Tom Finn and Alan Veeck analyze the 2025 PNC Christmas Price Index to uncover how macro-economic shifts are impacting the most unique supply chain in the world. This year, the total cost of the 12 gifts officially broke the $50,000 ceiling, settling at $51,476 for a 4.5% year-over-year increase. Nearly 95% of this hike was driven by a 32.5% surge in the price of gold rings, fueled by global geopolitical risks and a "flight to safety" among investors. We also dive into the labor market nuances of the index, noting that while the cost of maids-a-milking held steady, "unionized" lords-a-leaping saw an 8.1% jump. Discover the hidden "Cyber Monday" premium, where shipping and packaging live animals and heavy gifts can add over $4,500 to your procurement total.

PNC Christmas Price Index, 2025 Inflation, Cost of the 12 Days of Christmas, Procurement Economics, Gold Prices 2025, Commodity Inflation, Labor Market Trends, Lords a-Leaping, Maids a-Milking, Seven Swans a-Swimming, Tom Finn, Alan Veeck, Rebuild Procurement Podcast, Online Shopping Premium, Cyber Monday Logistics, Shipping Live Animals, Macroeconomics, Category Management, Sourcing Strategy, Inflation Trends, Holiday Budgeting, PNC Bank, Christmas 2025, Supply Chain Management, Logistics Costs, Geopolitical Risk, Gold Rings Price, Christmas Tradition.

#ChristmasPriceIndex #Inflation2025 #GoldPrices #Procurement #12DaysOfChristmas #EconomicTrends #SupplyChain #HolidayEconomics #RebuildProcurement #TomFinn #AlanVeeck #PNC #MarketAnalysis

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How do you differentiate yourself and truly shine in the crowded field of procurement? Tom and Alan welcome the legendary Philip Ideson (Host of the Art of Procurement Podcast) to reveal his three non-negotiable rules for rising above the crowd and ensuring you are never a commodity. Phil shares critical career advice, emphasizing that long-term success requires both a deep passion for your category and the strategic use of thought leadership to elevate your profile. The three hosts discuss the evolution of procurement media and why building a professional brand is now as crucial as generating savings. Tune in for a masterclass on procurement career pathing and the keys to building an illustrious and influential life in procurement.

#PhilipIdeson #ProcurementCareer #ThoughtLeadership #ProcurementBranding #CareerAdvice #StandOutProfessional #ProcurementMedia #3RulesToShine #DontBeACommodity #NicheMarketing #SupplyChainManagement #RebuildProcurementPodcast #TomFinn #AlanVeeck

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How does a seasonal item like a Christmas tree become a massive global sourcing project? This week on How It's Sourced, Alan and Tom dissect the two very different supply chains behind your holiday centerpiece: real vs. artificial trees. They reveal the shocking cost factors, including the risk profile of growing a tree for 10-12 years and the incredible logistics required to move massive artificial trees from China. Discover the biggest producers, the history of tree auctions (including a possible $30,000 tree!), and why the choice between real and fake is really a choice between two entirely separate industries. Get a deeper appreciation for the supply chain complexity behind one of the greatest global holiday traditions.

#HowItsSourced #ChristmasTreeSourcing #RealvsFakeTree #GlobalSupplyChain #ProcurementLogistics #SourcingStrategy #ChristmasTreeFarming #ArtificialTreeSourcing #HolidaySupplyChain #LogisticsNightmare #SeasonalProcurement #RebuildProcurementPodcast #TomFinn #AlanVeeck

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Did you know the psychological tricks used on Black Friday are the exact same ones your suppliers use to raise your costs? Alan and Tom dive into the history of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, revealing how concepts like price anchoring influence both consumer and B2B procurement decisions. Learn how to beat these tactics using Tom's secret weapon, CamelCamelCamel.com, a website that exposes inflated 'starting' prices. They also explore the strange side effects of the holiday shopping spree, including the "Brown Friday" phenomenon and the rise of "drunk shopping." Stop letting psychological tactics cost your company and apply these consumer defense strategies to your procurement playbook today.

#BlackFriday2025 #CyberMonday #PriceAnchoring #ProcurementStrategy #NegotiationTactics #SupplierNegotiation #CamelCamelCamel #PsychologyOfBuying #B2Bprocurement #CostReduction #ProcurementPlaybook #BrownFriday #RebuildProcurementPodcast #TomFinn #AlanVeeck

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Is the dirty data excuse killing your procurement analytics initiatives? Tom Finn and Alan Veeck provide a simple, executable 4-step roadmap for any procurement team to clean dirty data and get more value out of their analytics. Learn why you should start small with your dirtiest spend data and use an 80/20 approach to drive immediate, measurable savings. Learn the vital difference between a data governance team and a team focused on quick wins that generates budget for future resources. Stop over-scoping and start conquering the biggest hills in your data today to build dashboards that truly matter and much more on today's episode of Rebuild Procurement.

#ProcurementAnalytics #BusinessAnalytics #SpendData #DirtyData #ProcurementDashboard #4StepRoadmap #QuickWins #DataGovernance #SourcingProjects #ProcurementStrategy #ExcelAnalytics #CategoryManagement #RebuildProcurementPodcast #TomFinn #AlanVeeck

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Is selling to procurement a numbers game, or a relationship game? In this solo episode, Alan Veeck (the OG in Procurement) reveals his entire sales philosophy, explaining why procurement professionals respect knowledge and trust over aggressive email marketing. Alan dives deep into his Network of 10,000 strategy, detailing exactly how he connects with decision-makers to offer value and build long-term relationships that lead to deals. He shares key lessons from his career (McKinsey, Free Markets, Denali) including the critical importance of having an internal champion in every major sale. Whether you're a buyer selling an idea to your CFO or a vendor selling managed services, Alan's "soft sales" playbook is the only one that truly works in this industry.

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Is AI a threat or the ultimate tool? Alan challenges Tom's bold claims about the immediate, seismic shift of AI in procurement. Tom reveals the powerful AI add-on that can instantly turn your ugliest, most complex Excel spreadsheets into clean, formula-driven dashboards—a true game-changer for any analyst. They also explore the darker side: how AI is rapidly deteriorating the job of Human Resources and what that means for your future job prospects in procurement. Stop treating AI like a distant technology; this episode shows you exactly how to integrate it into your daily analysis to become an AI-powered procurement professional today.

#AIfinance #AIProcurement #ExcelAI #PromptEngineering #ProcurementAnalytics #AITools #FutureOfWork #ProcurementJobs #AIforBusiness #DataAnalysis #ChatGPTforExcel #ProcurementTechnology #RebuildProcurementPodcast #TomFinn #AlanVeeck

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Ready to tear up your outdated sourcing playbook? Alan and Tom dive back into the mind of Elon Musk to uncover four critical business drivers that demand continuous improvement from procurement. They challenge the status quo, asking why so many teams are still using a slow 9-step sourcing process when Musk's principles demand a rapid 4-step approach instead. Discover the power of questioning your requirements and why breaking down every process to its fundamental pieces is the only way to succeed. This episode reveals that continuous improvement isn't just a mantra—it's the compounding key to becoming a kick-ass sourcing professional.

#ElonMusk #ProcurementStrategy #SourcingProcess #ContinuousImprovement #ProcessSimplification #MuskRules #4StepSourcing #ProcurementPlaybook #LeanProcurement #CostReduction #CategoryManagement #SupplyChainManagement #ProcurementTraining #ElonMuskBusiness #RebuildProcurementPodcast #TomFinn #AlanVeeck

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