There are few things more damaging to a retailer than aging inventory. For seasonal items, the clock starts ticking as soon as the order is placed. The challenge: to sell it all before – and only just before – demand runs out. It is common to err on the side of caution; ordering excess stock
Consumers care about sustainability, and this is leading to more ethically conscious purchasing decisions. However, in contrast to this, many companies are still behaving in the same way as they have for decades. A surprising number of them still use ‘old practices’ to manage their inventory and supply processes. They lean heavily on squeezing as
The implementation of a responsive supply chain is a goal that many retailers and brands want to realize. Responsive supply promises a much more effective and efficient way of moving stock to where it is demanded, ensuring the best possible financial result. Today, smart technologies and purpose-built software means that this longstanding dream has
Until now, merchandising and retail have been reliant on tradition-based and outdated practices, resulting in common industry failures, and being unable to adopt new processes and ideas. While many companies acknowledge the need for change, they don’t know where to start. All of this points towards a merchandising revolution. The first area where change is
Some of the biggest brands in Fashion and Sportswear today are proudly ‘focusing on the consumer’ and offering Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) initiatives of increasing depth and breadth. Brands that have succeeded in executing this kind of strategy have benefited from additional margins and a much closer relationship with their ideal customers. D2C gives brands the ability
While enthusiasm about business models such as D2C (Direct-To-Consumer) is easy to find, there are numerous ways that multi-brand retailers can continue to retain a vital role in the market. They are able to provide irreplaceable value to the consumer, and the brands they come to buy. Some ways that multi-brand retailers offer irreplaceable value:
The concept of eCommerce is not new, as it has been an established way of buying and selling goods through an online or digital environment. This could include all usage of any digital or electronic trading channels and platforms to buy and sell. It is important to mention that we shouldn’t limit the definition to
What is D2C and how does this model work? Some of the biggest brands in Fashion and Sportswear today are proudly ‘focusing on the consumer’ and offering Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) initiatives of increasing depth and breadth. Brands that have succeeded in executing this kind of strategy have benefited from additional margins and a much closer relationship
Merchandisers and planners have the difficult task of creating optimised assortments that meet the requirements of our modern retail environment. An optimised assortment seeks to trim-down the selection to the best-selling items, while also giving a deep enough selection to provide for the customer needs. This includes certain ‘unique items’ that customers expect to find
Supply chains are not working the way they should. The habitual, endless pursuit of cost-reduction at the departmental level has led to a supply chain that is not aligned as a whole, and therefore cannot accurately meet demand. To survive, suppliers must resolve to make the right change now to become more effective today, and