Inventory Management

Post-Season Back-to-School Inventory Tips
October 7, 2016 at 1:24 pm

With the back-to-school (BTS) shopping season over and retailers shifting their attention to the all-important holiday selling season, it begs the question: What can retailers do after the BTS cycle is over to set up stores for a successful end-of-year push? Priority No. 1 for all retailers is to move BTS inventory out of the…

Tips for Shifting From Back-to-School to the Holiday Season
October 4, 2016 at 11:40 am

In a previous article, I reviewed inventory management strategies that retailers can implement after the back-to-school (BTS) season to help make room for the holiday product line. Now I'll focus on the opportunities retailers have to incorporate learnings from the BTS shopping cycle into the critical holiday season. BTS activity serves as an excellent testing ground…

How Ulta Makes Omnichannel Beautiful
September 30, 2016 at 12:07 pm

In a struggling retail industry, Ulta Beauty is a bright spot. The cosmetics and beauty products retail chain reported sales increased 21 percent last year, profits were up 24.5 percent and it opened 100 new stores. That positive momentum has continued in 2016, with sales up 23 percent year to date, net income up 29…

4 Reasons Choosing the Right Barcode Scanner Battery is Critical to Success
June 21, 2016 at 9:38 am

Every area of retail operations is vital to the success of the business. Although it might seem as if there are grand differences between them, the reality is they all share one element: the barcode scanner. From inventory control to shrinkage prevention, the barcode scanner is a central tool in any retail environment. Not surprisingly,…

Prepare Your Supply Chain for Predictive Analytics
June 1, 2016 at 10:57 am

The ability to collect and harness data is a key opportunity for retailers that want to truly enable a consumer-centric supply chain. According to a recent Boston Retail Partners study, 62 percent of retailers named customer identification and personalization of customer experience among their top three customer engagement priorities, more than any other initiative. However,…

Why Planning Systems Must Be Priority for Retailers
May 11, 2016 at 8:55 am

It’s no surprise to learn that retailers are in a rapid investment period in terms of IT systems. Historically slow to invest in technology, retailers are now playing catchup in an arena that punishes slow-movers. A retail CIO is faced with the daunting challenge of solving a myriad of complex issues fast, including: delivering the…

Websites: The New Inventory and Product Locators
May 10, 2016 at 9:07 am

We’ve all been there — going online to see if a specific piece of merchandise is currently available at a particular retail store, before taking the time to drive to said store or calling the store directly. If the online site shows that a product isn't currently available at that store (or the store location…