Inventory Management

Wal-Mart to Fine Suppliers for Late Deliveries
January 31, 2018 at 1:27 pm

Wal-Mart will require suppliers to deliver more goods to warehouses exactly on time or face fines, another step in the retailer’s efforts to keep inventory low and shelves stocked as it battles with Amazon.com. More specifically, Wal-Mart executives plan to announce at an annual conference this week that large suppliers fulfill orders within a specified one- or two-day…

Avoiding the ‘Nike Problem’ of Excess Inventory
January 14, 2018 at 10:31 am

For independent retailers, it can sometimes be helpful to look at how big-name brands and companies are doing in the marketplace to better gauge where your brand stands. Don’t worry, independent retailers can’t really compare themselves to these big players, but they can use them as a litmus test of how the market is shifting…

J.C. Penney Eliminates Chief Merchant Role
November 6, 2017 at 10:51 am

J.C. Penney announced last week that it has eliminated the position of chief merchant. The move was made to streamline decision making and promote greater agility within its merchandise buying teams. John Tighe, current chief merchant, will be leaving the company to pursue other opportunities and will not be replaced. All senior merchandising executives will…

Wal-Mart Adding Shelf-Scanning Robots to 50 Stores
October 30, 2017 at 11:47 am

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said last week it's rolling out shelf-scanning robots in more than 50 U.S. stores next year, to replenish inventory faster and save employees’ time when products run out. While Wal-Mart has been testing shelf-scanning robots in stores in Arkansas, Pennsylvania and California for the past three years, by the end of January,…

Online Retailers’ New Best Prospect? The Post-Purchase Customer
October 24, 2017 at 8:46 pm

Most retailers put a lot of time and effort into attracting new customers. It makes sense: you need customers to buy your products and sustain your business. However, generating more sales from existing customers is a more efficient, less expensive way to grow. The probability of selling to an existing customer is 60 percent to…

RFID Puts the Clicks in Bricks
October 19, 2017 at 9:42 am

Retailers are responding rapidly to the shift from in-store sales to online sales by spending considerable time and financial resources on improving their integrated omnichannel customer experiences. These tools enable consumers to view, research and purchase products across all available sales channels. They also allow retailers to capture, manage and shape customer purchasing behavior. Retailers…

Toys"R"Us Vendors Cut Shipments on Bankruptcy Fear
September 15, 2017 at 10:36 am

Some suppliers to Toys“R”Us have scaled back shipments to the retailer as it struggles to refinance debt and avoid a potential bankruptcy filing, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The vendors are balking as Toys“R”Us continues talks with lenders over a new loan that would allow the retailer to stay open while it works…