In October 2004 Ji and a purchasing director flew to Shanghai to line up orders for Wal-Mart in time for Thanksgiving weekend.

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"They e-mail and fax us lists of parts and say, 'Help us get rid of this stuff, ' " says Donald Pensack, Supergo's purchasing director.

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Kent Swan, purchasing director in the U.S. for Symrise, the fourth-largest flavor and fragrance company in the world, says if Allylix's products are priced at 30% below the current flavors, he'll be very interested.

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But Patrick Hynes, senior director of purchasing at Darden, changed his mind after Bassoul paid a visit.

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Penso finance director Richard Owen, said purchasing the factory at Woodhams Road would allow it to modify the plant in a way it was not able to do as a tenant.

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In an interview years ago, Whit Stillman, arguably the greatest modern director of films sadly never seen by most Americans, was asked about purchasing an apartment in New York City.

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As it stands, searching for and purchasing tickets is a process not generally conducted through mobile tech, but that is changing, SeatGeek Communications Director Will Flaherty said.

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