As part of Sands China’s Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme, two local SMEs currently contracted by Sands China recently held roadshows at the back-of-house areas of Sands Macao, The Venetian Macao, Sands Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao.
The roadshows are part of Sands China’s commitment to further support local procurement and SME growth, by offering more business opportunities to local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), micro-enterprises, young entrepreneurs, and “Made-in-Macau” enterprises.
Between 24 April 24 and 5 May, food and beverage suppliers Chip Seng and Wing Fung displayed a total of 100 products to Sands China’s 30,000 team members, offering them at a discounted price. Team members bought over MOP$1.1 million worth of goods in total from the two SMEs during the roadshows.
Chip Seng is a local SME that provides the company with items such as sauces, sugar packets and canned foods. Rong Yelong, a salesperson from the hotel department of Chip Seng, said, “We really have enjoyed our working relationship with Sands China. It’s obviously good for our bottom line to have a client as large as Sands China, but it also helps show potential new clients that we can handle large-scale procurement at international standards.”
A micro-enterprise started by a Macau young entrepreneur, Wing Fung provides the company with dry foodstuffs including fish maw, abalone, bird’s nest, mushrooms and other fungi. Sue Sou, director of Wing Fung, said, “We’re very pleased to be doing business with Sands China. Our experience working with their procurement team has been a very professional one. Honestly, I didn’t expect the personal touch to be there, considering the size of their operation, but they definitely surprised me. Our company is not just a number to them; we’ve gotten to know the associates at Sands, and we feel like valued partners in each other’s success.”
Since 2011, roadshows like these have been held regularly for Sands China team members, averaging one roadshow every three months. They benefit SMEs by giving them access to direct business opportunities with customers, while giving Sands China’s team members a chance to enjoy discounted offers.
Sands China’s Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme was jointly announced in July 2015 with the Macao Chamber of Commerce. The programme is in line with the Macau government’s initiative to “buy local” and demonstrates Sands China’s commitment to supporting local enterprises as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts. It is part of Sands China’s supplier relationship management strategy, which guides the company’s long-standing effort to support local suppliers, whom it views as its strategic partners.
Sands China plans to hold additional promotions at its properties’ back-of-house areas in the future to further support the growth of local SMEs.
