Inventory
The fashion industry is facing its biggest crisis yet — the COVID-19 pandemic. Spanish fashion group Inditex announced the closure of over 3,800 stores across 39 markets. The group, which owns brands like Zara and Massimo Dutti, saw its sales drop 24 percent in early March. For Neiman Marcus, bankruptcy may be a possible outcome.…
As the consumer mood in the U.S. around the COVID-19 outbreak has quickly shifted from curious to cautionary, retailers have a significant role to play in providing shoppers with a solution. U.S. exposure and response by federal and local governments continue to mount day-by-day, and therefore buying patterns are evolving rapidly as shoppers come to…
Due to the cross-channel behavior of today’s consumers, shifting from channel to channel and device to device in the same purchase journey, retailers and brands are spending more of their technology budgets on systems and solutions that enable omnichannel operations — e.g., order and inventory management systems. At the same time, they've yet to fully…
The retail sector is undergoing tremendous change, with a growing volume of sales shifting to e-commerce sites. But for owners of all types of retail businesses, issues related to cash flow and inventory remain a primary concern. According to an exclusive Kabbage survey of independent retailers, more than 40 percent cite inventory as their largest…
Athletic apparel brand lululemon athletica launched personal care product line Selfcare on Tuesday, reports CNBC. The retailer is expanding outside of its traditional activewear clothing to offer products that target post-workout needs, helping customers freshen up after exercise and get back to their day. Products in the Selfcare line include dry shampoo, deodorant, face moisturizer, and…
Fine-tuning inventory levels to meet changing customer preferences is a constant battle for wholesalers, and today’s fast-moving omnichannel environment is making that calculus even more complex. As they develop their purchasing plans, businesses are facing a bevy of uncertainties: E-commerce now accounts for 10 percent of total retail sales, requiring organizations across nearly every industry…
J. C. Penney announced on Tuesday that it plans to close three stores by the spring as part of an ongoing evaluation of its performance. The retailer didn't report which stores it planned to close, but said it's currently assessing locations that "may not meet required financial targets or represent a market opportunity to capitalize…
Like most other retail leaders, I know that inventory management matters. I knew that even before I started my business or had any experience in the industry. It’s just an obvious necessity for managing a retail business. However, I didn’t truly understand the supreme importance of the practice and the ramifications it could have across…
So, what should retailers do to maximize holiday sales? It all starts by attacking those long lines and out-of-stock complaints.
Retailers need to prioritize their product and pricing strategies to capitalize on the surge in holiday sales and keep loyal customers.