What is supplier diversity at Limited Brands?

Supplier diversity means maximizing the procurement opportunities for minority and women–owned businesses by proactively seeking qualified suppliers, building partnerships with, and purchasing from these diverse businesses.

Why is supplier diversity important to Limited Brands?

We believe that including customers in our purchasing strategy will provide a competitive advantage and create long–term growth for Limited Brands, while developing stronger communities. Simply put, we can put money and wealth back into the hands of our customer. Limited Brands has long been recognized as a values–based organization – DOING WHAT IS RIGHT, PURSUING EXCELLENCE, WORKING FOR THE GREATER GOOD, and BEING INCLUSIVE. These are the core values for how we conduct business both inside and outside the enterprise.

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.

What do MBE and WBE mean?

These are acronyms for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE).

How does Limited Brands define diverse businesses?

Limited Brands defines diverse business as one that is owned, operated, and controlled by women or minority group members who are US citizens.

A minority–owned business is a for profit enterprise that is 51% owned, operated, and controlled by United States citizens who are minority group members. “Minority group members” are United States citizens who are Asian–Indian, Asian–Pacific, Black, Hispanic and Native American. Ownership by minority individuals means the business is at least 51% owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly–owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, the management and daily operations are controlled by those minority group members. The minority business must obtain certification by an affiliate council of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), before it will be recognized by Limited Brands as minority owned.

A woman–owned business (WBE) is a for profit enterprise 51% owned, operated, and controlled by United States citizens who are female. A women–owned business must obtain certification by an affiliate of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) before it will be recognized by Limited Brands as women owned.

Is there any cost to participate in the program?

There is no cost to participate in the Limited Brands supplier diversity program. There is a nominal cost associated with applying for certification from the NMSDC and WBENC. Please see their respective websites for additional details. (www.nmsdc.org and www.wbenc.org)

How do I become a certified company?

Please contact the NMSDC or WBENC for information about certification:

NMSDC
1040 Avenue of the Americas, Second Floor,
New York, New York 10018
Tel: 212/944–2430
Fax: 212/719–9611
www.nmsdc.org

WBENC
1710 H Street, NW, 7th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006
Tel: 202/872–5515
Fax: 202/872–5505
www.wbenc.org

What are my chances of being selected as a supplier?

Our commitment is to provide opportunities and to include M/WBEs 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 the opportunity.

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 products and merchandise for re–sale as well as a number of services and products that are not merchandise or for re–sale. A list of these products and services is provided here.

Should I contact a Brand 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@limited-logistics.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 Brands and am not a diverse enterprise. How can I support and participate in the Supplier Diversity initiative?

Limited Brands Second Tier program is being developed to encourage diverse spending by our first tier suppliers. We will be requesting that our major suppliers support us in meeting our objective of significantly increasing the use of diverse enterprises. 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.

I’ve registered, 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. Submitting a supplier registration profile does not constitute an approved, qualified, or preferred supplier for Limited Brands, and does not 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 as appropriate.