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We make a great deal of assumptions in retail operations about how effective our associates are performing, responding to the needs of the business, and complying with company policies and procedures. Assumptions are often made that business is progressing as … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Reverse Logistics
The Fallacy of Same Store Sales
Today, Wall Street investors use same store sales as an indicator of the viability and investment potential of a retailer. By analyzing how well existing stores perform during a particular month or quarter compared to that same time period in … Continue reading
Build versus buy: approaching an age old question
You’ve probably heard the 80/20 rule applied to the build versus buy decision: “If you can get 80% of the functionality you need from a packaged solution, then buy it. Otherwise, build it.” At least two decades ago, if not … Continue reading
Exception Based Reporting (EBR) is DEAD
After implementing supply chain and inventory management solutions with manufacturers and retailers for over 16 years, I have come to realize that there are several issues that highlight the archaic approach of exception based reporting (EBR) solutions. Fundamentally, the legacy … Continue reading
Alleviating Commodity Price Pressures with Profit Amplification
The costs of basic commodities have a far-reaching impact – beyond cost impact of buying personal staples. In 2011 we have seen extreme fluctuation in the prices of commodities and the resulting impact on the retail marketplace. Higher food/retail commodity … Continue reading
Gloomy Forecasts Intensify the Need for Profit Amplification
Earlier this month, I was at Goldman Sachs’ Retail conference in NYC and I heard the same message multiple times from retailers of all sizes. They said that the market pressures of today’s retail environment indicate at least a “softening” … Continue reading
Expecting the Unexpected – The Impact of Disasters on Retailer Profits
The impact of man-made and natural disaster situations is not often foreseeable, as their unexpected nature is the only consistent factor. And while the financial impact of physical destruction is always an issue, the hidden cost is frequently the impact … Continue reading
Retail Goes Back to School – Profit 101
The Back-to-School shopping season is the second biggest retail period of the year, and during this busy season, it is crucial for retailers to maximize profit opportunities. However, in a stagnant economy, growth by traditional means, such as increased sales … Continue reading
Culture vs Technology in the Fight against Retail Shrink
The industry-wide affliction generously referred to as “shrink” seems destined to remain a permanent financial headache for retailers. Typical shrink/loss rates of 1-2% may sound insignificant to those outside the industry, but these percentages mean that U.S. retailers stand to … Continue reading
“Only You Can Amplify Profits” – Employees play a key role in margin growth
Retail corporate managers often see only two traditional avenues for improving their profit margins. One is to seek economies of scale through organic growth – add stores to drive up sales volume. The second is to try to cut overhead … Continue reading