The main lesson I learned from my Dad’s employer (twice) was always have two vendors. You can play them off of each other. When I did contract work I saw how powerful getting out or putting for away the checkbook can be. Large vendors ignore you if the checkbook isn’t moving.

I say “twice” because they were also the biggest employer in town. I got out of there. Slim pickins for career opportunities that didn’t revolve around BigCo.