What Purchasing Practice Is
Purchasing Practice is an independent platform dedicated to helping procurement leaders understand and act on structural shifts in supply markets.
In an era where availability, resilience, and positioning matter more than unit cost, we translate geopolitical developments, industrial policy, and infrastructure realities into clear category strategy implications.
Where the Focus Sits
The work sits at the intersection of:
- Constrained Supply Markets
- Industrial Policy & Geopolitical Dynamics
- Category Strategy & Positioning
These are no longer separate domains.
Our Approach
A Different Starting Point
Most procurement thinking is still based on:
- stable markets
- abundant supply
- global sourcing flexibility
That model is increasingly outdated.
A Different Perspective
The analysis presented here is grounded in a different set of realities:
- supply constraints matter more than cost structures
- policy is shaping markets as much as competition
- access to supply is becoming a strategic advantage
Procurement is no longer operating within markets—it is operating within supply systems.
What Is Provided
The platform delivers:
The emphasis is on clarity, relevance, and applicability—not volume.
Dave Henshall
About
Dave Henshall founded Purchasing Practice after an extensive career in procurement strategy, category management, and supply market analysis.
Drawing on deep operational and strategic experience across complex global categories, Dave provides an independent, research-driven voice focused on structural market realities rather than conventional wisdom or promotion.
His work helps procurement leaders and executive teams interpret emerging shifts — and translate them into actionable strategies in an increasingly constrained world
Context
This is not a view of how procurement worked in the past.
It is a forward-looking perspective on how procurement must operate in an environment defined by:
The challenge is no longer simply to optimize within markets— but to understand and position within them.
Our Commitment
Purchasing Practice operates as an independent platform — focused on interpretation, not promotion. We prioritize depth over breadth and insight over volume.
Many of the structural shifts shaping procurement are already visible in leading markets. This work exists to help procurement leaders see them early — and act with confidence.