Inventory Management

Even with high levels of inflation and a recession predicted to bear down on us in 2023, consumers are eyeing this holiday season with eagerness — they’re ready and willing to splurge on holiday spending this year, according to a recent McKinsey report. Since this might be the last good time for retailers to cash in…

Recent headlines make excess inventory at major retailers sound like an issue that leadership should’ve seen coming. The reality, as is often the case with the headlines, is far more nuanced. There are many reasons at play for the excess of inventory, ranging from diminishing customer demand as COVID-19 restrictions ended and people shifted their…

What do changing customer behaviors, supply chain disruptions and cold weather have in common? They all greatly impact order management. With all three factors converging during the next few months, managing seasonal inventory can prove to be a major challenge for retailers. In a recent report about the 2022 holiday season, McKinsey shared that “consumer…

Today’s retailers are facing an urgent need to better understand customer behaviors. This holiday season, listening to what consumers want and need will be vital to predicting their purchasing decisions and ensuring your inventory is not under- or overstocked. However, many supply chain leaders are still relying on their instincts rather than the newest data.…

The retail industry has struggled to cope with the unprecedented changes in the last few years spurred by the pandemic, leading to a scarcity of goods and overstocking in many cases. Additionally, snarls in supply chains resulted in bulk purchases until inflation changed consumer shopping patterns. Failure to identify and forecast changes resulted in excess…

Retail warehouse space during the holiday season is absolutely essential. The busiest time of the year typically sees retailers increase their inventory three to four times normal just to meet consumer demand. This year’s inventory glut created a tricky situation for the retail market. U.S. retailers saw a record $732 billion of inventory in 2022,…

The last three holiday seasons have each been unique as the pandemic first roiled consumer behavior and then unleashed pent-up demand, all the while playing havoc with the economy. This year, with inflation rising and discretionary spending squeezed, retailers are already preparing for a slower holiday shopping season, and a new set of challenging dilemmas.…

With prolonged inflation, hiked interest rates, and an economic downturn, it's no wonder consumers are feeling an increased amount of stress when making purchases or buying services. And with the holiday season upon us, many are rethinking their spending habits even more than they already were. In fact, 60 percent of consumers say their priorities keep changing…

Black Friday sales are anticipated to continue their upward trajectory, as retailers capitalize on the opportunity to preserve market share early in the holiday season and shoppers still strongly resonate with bargain pricing. Having established itself as the traditional beginning of the holiday shopping season, despite recent trends to shift spending earlier in the cycle,…

Brands and retailers have never seen anything like this — rapidly changing consumer preferences, ongoing supply chain disruptions, an influx of inventory for some, all under the cloud of a looming recession. Anticipating consumer behavior in this market is challenging. And being able to get what you need when you need it is complex, which…