We’re committed to proactively identifying small, minority-owned and woman-owned sources for the goods and services 3M needs. We’re working to solicit capable firms, and execute orders and contracts with these firms as required to support 3M business needs.
Here’s why 3M pursues relationships with small, minority-owned and woman-owned businesses:
-
Diversity is a business strategy for growth. The minority population is the fastest growing segment in the United States and will account for a significant share of future consumer growth. Diverse suppliers are one way to access emerging diversity market segments.
-
Diverse suppliers reenergize our business. Diversity in our supplier base helps keep 3M open to innovative ideas and new ways of doing business, including offering unique strategies for reaching diverse markets.
-
Our suppliers become our customers. Diverse suppliers not only help us market more effectively to diverse consumers – they are our customers.
-
Lower costs and faster response help the bottom line. Minority-owned and woman-owned businesses often are smaller and more cost-efficient due to lower operating costs. They also tend to be nimble, which allows them to quickly respond to business needs.
Qualification as a Diverse Supplier
To qualify as a diverse supplier, a business must be at least 51 percent owned, controlled and operated by a diverse member or members, and be within the size standards for the business’s industry set by the Small Business Administration and/or certified by the National Minority Supplier Development Council. The following businesses qualify as diverse suppliers:
-
Small Businesses.
-
Minority Businesses.
-
Women-owned Businesses.
-
Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.
-
Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.
-
HUB-Zone businesses (business located in high unemployment areas).
Learn more about applying as a diverse supplier.
