Get A Better Paper Deal

"There was once this time-sensitive job," he recalls. "We order the paper. We're promised it would be here the next day, and when it doesn't arrive we have to go into scramble mode."

Bundsgaard has to be sure he can depend on his paper suppliers, especially considering he orders up to $500,000 worth of stock each year—a sizable chunk of the 39-employee in-plant's $4 million purchasing budget. Still, he keeps pretty calm when it comes to shelling out the dough for paper.