Private message to Poppy

[alt_antonin]

If you have a chance, can you let me know which ingredients in this infirmary-supplies ledger absolutely must come from a particular supplier? (Not prepared potions -- those I know are non-substitutable -- but I'm sure there are individual ingredients that certain houses do better than others.) Likewise, if there are any houses that have been unable to fill your orders in the past, or have provided substandard ingredients and ought not be trusted.

Earlier in the month I caught an irregularity in what one of the NL apothecary providers was charging us for restocking the Potions storehouse before term began, and further poking into the matter shows that between the infirmary, the Potions programme, and the Herbology greenhouses, we're using nine different suppliers under fourteen different contracts, the terms of which vary wildly from "favourable" to "laughably bad". I can undoubtedly save us a not-inconsiderable amount of Galleons by switching us over to another distributor next year, or switching to growing more in-house. I'll be putting the contract out for tender as a starting place to see what sort of nibbles we get, but you will know more than I about who should not be trusted with the bid.

Comments

[alt_poppy]

Yes, of course. It may take several uninterrupted hours to collect the information for a complete history, but you're quite right that we have spread our orders widely about and that a review might prove beneficial.

I can say at the start that the matter resists simple solutions: import restrictions and licensing mean that no one supplier is able to offer all we need. I'm certain this makes sense at some administrative level on the Ministry's side, but from this side of the marketplace, it means ordering piecemeal from many providers.

Lest you think I'm grunching about regulations and restrictions, I must admit that in the year of the epidemic, our peculiarly wide net of sources proved an unexpected advantage: several of our regular contracts were broken, and it was well that we had so many established connections to turn to when one or another faced sudden staffing or sourcing calamities. (One hopes never to face so dire a situation as we did that year, but it does merit consideration.)

[alt_poppy]

Hm. And, yes, I can certainly give you a list of those not to be trusted as suppliers.

I'm afraid that any number of would-be business partners have imagined the school a cash cow to be milked for rich cream.

[alt_antonin]

I hadn't thought of the side benefits. I'll keep a weather eye towards keeping relationships, even at reduced volumes, to hedge against future calamity.

As to the restrictions -- well. Being on the Council can occasionally work to one's advantage; I see no reason why this cannot be one of those times. Trading favours for favours is a venerable tradition, after all.

And you needn't worry about us being taken advantage of. More than one person has imagined me an easy mark at the negotiating table; I take a certain gleeful pleasure in proving them wrong. I will not allow Hogwarts to be exploited, not while she is mine to take care of.