Idustry Eye: Shop Talk - Understanding Postal, Letter to the Editor

It’s been our view for many years now that inventory is the cancer within the fragmented industry of gift and home décor. These difficult times have made it even more challenging to walk the inventory tightrope.

The inventory dilemma brings to light the need for companies within industry segments to work together. Manufacturers, vendors and retailers can no longer expect to thrive by doing their job better than their opposition. Successful businesses must partner with others to mitigate risks and capitalize on strengths. These partnerships have to span vertically and horizontally — with friends and competitors. This is very much at the center of a new buzzword making its way into our marketing environment: coopertition.