Articles
Retail
Back to the Future: Deconstructing Processes and Reconstructing Roles in an AI-native Supply Chain
Everything old is new again. It has become a common refrain as digital transformation wends its way through consumer supply chains. Take the path to purchase, for example. Recommerce is returning to vogue as consumers value more sustainable and economical options. Cost-conscious shoppers are also turning to generic, private label brands, eschewing the premiumization fad that consumed CPG for much of the early 2000s.
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Real-Time Sales Data: The Missing Link
Despite progress in supply chain digitization, automation, and AI, one gap undermines sales efficiency: real-time sales data sharing between retailers and suppliers. This disconnect creates forecasting challenges, burdens inventory systems, and slows responsiveness at a time when speed and agility are critical for competitiveness.
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Ecommerce Fulfillment: 7 Pitfalls to Avoid
Seven costly mistakes can slow your shipping and sink customer trust. Here’s how to avoid those errors and build an agile, resilient ecommerce fulfillment operation.
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How Jocko Fuel Manages DTC And Retail Fulfillment at Scale
As a fast-growing sports nutrition brand, Jocko Fuel faced mounting logistics challenges as it expanded from direct-to-consumer (DTC) fulfillment into national retail distribution.
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10 Tips for Optimizing Reverse Logistics
Effective returns management requires a well-planned strategy—from the pre-purchase stage through to the product’s second shelf.
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’Tis the Season to Dodge Folly
Retailers, don’t get hung up on these potential peak season pitfalls and perils.
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Retail Inventory Management: Definition, Importance, and Key Components
Effective retail inventory management is crucial for the success of the retail and logistics sectors. By adopting automated inventory systems, demand forecasting, and supplier relationship management strategies, businesses can maintain optimal inventory levels and improve their inventory turnover ratio.
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Partnering with Customers and Leveraging Data to Boost Health
In May 2023, Kenvue, the company behind iconic brands such as Tylenol and Listerine, spun off from Johnson & Johnson, becoming the world’s largest pure-play consumer health company by revenue. The spinoff also meant Kenvue’s leadership team had to establish strong supply chain operations as a consumer goods company, rather than as part of a pharmaceutical firm.
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Retail Logistics: Definition, Challenges, and Best Practices
Efficient retail logistics is crucial for the success of the retail industry, ensuring that the supply chain runs smoothly and meets customer demand.
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Avoiding Social Media FOMO
Generating speed-of-light word of mouth, social media can trigger demand surges and trip up supply chain strategies for ecommerce retailers. Here are some approaches that work, even if you aren’t ready to livestream shoppable content just yet:
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10 Challenges in Retail Warehousing
Embracing solutions like automated systems and strategic space utilization are essential steps in overcoming warehouse management challenges and enhancing the performance of retail warehouses.
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Taking a Peek at Peak Season
It’s never too early to prepare for the holiday peak season, especially with disruptions mounting amid solid consumer spending. Shippers and carriers are employing automation, data-based decision making, and smart inventory management strategies—and tapping into lessons learned from last year—to get into position for 2024.
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Channel Strategy: Definition, Types, and Tips
Businesses can significantly optimize the customer journey for better retention, meet business objectives, and ensure a successful marketing campaign—all by optimizing various marketing channels.
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Next Year? AI is a Retailer’s Lifeline
Retailers faced a broad array of challenges this past year. What will they face next year? Does it really matter?
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Rethinking Retail Strategies
As a result of retail’s rapid change, retailers need to review existing strategies to fully leverage forward-thinking practices and technology. Identifying those opportunities contributes greatly to revenue, profit improvement, and customer satisfaction.
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VERTICAL FOCUS: Candy Supply Chain
From a global shortage of sugar to cold chain compliance considerations, candy companies overcome supply chain challenges to hit the sweet spot for consumers.
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VERTICAL FOCUS: Sports & Recreation
The sports and leisure equipment market is projected to register a compound annual growth rate of 4.5% over the next five years.
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Back-to-School Report Card
With increased demand for electronics boosting consumer spending, retailers are gearing up for a packed back-to-school shopping season. So far the 2023 cycle is earning high marks:
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5 Trends to Watch As We Sail Into Peak Season
As shippers approach what is historically retail peak season, understanding the evolving ocean market will be critical to maintaining a resilient supply chain for the long term. Here are five key trends to watch as the ocean market evolves.
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Embracing the System
Ramesh Murthy is executive vice president and chief supply chain officer with Bob’s Discount Furniture, a rapidly growing omnichannel furniture retailer, with 164 stores across 24 states.
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