Supply Chain

Western Retail Giants Restrict Travel to Bangladesh After Attacks
October 19, 2015 at 11:01 am

Business executives from global clothing giants H&M, Inditex and Gap have canceled trips to Dhaka this month after the killings of two foreigners, industry sources said, causing anxiety for Bangladesh's $25 billion garment export sector. Bangladeshi suppliers to the world's top brands said they didn't expect the disruptions to hurt their orders for the year-end Christmasโ€ฆ

Wal-Mart Puts the Squeeze on Suppliers to Share its Pain as Earnings Sag
October 19, 2015 at 10:55 am

Suppliers of everything from groceries to sports equipment are already being squeezed for price cuts and cost sharing by Wal-Mart Stores. Now they're bracing for the pressure to ratchet up even more after a shock earnings warning from the retailer last week. The discount store behemoth has always had a reputation for demanding lower prices fromโ€ฆ

ABCs of Omnichannel Retailing for Back to School
September 17, 2015 at 11:22 am

Like those first-day outfits or that must-have laptop, โ€œomnichannelโ€ is a hot commodity in retail. As retailers look to create a unified selling front to consumers whether they're in-store, online or on their smartphone, they must simultaneously reinvent their supply chains, which have historically been optimized for brick-and-mortar. To capitalize on the combination of backโ€ฆ

H&M Expands Program to Increase Pay for Asian Factory Workers
September 8, 2015 at 10:07 am

H&M, Europeโ€™s second-largest clothing retailer, is rolling out a more generous compensation program for its Asian suppliers to improve factory conditions and combat unrest in the countries that produce the majority of its apparel. The Swedish retailer, which has 3,649 stores across 59 markets, is introducing a โ€œfair wage methodโ€ to 68 factories in China, Cambodiaโ€ฆ

Wal-Mart Warns its Suppliers Over Labeling
July 29, 2015 at 2:44 pm

The worldโ€™s largest retailer has put suppliers on notice: Pay attention to the little things before they become big problems. Wal-Mart last week sent out a memo to hundreds of suppliers, from Kraft Heinz Co. to Nestlรฉ SA, warning them to comply with labeling laws, emphasizing that the amount inside a package matches what's printed onโ€ฆ

A Snapshot of Fashion Trends Through Social Media Analytics
June 26, 2015 at 3:54 pm

This spring, Target made the strategic decision to integrate clothing designer Lilly Pulitzer into its array of product offerings. Within half an hour, the preppy, chic floral prints were completely sold out โ€” signifying both success and opportunity. Before its collaboration with Lily Pulitzer, it can be assumed that Target researched its audience, understanding thatโ€ฆ

Adapting the Supply Chain for High-Demand Products
June 11, 2015 at 2:52 pm

Todayโ€™s retailers are faced with major challenges. They need to offer the most advanced and savvy products, get those products into the hands of customers as quickly and as cost effectively as possible, and meet demand and keep shelves stocked. Due to technological advancements, high consumer expectations and the lightning-quick pace of the retail industry,โ€ฆ

Burlington Stores Should Just Tell Investors: โ€˜We Blew Itโ€™
June 10, 2015 at 4:32 pm

Investors might appreciate it more if Burlington Stores just said, โ€œwe blew it, and it wonโ€™t happen again,โ€ rather than blaming โ€œreceipt flow issuesโ€ related to the timing of Easter for disappointing sales. The discount retailerโ€™s stock tumbled 8.4 percent Tuesday, suffering the biggest one-day percentage selloff since the company went public on Oct. 2,โ€ฆ

Quicker Delivery, Happier Customers, Increased Revenue
June 2, 2015 at 4:06 pm

Supply chain networks were once invisible to customers, but today that couldn't be further from the truth. When customers aren't happy with delivery times, they will take their business to the competition. This can be prevented with a strong and strategic distribution real estate strategy. Customers who want same-day delivery options shift their loyalty quicklyโ€ฆ