT.

Una connects you to pre-negotiated deals from vetted suppliers, freeing up budget for staff, programs, and patient support. Take this network of behavioral health centers who partnered with Una and streamlined buys to save an average of 27% across categories (49% savings on office products, 22% on food costs, 20% of staff uniforms, 20% of JanSan/MRO).

That meant redirecting funds to better care and operations, all while keeping vendor chaos low. In short, they unlocked creative savings through collective power, letting them focus on life-changing work instead of haggling.

Food Service in Clubs and Community Organizations

Foodservice can eat up budgets (pun intended) for clubs and hospitality service providers, but GPOs make it easier with 15-20% average savings on over 350,000 items from big players like Sysco, US Foods, and Pro*Act.

Una leverages combined purchases for deep discounts so your food program runs like a well-oiled machine. For example, YPurchasing  bundles food buys through Una's portfolio, saving 15-20% on premium ingredients and specialty lines.

With diverse and comprehensive contracts already in place, YPurchasing members were able to immediately start saving on food costs regardless of their volume size or location. What’s more, YPurchasing members could access Una’s contracts free-of-charge with zero long-term commitments, and with no product limitations.

It’s time to ditch the zero-sum game and look for the win-win. Collaborating with GPOs like Una, which boasts $100 billion in buying power and 2,500 pre-negotiated contracts with top suppliers, gives you a strategy to dramatically save on money, time, and effort even when suppliers have previously said “no.”

Book a discovery call with Una today to enhance your procurement strategy and start saving more with no obligations or requirements – ever!

Keeping a pulse on the industry.

💫  Resources from Una

• Managing Student Housing and Lowering Costs With a GPO
• What to Do When Suppliers Refuse to Provide Discounts
• How to Reduce Costs in Man Camps: Remote Doesn't Always Mean Expensive
• Why Suppliers Love GPOs: Building Value Through Partnerships
• Boy, These Kids Eat a Lot: How to Reduce Foodservice Costs in Clubs and Community Facilities
• Using a GPO to Build Strategic Supplier Relationships
• Skills That Save Money in Procurement

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