supply-chains Archives - VM Unleashed

“Meet your wardrobe of 2028!” – It has more Second-hand than Fast-fashion

“Meet your wardrobe of 2028!” – It has more Second-hand than Fast-fashion I love this chart! It was produced using Globaldata research and is now 5 years old. It predicts what types of retailer our fashion wardrobe will be bought from in 5 years-time, in 2028. What an appropriate time to revisit it, mid-way through the prediction timeframe, particularly because what it envisaged for clothing is largely unfolding before our-

“You Reap what you Sew!” – Do Boohoo’s woes signal the end of lazy fashion?

“You Reap what you Sew!” – Do Boohoo’s woes signal the end of lazy fashion? Extraordinary revelations from the house of Boohoo, the extreme, low-priced, pureplay, fast-fashion retailer. Amidst falling revenues, it has decreed to its suppliers that they should accept a 10% reduction in their fees for orders that are still in production. As one angry supplier confirmed. ”This is major self-harm. They are struggling to find suppliers and-

The ‘Passion Supply Chain’ delivering customer engagement and commercial retail success.

The ‘Passion Supply Chain’ delivering customer engagement and commercial retail success. The fundamental purpose of any retailer is to bring together a physical customer and a physical product, irrespective of whether the sale is made in a physical shop or online. A successful supply chain is therefore a pre-requisite for any retail business. However, managing the ‘beast’ of the supply chain to ensure customers and their products are ultimately in-

Time for consumer brands to find their ‘Meaning in the Retail Madness.’

Time for consumer retail brands to find their ‘Meaning in the Retail Madness.’ It would be fair to say that the retail industry has lost its way over recent years. In my own work, I have become increasingly disillusioned with the strategies and operational practices of businesses that have grown to ‘love volumes over value’ and ‘buying efficiencies over retail excellence.’ There has been an over-obsession with technology, and the-

Retailers walking ‘the Tight rope of Trust’ in their quest for customer loyalty.

Retailers walking ‘the Tight rope of Trust’ in their quest for customer loyalty. Interesting to hear that Frasers, which has evolved out of the Sports Direct brand, is planning to launch a loyalty club and subscription. It hopes to emulate the likes of Amazon Prime. Amazon has an enviable stable of content and benefits that make the annual Prime membership of $100 or so good value, from low prices, huge-

The ‘Passion Supply Chain’ delivering customer engagement and commercial success.

The fundamental purpose of any retailer is to bring together a physical customer and a physical product, irrespective of whether the sale is made in a physical shop or online. A successful supply chain is therefore a pre-requisite for any retail business. However, managing the ‘beast’ of the supply chain to ensure customers and their products are ultimately in the same place, at the same time, is not going to-

eBay: First to sell the new story of second-hand

Once again, I find myself agreeing with Murray Lambell, UK general manager at eBay. Not only with his words and insights, but with the actions that eBay are taking towards operating and flourishing in a better and more sustainable retail future. Last year eBay promoted only re-sell products for Black Friday, opened a Luxury Exchange to verify and facilitate the sale of second-hand designer accessories, and they also sponsored Love Island providing-

Charity Super.Mkt: ‘Cometh the hour, cometh the people!’

Followers of sustainable fashion cannot have avoided the opening of the first multi-charity department store, at the Brent Cross shopping centre, in North London. Ten charities are represented in the store, including Age UK, Cancer Research, Shelter and Traid. It has opened to much fanfare in a former TopShop unit and is not just remarkable in terms of its size and collaborations, but in the fact that Brent Cross is-

How ‘Passion Supply Chains’ enable Local Independent Retailers to compete commercially and win!

I’m often asked how small independent retailers can compete against the scale efficiencies and operational expertise of larger chains. There are in fact, many ways, but always my first answer is about being authentic, about generating a unique passion. That ‘passion’ must be genuine. It needs to be engaging and infectious. And that can only be a reality if the owner and the colleagues take an active interest in the-

Invisible Technologies that turn ‘Product Graveyards’ into ‘Perpetual Distribution Centres!”

In the annual debate about the best use of retail technology budgets, heads are often turned by the ‘sexier’, and highly visible software solutions that enhance the visual interface and the customer experience. The rise of pureplay, the need for graphic stimulation, digital interaction, and brand immersion, all catapulted augmented and virtual reality to the top of IT director shopping lists. They are of course equally amazing and important. But-