Inventory

Retailers’ bearings for demand forecasting are now better calibrated than they were just a couple of years ago, although shockwaves from supply chain and distribution disruptions persist in some areas. These challenges create a disconnect between what retailers think is the "new normal" vs. what their actual "new normal" likely is. This dichotomy hinders their ability…

Today’s retailers are facing an urgent need to better understand customer behaviors. This holiday season, listening to what consumers want and need will be vital to predicting their purchasing decisions and ensuring your inventory is not under- or overstocked. However, many supply chain leaders are still relying on their instincts rather than the newest data.…

Retail warehouse space during the holiday season is absolutely essential. The busiest time of the year typically sees retailers increase their inventory three to four times normal just to meet consumer demand. This year’s inventory glut created a tricky situation for the retail market. U.S. retailers saw a record $732 billion of inventory in 2022,…

With prolonged inflation, hiked interest rates, and an economic downturn, it's no wonder consumers are feeling an increased amount of stress when making purchases or buying services. And with the holiday season upon us, many are rethinking their spending habits even more than they already were. In fact, 60 percent of consumers say their priorities keep changing…

Nike reported last week a 44 percent increase in inventory compared to the prior year period, driven by an increase in inventories from ongoing supply chain volatility. As a result, the sportswear brand plans to ramp up discounting and promotions to clear out some of its $9.7 billion in footwear and apparel before the holidays. On…

Product cannibalization is a common topic amongst our retail partners when we discuss assortment expansion via drop-ship and marketplace. There’s a misconception that by surfacing more items online from supplier brand partners it will potentially impact sales of owned inventory in a negative way. In our experience, this is rarely a concern as long as…

Excess inventory. Losing pace with shifts in customer behavior. Erosion of gross margin. Selling on markdowns. Missing forecasts. No time for innovation. What do these have in common? These are the symptoms of a retailer suffering from a lack of speed. Speed to market, that is. If you skim recent headlines, this is what you’ll…

Retail was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic on a foundational level. Unable to open doors to the public and forced to quickly scale up (or even create from scratch) an online business model, the industry had to adapt fast to preserve revenue streams. Now, nearly two years later, the retail landscape has evolved significantly as…

While only a few months ago U.S. retailers were scrambling to fill their shelves due to supply chain delays, many are now facing inventory surpluses and having to discount unsold goods, according to a Reuters report. Average retail inventories have been rising quickly, too. The Reuters article cited research from Citi that found 11 of…

It’s no secret that large e-commerce companies like Amazon.com thrived over the past two years. In a time of high demand and short supply, Amazon was able to provide what people wanted, when they wanted it. The secret is in how it was able to do that when supply chain problems were hitting all companies.…