Trading Specialists Would Like to Welcome Stefan, our New Business Development Executive

Stefan Harland

Here at Trading Specialists we have seen a rapid growth within our sector and the business as a whole. As a result we have expanded our expert team to ensure that we have the resources to continue our efficient and prompt service. 

Stefan, our new Business Development Executive, joined the Trading Specialists team at the beginning of this year. Stefan will be responsible for building his own account base by sourcing new suppliers and buying their excess inventory to help release the tied up revenue. He will also be responsible for receiving your excess stock lists to see where Trading Specialists can help benefit your business.

Stefan has an extensive background in new business development, most recently within the IT&T industry as a Sales Manager of a direct sales team. Originally from York, he has lived and worked in Sydney and Singapore for the past 18 years. Returning to the cooler climates of his home town, Stefan joined the trading Specialists team here in York to help deliver our tried and trusted service.

A word from Stefan... “I am excited to start my career with Trading Specialist and I look forward to working with you on your electronic component excess inventory. I would like to wish everyone a safe and prosperous 2013”.

Do you have excess electronic component inventory? Then start by sending us your excess and obsolete stock lists, or for more information, give us a call on +44 (0) 1904 436 444.

IHS Report Chip Inventory at Semiconductor Suppliers Reaches an Alarming High

Amid weak market conditions, IHS report that chip inventory held by semiconductor suppliers reached an alarmingly high level in the third quarter of 2012.

Semiconductor revenue declined by 0.7 percent during the forth quarter of last year. These poor results came after inventory reached exceedingly high levels by the end of the third quarter of 2012. This amounted to 49.3 percent of total semiconductor revenue, which has been the highest since 2006.

During the final two quarters of 2011, stockpiles actually decreased seemingly showing a promising reduction. Yet, inventories steadily increased once again, reaching 47.5 percent of total revenue before hitting its peak in the third quarter of 2012.

These inventory levels refer to chip stockpiles specifically in the hands of semiconductor suppliers, not throughout the electronics supply chain. Supplier levels are then compared against combined revenue from a sample 75 semiconductor supplier companies. High levels indicate unsold stockpiles and also unrealised revenue tied up with the stagnant inventory.

IHS report that this high level of inventory was due to the expected high demand of semiconductors for products thought to have sold well over the Christmas season. With consumers still wary of the economic state, these sales never materialised and we only saw a 0.7 percent increase in consumer purchases two weeks prior to Christmas, the worst performance since 2008.

Do you have excess inventory? Trading Specialists can help! Part of the Cyclops Group, Trading Specialists can buy your excess, obsolete, end of life and slow moving inventory. We work with you to find the most effective solution to maximise your returns. With our service we will enable you to access this tied up revenue as well releasing space within your facility, meaning you can avoid inventory write offs.

To speak to one of our team please call us on +44 (0) 1904 436 444 or visit our website to find our more about our service.

Click here to read the IHS' full press release.

Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes for 2013 from Trading Specialists

Thank you for your continued support throughout the year. We wish you well over the holiday season and New Year celebrations. 

Photography courtesy of Marbeca Bakery 

We will be closed for the holiday season from 16:30 (GMT) Friday 21st December 2012, reopening in the New Year at 08:45 (GMT) on Wednesday 2nd January 2012.

We will be ready and waiting to receive your excess stock lists and inquiries as normal, while looking forward to a busy and prosperous New Year.

Once again have a wonderful holiday season.                         

 

Are you completing an end of year stock check? Receive money for your excess, obsolete, slow-moving and EOL components!

As 2012 draws to a close, many manufacturers begin to plan for 2013. This often involves stock checking and maintenance. Sometimes they find themselves left with excess electronic component stock, taking up warehouse space and locking in valuable capital.

So the problem of how to dispose of this surplus inventory arises...

There are numerous ways in which an organisations do this. Some simply scrap the stock, costing both time and money which could have otherwise been saved.

Others take the sensible option, they sell their excess stock and generate a cash injection ready for the new year and the challenges it may bring.

Selling your excess stock to a company such as Trading Specialists is simple and effective.

Offering an immediate cash injection to your business, Trading Specialists make a bid based upon a percentage of the market value of your stock. Once the bid is accepted, the stock is collected at no cost to the seller, and with no further liability.

As part of the highly respected and long established Cyclops Group, Trading Specialists are also able to purchase stock via consignment. Trading Specialists maximise potential returns by storing excess stock on behalf of a company, and actively marketing it to over 16,000 OEM's, CEM's and distributors worldwide in exchange for a percentage of future sales.

Trading Specialists provide a simple, efficient and cost effective way to dispose of surplus, obsolete, slow-moving and end of life electronic component inventory.

If you'd like to find out more about how Trading Specialists can help you to realise the full potential of your excess stock, contact us or visit our website.

Tel: +44 (0) 1904 436446

Email: blog@trading-specialists.com

Trading Specialists at Electronica 2012

The Cyclops Group team would like to thank everyone that visited our stand at Electronica 2012, Munich, Germany.

We hope you enjoyed the exhibition and that our friendly team was helpful informing you about the company and the latest component solutions we have to offer.
 
The stand exhibited information from the Cyclops Groups services...

• International Excess Electronic Component Management
• Procurement, Logistics & Supply Chain Management
• Electronic Component Stocking Distributor 
• PCB Assembly & Electronic Manufacturing Services

To view the Cyclops Group presentation please click here.

If there is anything you would like to know about our services, please give us a call 
on ++44 (0) 1904 436446.

Introductory Video For Trading Specialists

Forward thinking and focused, Trading Specialists, a member of the Cyclops Group, has recently created a short video explaining how they can help manufacturers manage their surplus and excess electronic component inventory, freeing up valuable capital and warehouse space.

Trading Specialists will purchase or consign your electronic component inventory that is no longer of use and will tailor a solution so you can achieve the best possible return.

Using our ISO9001, temperature controlled and antistatic warehousing, as well 8 global offices to market your products, you are sure to get a great return on your stock.

Contact Ben Chrispin, our Head of Purchasing, today:

e-mail: blog@trading-specialists.com

Tel: +44(0) 1904 436 444
Skype: ben.chrispin

MSN: ben.chrispin@yahoo.com

Buyers Guide to Identifying Excess & Obsolete Electronic Component Inventory

When we talk about excess or obsolete inventory, we are of course referring to inventory of which the quantity you are holding in stock is surplus to requirements. Maybe production operations which originally were intended to use that stock have slowed or even stopped. Perhaps there is new hazardous materials legislation which leaves the stock obsolete and unusable to you. Either way the cost of long term storage for this stock will have to be eventually taken into account as a business expense and it can result in potentially large losses. Companies are constantly fighting to reduce costs and improve sales. If you are an OEM or CEM then managing your excess and obsolete electronic component inventory can be just as important.

When auditing your business, one step that should be considered is identifying your excess and obsolete stock. This can be a challenging task that needs to take into account possible future production schedules and ever changing legislation regarding the health and safety issues of certain substances. For instance, manufacturers of medical equipment (previously exempt from the RoHS directive) now have to start making plans to comply with the updates to the law. Like what happened when the original RoHS directive came into affect, it is likely that many companies will fail to get the most out of their non-compliant components while they still can. Many will be left with unusable component lines in storage. Click here for more information regarding the RoHS legislation. 

By using the best estimates you can for future production volume you can plan ahead more effectively when component lines are going obsolete. It will enable you to see how long your current inventory will last and what replacement parts you need to source first.

Of course if a component line is sat in your inventory and the productions which utilized it have already ceased then the stock is already excess and possibly obsolete. This is what many businesses are finding when they audit their own warehouses. Excess stock with no possible chance of it being utilized in any of their production schedules and because of the RoHS directive, it may be impossible for it to ever be used by your industry.

However, it is not all doom and gloom. There are 6 important steps you should take in order to maximise the return on this obsolete stock.

1. Identify Your Obsolete, Excess & EOL Electronic Component Inventory 
   Firstly you need to recognise which component lines in your warehouse are excess, EOL or obsolete. Component lines go obsolete all the time and as yet there is no industry wide notification system to inform you of obsolescence. You should maintain communication with your suppliers in order to help you identify when a particular line is going obsolete.

2. Create Your Inventory List 
   Once you have identified the inventory, you must then develop a list of the items you wish to dispose of and include all the relevant information so that the potential buyer can make a bid. Details you will need to include are; Manufacturers Part Number, Quantities, Date Code, Manufacturer & RoHS Status.

3. Send Electronic Component Disposal Partners the List 
   Select several electronic component disposal partners and send your list to them. This will allow you to take your pick of the quotes they send back and give you more choice.

4. Review the Offers Received 
   Quotes you receive for this stock will be based on the current market value of the stock. Excess buyers typically offer between 10 and 30 percent of the market value. This can depend on factors such as the age of the stock, RoHS compliance and previous sales history. Usually initial offers may be open to some negotiation.

5. Consider the Disposal Options 
   There are three main disposal options the excess buyer may provide you with.

• Immediate Payment 
  Quite simply, once a price is agreed and the stock has been appraised, the stock will be quickly removed with the minimum of disruption and at no extra cost. With this option there should be no removal charges and no future liability on any parts.

• Full Consignment 
  This option involves the removal of your stock to the disposal partners warehouse, who will market it globally on your behalf via a network of global distributors. The disposal partner should pay full transportation costs and provide insurance cover. You retain full title over the stock until it sells, this gives you the best chance of maximising your return whilst also allowing you to recall any unsold goods at any time.

• Part Payment and Part Consignment 
  This is the best option when you are in need of an initial up front payment from the disposal partner, but also want to maximise your revenue.

6. Set Up a Collection Time & Date 
   Once you have agreed a deal with your buyer, they will then make arrangements for the removal of stock from your warehouse. They will need to know the weight and dimensions of the packages in order to arrange the most cost effective and speedy transportation method.

In the electronics sector, obsolete means obsolete. There is no chance that a component line, once identified as obsolete, is ever going to have its original market value and the longer it sits in your warehouse the more value it loses and the more it costs you in the long run. After a component line goes obsolete there may be a surge in its value as other companies try and secure what remaining stock there is left. However, as the companies who used the component move away from its usage in their product and source an alternative, its value will decrease rapidly and your warehousing costs will be growing year on year.

Working with a company who specialise in excess inventory management is the best way to mitigate the risks involved with obsolete and excess components. At Trading Specialists we appreciate the dynamic nature of the market we are in and by working with us we can help you prepare for component obsolescence and get the most out of your excess inventory while you can. We have a global network of electronic component distributors lined up to market your inventory to the rest of the world, increasing the chances of it selling. We will even take on the responsibility of unburdening you of your excess stock and removing it to our purpose built, anti-static warehouse where we will cover the costs of storage until it sells. Don't tolerate excess inventory wasting your company resources. In business we take immediate action if anything else is costing us money unnecessarily. Your excess inventory should be no different.

Start by sending us your excess and obsolete stock lists today or for more information, give us a call on +44 (0) 1904 436 444.