After decades of brands looking to cut out the middleman, along with an industry focus on going direct – whether that be direct to suppliers or direct to consumers – suddenly a growing number of buyers are taking a new look at agents.

This is not simply a matter of ‘going back to the way we used to do things.’  The industry mindset is changing – but so are agents.

Brands are taking a serious look at the role agents can play in their overall sourcing strategy.  But at the same time, agents – at least those that are leading the industry – have done a lot to add massive value to what they offer their customers.  

This isn’t the old time model where the agent was merely an intermediary between a brand and a supplier.  

In a market environment where global supply chains remain precariously vulnerable – and where brands are, for a number of reasons, being encouraged to expand their sourcing footprint into more nations – the strategic role an agent can play is becoming increasingly appealing to C-suite executives.