Our Mission
OfficeMax promotes an inclusive culture that embraces the diversity of our associates, business partners and customers. This environment fosters innovation and creates a competitive advantage that drives the growth of the business.
Program Overview
Supplier diversity at OfficeMax is about much more than responsible corporate citizenship; it’s a core value and guiding principle that leads to a greater good for the company, its customers and the communities it serves.
OfficeMax’s dedication to supplier diversity stems from its heritage. Boise Cascade, which merged with OfficeMax in 2003, began its successful supplier diversity program in the 1970’s, well before many other corporations. Each year, the supplier diversity program at OfficeMax continues to aim higher and extend its reach to include more suppliers and communities.
Inclusion values guide everything OfficeMax does, going far beyond using diverse businesses as vendors and suppliers for stores. The supplier diversity program at OfficeMax focuses on developing sustainable relationships with diverse businesses and ensuring that diverse vendors have access to OfficeMax merchants.
Through OfficeMax’s new Tier II Program, diverse suppliers and vendors are linked to larger prime suppliers, granting them insight and a competitive advantage in their markets. OfficeMax’s prime suppliers are highly encouraged to do business with diverse suppliers and vendors. In addition, OfficeMax provides mentoring to diverse vendors in the developing and strengthening of business partnerships.
These policies form a unique supplier diversity perspective and create a program that is truly inclusive. Supplier diversity has become a competitive advantage for OfficeMax by offering a wide variety of products at fair prices from multiple sources that reflect the community as a whole.
OfficeMax is committed to ensuring that supplier diversity is an integral part of strategic sourcing and procurement process. The success of OfficeMax and the communities it serves depend on the ability to work with diverse suppliers to provide unique insights into emerging markets, enhance the supply chain, and generate capital in the communities served by OfficeMax.
Awards & Recognition
OfficeMax strives to deliver the best, and that’s certainly the case with its supplier diversity program. OfficeMax is often listed as one of the America’s Top 50 Organizations for Multi-Cultural Business Opportunities by DiversityBusiness.com. Members of the Supplier Diversity Team have received multiple diversity achievement awards individually as well.
Diverse Business Certification
OfficeMax defines a diverse business as one that is at least fifty-one percent owned, managed and controlled by African Americans, Asian-Indian, Asian Pacific, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Lesbian/Gay/Bi-sexual/Transgender individuals or Women. Diverse businesses must have an up-to-date certification from one
of the following agencies or regional affiliates:
- National Minority Supplier Diversity Council: www.nmsdc.org
- Women’s Business Enterprise National Council: www.wbenc.org
- National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce: www.nglcc.org
- Small Business Administration: www.sba.gov
- Reciprocal state, city, and county certifications
Performance Standards
All OfficeMax vendors and suppliers are expected to meet the following performance criteria in order to be considered:
- Competitive pricing and cost saving solutions
- On-time delivery
- Product/service level quality assurance
- Proven financial viability
- Geographic scope (i.e., national or regional distribution)
- Compliance with laws and the OfficeMax Code of Conduct
- Value added capabilities
- Safety in production and shipping
- Sensitivity to brand reputation
Registering With OfficeMax
All businesses interested in serving as an OfficeMax diverse supplier or vendor must first register with the company. Visit the OfficeMax Supplier Diversity Page to register as a diverse supplier or vendor. Each application is reviewed by the OfficeMax supply management team; however, registration does not guarantee business with OfficeMax.
Additional Resources
Visit any of the following web pages at officemax.com/supplierdiversity to learn more about the supplier diversity program at OfficeMax.
