FAQ - Supplier Diversity

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• What is supplier diversity at Limited Brands?

  Supplier diversity means ensuring access to the procurement opportunities available at Limited Brands for certified small businesses or businesses certified as owned, managed and controlled by a woman, ethnic minority, veteran or member of the LGBT community. This is accomplished by proactively seeking qualified diverse suppliers and working to build mutually beneficial business relationships with them.

• Why is supplier diversity important to Limited Brands?

  We believe that including diverse suppliers in our purchasing strategy will provide a competitive advantage and create long-term growth for Limited Brands, while developing stronger communities. At Limited Brands, we are guided in our work and our interactions with others by four core principles; the same beliefs that have made us successful since our start in 1963. They are:

  • The Customer Rules!
  • Passion Leads to Success.
  • Inclusion Makes Us Stronger.
  • It Matters How We Play The Game.

• What is the purpose of the online supplier registration form?

  The online registration has two main purposes. The first purpose is for diverse business enterprises to use this tool to express their interest in Limited Brands, provide basic company information, and record their certifications. The second purpose is to provide Limited Brands Buyers with a centralized sourcing database for diverse businesses.
  

• How does Limited Brands define diverse businesses?

  Limited Brands defines a diverse business as one that has been certified by a third party as one of the following:

  • Minority Owned
  • Woman Owned
  • Veteran Owned
  • LGBT Owned 
  • Small Business

• Is there any cost to participate in the program?

  There is no cost to participate in the Limited Brands supplier diversity program. There may be a nominal cost associated with applying for certification from a third party certifying organization.
  

• How do I become a certified company?

  The Limited Brands Supplier Diversity Program accepts certification from a number of third party organizations. Visit the website of one of the following organizations or contact your local city or state government for more information.

  National Minority Supplier Development Council
  Tel: 212.944.2430
  www.nmsdc.org

  Women's Business Enterprise National Council
  Tel: 202.872.5515
  www.wbenc.org

  Small Business Administration
  Tel: 1800.U.ASK.SBA (1800-827-5722)
  www.sba.gov

  Association for Service Disabled Veterans
  Tel: 202.669.1982
  www.asdv.gov

  National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
  Tel: 202.234.9181
  www.nglcc.org 

  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  Tel: 202-618-3765
  www.va.gov/osdbu/veteran/verificationProgram.asp

• What are my chances of being selected as a supplier?

  Our commitment is to provide opportunities and to include diverse suppliers in our purchasing process. Your chance of being selected as a supplier to Limited Brands depends on your company's offerings and how it matches up to our current sourcing needs.
  
  

• How large does my company have to be?

  Your company has to be large enough and complex enough to handle the project or merchandise category that you want to bid on or sell to us. It is about being able to deliver what we need in the time frame, quality and standards that we are looking for.

• What does Limited Brands buy?

  Limited Brands buys a variety of services and products that are not merchandise for re–sale. A list of these products and services is provided here.
  

• Should I contact a buyer directly?

  By registering on this site your company information will be sent to the appropriate Buyer within Limited Brands. You will receive a response based on your application, and if your company qualifies, the information will be saved for future procurement opportunities. We encourage you to utilize this site as a more effective way of getting your company’s information to the right Associate.
  

• What if I am interested in providing a product or service, but do not qualify as a US–based diverse enterprise within the Limited Brands supplier diversity initiative?

  Unless you have been specifically requested to register on this site by a Limited Brands contact, the registration process has been reserved and implemented for diverse suppliers only.
  

• Who should I contact if I have questions during the process?

  Please contact SupplierDiversity@LimitedBrands.com for procedural questions or LimitedBrands@aecsoftusa.com for technical questions.
  

• I qualify as a diverse enterprise and am already a supplier to Limited Brands. Should I still register?

  Yes, please register. This will help ensure that we have your current certification on file.
  

• I do business with Limited Bands and am not a diverse enterprise. How can I support and participate in the supplier diversity initiative?

  Limited Brands Second Tier program has been developed to encourage diverse spending by our first tier suppliers. We request that our major suppliers support us in meeting our objective of significantly increasing the use of diverse enterprises. We believe that the mutually beneficial business relationships we and our major suppliers develop with diverse enterprises will broaden the economic vitality and prosperity of the communities we serve, create value for our shareholders, and provide a fresh perspective and innovative solutions to our business.
  

• Now that I’ve registered, can I expect a response?

  Yes, you will receive a response within about a month. We have procedures in place to route the information you have provided to the appropriate buyer, according to the category(s) you selected. The buyer will review your information with the requirements for that category. Each category (5 maximum) that you select will receive a response. If you have not received a response with in the stated timeframe, please contact SupplierDiversity@limitedbrands.com for assistance.
  

• I’ve registered, but why haven’t I been contacted to participate in a sourcing event?

  The Limited Brands Buyer will be provided about a month to review your registration. If you have recently registered, please be patient, you will receive a response. Please note that submitting a supplier registration profile to Limited Brands does not constitute an offer of business or award to any company, nor does it guarantee participation in a sourcing event.
  

• I registered and received a response from a buyer. What are the next steps?

  The next steps after you have received a Buyer response will depend on the response received. In many cases, if your company met the basic category requirements, then the Buyer will provide additional information about the next steps. If your company does not meet the basic category requirements the Buyer response should advise you of that. Your company information will be kept on file, and should be updated by you as appropriate.