Harry & David Gets Hungrier

“We’re not immune to the sales trends in the industry,” he points out. In fact, outside the gift season, Harry & David faces greater pressures during its slow periods than other catalog/multichannel merchants have to deal with, particularly apparel marketers.

12-Month Forecast
With more than 80 percent of the products offered in the direct (catalog/Internet) arm of its business grown (i.e., pears in the orchards) or baked in-house, Harry & David naturally has a keen interest in the weather. This manifests itself on two fronts: at its headquarters in Medford, Ore., where the fruit orchards are located, and nationally, for the distribution of its products. On-time delivery is particularly vital to Harry & David because the majority of its products are perishable food items.