Inventory Management

Whipsawed by supply chain volatility and the massive overordering that resulted when retailers placed bigger bets on stock, the retail ecosystem has absorbed some harsh inventory blows over the past two years. Heading into the 2022 holiday season, an estimated $66 billion in unwanted surplus inventory sat on retailers’ shelves. But there’s hope. As retailers…

Consumers are tightening budgets in preparation for a softer economy, shifting how often they shop and what they shop for in effort to maximize their spending power. Pair this shift with financial market instability, ongoing supply chain pressures, and the continued need for an elevated omnichannel shopping experience, and it’s no wonder retailers are looking…

Despite sales performing solidly, the retail industry continues to keep up a heady pace of evolution. Retailers are constantly seeking out new technologies to optimize and future-proof their operations as well as to improve efficiency. One area where technology is making a significant impact is in the realm of inventory management. One such technology that…

In episode 390 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Bryan Anastasi, vice president of customer care and business solutions at Raymour & Flanigan, the largest furniture and mattress retailer in the Northeast and seventh largest nationwide. Anastasi provides an overview of the Raymour & Flanigan business (1:00), his role with the organization (1:40), and to what he…

We're increasingly living in a world driven by technology, with new services and new applications appearing almost on a daily basis. It’s new, it’s the latest thing, it must be good, we need it ... right? Wrong. In the rush to be seen to be deploying the latest technology, there's a risk of losing sight…

Ever since Josiah Wedgwood first marketed high-end china in the 18th century by seeking the sheen of associating with royalty, brands have sought celebrity endorsements to elevate their products in the public’s eye. But along with the reward of celebrity association comes risk, a lesson once again delivered in 2022 when major consumer brands found…

The last two years have been a roller coaster for fashion brands. The supply chain disruptions of 2021 led to many merchants struggling to get their hands on enough inventory, and then overbuying to compensate. Now, with an economic downturn looming and the threat of reduced spending increasing, retailers that overstocked during the pandemic are…

It’s no secret that today’s retail margins are under intense pressure. They’ve been cut dramatically over the past decade, exacerbated by intense competition, higher fulfillment costs, and higher return rates. Furthermore, consumer behaviors and preference are rapidly changing and retailers are trying to adapt. In CommerceNext’s 2022 Digital Trends and Investment Priorities Report, 57 percent…

In this webinar attendees will hear real-world insights from retail executives on how their businesses are approaching 2023.

2022 was a tough year for retailers and e-commerce sellers. With supply chain snarls around the globe, they’ve struggled to get the products they need. Now that those snarls are easing and products are flowing, sellers face diminishing consumer demand, which poses the threat of inventory sitting around unsold. In a survey of retail executives…