High differentiation
among the products
from suppliers such
as if the supplier has
a strong brand itself
Low presence of substitues
High switching costs for
the customer in the case
of a supplier change
Low significance of the
procurement for the
suppliers, which means
the purchasing volume
from a supplier makes
only a small percentage
of the total revenue
High cost relative
importance of shopping for
the company, either the cost
have a high proportion of
the total cost of the
purchase of the company, or
the starting material has a
high impact on cost or
differentiation position
High concentration of suppliers:
Oligopolistic (or even monopolistic)
market structure at the supplier gives
the company few alternatives to
alternative suppliers and makes it easier
for suppliers to enforce high prices
Low risk of backward integration: The company can not
credibly threaten to even produce the corresponding
precursors (at least less credible than the supplier can threaten
a forward integration)