Inventory

Several Amazon.com sellers are concerned over a recent policy change, CNBC reported. The policy is meant to help the e-commerce giant save space in its warehouses as it faces a pandemic-fueled surge in online orders alongside the usual peak holiday shopping season. In August, Amazon announced it would be enforcing stricter quantity limits on shipments from…

We’re already getting super hyped for the holiday season. From delicate snowfalls to generous gift-giving to spending time with family and loved ones, it really is the most wonderful time of the year. If you work in retail, however, the holiday season can mean something very different. Many boutique owners find themselves busier than ever…

For years the retail industry has experienced significant transformation in order to keep up with consumer demands and expectations, and while some have found success, others haven’t been nearly as lucky. Amidst a world-altering pandemic, however, the entire industry has been challenged in unexpected ways. Issues surrounding everything from operations, sourcing, supply chain, fulfillment, supply/demand,…

Look at how a robust software solution identifies stores in greatest need of a visit and “prescribes” actions for store operations.

Managing spend is a tall order for retailers today. As the workforce grows more geographically distributed, and as employees increasingly drive business spending from the bottom up, it's harder to track cash flow across multiple touchpoints — from sourcing and manufacturing to advertising and employee supplies. COVID-19 has intensified these issues, forcing retailers to make…

Long before algorithms, machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and even computers, retailers have depended upon demand planning principles to stay in business. Demand planning is the foundation for resetting retail. Fortunately, retailers can now use demand planning powered by AI and ML. It can help retail chains maximize profit even in times of external…

In episode 264 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Dana Zumbo, business development manager at Zappos Adaptive, a division of Zappos that carries a wide range of adaptive clothing and shoes with unique features to fit a variety of needs. Listen as Zumbo discusses why Zappos launched its Adaptive program, how the initiative was sparked…

It’s a question worth discussing as the unprecedented pandemic continues to strain the retail industry. Take, for example, TJX, the parent company of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, which reported first quarter net losses exceeding $887 million after closing all of its stores and distribution centers over a two-month span in compliance with statewide lockdowns.…

At the onset of COVID-19, out-of-stocks plagued retailers. Their immense impact was amplified by the "Bullwhip Effect" to create tsunami-like waves in demand from retailers to brands and on to their suppliers. The vicious cycle of hoarding and resulting out-of-stocks fueling further hoarding forced brands to look beyond point-of-sale (POS) data as their ultimate demand…

As the calendar turns toward September, shorts, shirts and swimsuits must make way for sweaters and slacks in retail stockrooms. But with consumers everywhere staying home, some retailers’ inventories may be bursting at the seams with backlogged products. Whether they’ve slowed their buying to keep balance sheets in check or are simply reaching the end…