Inventory Management

While an inventory management process will — and should — evolve over time, you can lay the groundwork for a successful strategy that matures alongside your business. In discussing inventory management challenges with our customers, I’ve learned how consideration and evaluation of the following practices may help your operation avoid common pitfalls while keeping your business on track.

In episode 133 of Total Retail Talks, recorded earlier this year at the National Retail Federation's Big Show in New York City, Aaron Sanandres, co-founder and CEO of UNTUCKit, a retailer of casual men's shirts designed to be worn untucked, and Keith Sherry, chief operating officer, SATO Global Solutions, a global barcode and RFID technology…

“What decisions can technology manage better than humans?” should be the question that drives your internal operational process. For example, is there a way to automate internally transferring inventory already in your supply chain to locations in need? What about building orders to supplier minimums or logistics constraints? Can allocation of insufficient quantities be taken…

Traditional retailers are under tremendous pressure from online and other forces. But how bad is it? And what can retailers do to remain competitive? Formerly successful retailers like Borders, Aeropostale, RadioShack and Payless Shoes have gone bankrupt under the online onslaught. Just recently, the “category killer” Toys"R"Us filed for bankruptcy. While other retailers are keeping…

Don’t miss this webinar to learn how to protect your business from costly overstocks, out-of-stocks and returns.

Wal-Mart will require suppliers to deliver more goods to warehouses exactly on time or face fines, another step in the retailer’s efforts to keep inventory low and shelves stocked as it battles with Amazon.com. More specifically, Wal-Mart executives plan to announce at an annual conference this week that large suppliers fulfill orders within a specified one- or two-day…

With a unified view of its data, IWA has been able to segment and target customers with personalized marketing campaigns

For independent retailers, it can sometimes be helpful to look at how big-name brands and companies are doing in the marketplace to better gauge where your brand stands. Don’t worry, independent retailers can’t really compare themselves to these big players, but they can use them as a litmus test of how the market is shifting…

J.C. Penney announced last week that it has eliminated the position of chief merchant. The move was made to streamline decision making and promote greater agility within its merchandise buying teams. John Tighe, current chief merchant, will be leaving the company to pursue other opportunities and will not be replaced. All senior merchandising executives will…

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said last week it's rolling out shelf-scanning robots in more than 50 U.S. stores next year, to replenish inventory faster and save employees’ time when products run out. While Wal-Mart has been testing shelf-scanning robots in stores in Arkansas, Pennsylvania and California for the past three years, by the end of January,…