Supply Chain

The chief executives of seven top clothing companies, including Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), Gap, and Adidas, are calling on governments to agree to a strong climate change deal, saying they fear global warming will drive up their costs. Almost 200 nations are meeting in Paris until Dec. 11, trying to work out a deal to…

Rising freight costs — which have leaped by 14 percent since 2013 — are robbing retailers of the savings they’ve made in other links in their supply chains, a new survey from The Boston Consultancy Group (BCG) and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) finds. As small to midsized retailers struggle against this rising tide of…

Business executives from global clothing giants H&M, Inditex and Gap have canceled trips to Dhaka this month after the killings of two foreigners, industry sources said, causing anxiety for Bangladesh's $25 billion garment export sector. Bangladeshi suppliers to the world's top brands said they didn't expect the disruptions to hurt their orders for the year-end Christmas…

Suppliers of everything from groceries to sports equipment are already being squeezed for price cuts and cost sharing by Wal-Mart Stores. Now they're bracing for the pressure to ratchet up even more after a shock earnings warning from the retailer last week. The discount store behemoth has always had a reputation for demanding lower prices from…

Like those first-day outfits or that must-have laptop, “omnichannel” is a hot commodity in retail. As retailers look to create a unified selling front to consumers whether they're in-store, online or on their smartphone, they must simultaneously reinvent their supply chains, which have historically been optimized for brick-and-mortar. To capitalize on the combination of back…

H&M, Europe’s second-largest clothing retailer, is rolling out a more generous compensation program for its Asian suppliers to improve factory conditions and combat unrest in the countries that produce the majority of its apparel. The Swedish retailer, which has 3,649 stores across 59 markets, is introducing a “fair wage method” to 68 factories in China, Cambodia…

The world’s largest retailer has put suppliers on notice: Pay attention to the little things before they become big problems. Wal-Mart last week sent out a memo to hundreds of suppliers, from Kraft Heinz Co. to Nestlé SA, warning them to comply with labeling laws, emphasizing that the amount inside a package matches what's printed on…

This spring, Target made the strategic decision to integrate clothing designer Lilly Pulitzer into its array of product offerings. Within half an hour, the preppy, chic floral prints were completely sold out — signifying both success and opportunity. Before its collaboration with Lily Pulitzer, it can be assumed that Target researched its audience, understanding that…

Today’s retailers are faced with major challenges. They need to offer the most advanced and savvy products, get those products into the hands of customers as quickly and as cost effectively as possible, and meet demand and keep shelves stocked. Due to technological advancements, high consumer expectations and the lightning-quick pace of the retail industry,…

Investors might appreciate it more if Burlington Stores just said, “we blew it, and it won’t happen again,” rather than blaming “receipt flow issues” related to the timing of Easter for disappointing sales. The discount retailer’s stock tumbled 8.4 percent Tuesday, suffering the biggest one-day percentage selloff since the company went public on Oct. 2,…