Apparel

Balancing Cost and Customer Expectations for Profitable Apparel Returns

February 18, 2015

Analyst Insight: Online retailers must make the returns process convenient for their customers which, in turn, increases the amount of product returned. But every company must find a balance between cost and customer expectations. Should you encourage customers to return products to the store? To the DC? To a 3PL? The answer depends on your brand, culture, infrastructure and average unit price. – Bruce Baring and Jason Denmon, Apparel Industry Leaders, Fortna Inc.

German Clothing Retailer Uses RFID to Monitor Products Throughout Supply Chain

February 3, 2015

RFID Journal

German casual apparel company Marc O'Polo has adopted a radio frequency identification solution to track its products across the entire supply chain, from its distribution center to 86 of its stores throughout Europe. The company finished installing the system at all 87 sites by September 2014, and is now expanding the deployment to include the tagging of products by manufacturers, thereby enabling the retailer to track its merchandise from the point at which they are made.

Social Media, the Supply Chain and How to Tackle Fast Fashion

January 26, 2015

Bob McKee, Industry Strategy Direction, Fashion, Infor

The holiday season has come to a close, but fashion brands and retailers are still faced with opportunities and challenges after the holiday gift rush. Social media can dramatically increase demand for particular styles and items within minutes or hours (think Pinterest or Instagram).

With Acquisition of SDI Group, Dematic Expands Clout in Order Fulfillment

January 22, 2015

Dematic

Dematic Group, a supplier of integrated automated technology, software and services to optimize the supply chain, has acquired FSU Investments Limited, which holds a majority stake in SDI Group, a supplier of garment-on-hanger and flat sorter technology in Europe. Dematic intends to make an offer for the remaining share capital. The purchase of SDI Group Europe will expand Dematic's global order fulfillment offerings in apparel, retail and e-commerce markets.

Clothes Manufacturing Returns to U.S., But Industry Model Is Quite Different This Time

January 21, 2015

Apparel

A push to reshore apparel manufacturing and technical skills is steadily taking hold in the United States. Industry organizations, as well as academe and suppliers, are identifying areas for job creation, inventing new ways to think about apparel production and building incubators that nurture a budding apparel workforce via expert tutelage and business advice.

How to Battle Counterfeits and Global IP Theft

January 16, 2015

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Call it the dark side of international commerce: fakes, frauds and thought thieves. Time to take action.

Happy New Year. Are You Ready for the Sharing Economy?

January 5, 2015

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

The future of commerce in products and services lies in sharing. Is that a good thing?

The Practical Approach to S&OP

December 22, 2014

Logility

Benefits of RFID Technology to Apparel Industry Are Many, and ROI Is Assured

December 22, 2014

ChainLink Research

RFID retail inventory management can deliver benefits for most apparel retailers now. The basic handheld solution is not hard to understand, delivers real ROI and has a relatively low investment hurdle. Yes, employee training and compliance is a headache, but this is true for many jobs in retail, and it does not change the fact that significant sales uplift is not only possible, but typical.

Holiday Retail Madness: Who Will Pay for 'Free' Shipping?

December 22, 2014

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

There was a time, not too long ago, when retail industry analysts were predicting that online merchandisers would soon stop offering free shipping on orders. How wrong they were.

Apparel

The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the apparel industry — which consists of companies that manufacture clothing, accessories and footwear. Learn how apparel companies and their suppliers around the world are managing the flow of products across all channels of the enterprise. Experts sound off on forecasting and demand planning, supply-chain visibility, logistics outsourcing, inventory optimization, transportation management, warehouse management, supply-chain security, corporate social responsibility and more.