Tips for testing your new ERP before implementation
This time of year, some retailers and suppliers are testing and switching over to new ERPs in preparation for the holiday shopping season. July is probably about the latest you’d want to make a switch like that, as you don’t want to put the busiest time of the year at...
When to switch from distributor to direct-to-consumer retail?
Thanks to the relative ease of e-commerce and marketplaces, many manufacturers, distributors, vendors and suppliers are considering making the jump from simply supplying retailers with products to adding a new sales channel to sell products direct-to-consumer. If they...
Fast Fashion, unpredictable weather impact apparel seasonality
Retail buyers have operated on a fairly long and reasonably static buying calendar for years, without much change. For instance, buying for the early Spring shopping season usually runs from January through March, but the buying for it happened back in August –...
Manufacturers: Watch retail partner health closely
Previously, my SPS colleague Brandon Pierre wrote about how retailers need to involve manufacturers and suppliers in their brick-and-mortar store planning. Even if they don't involve vendors in discussions, they can at least plan around capabilities. Retailers can...
The Science of Retail Success in the Age of Instant Gratification
A fundamental shift in consumer spending is taking place, and as a result, retailers and logistics providers are quickly adapting to provide faster fulfillment services, differentiated product offerings and better overall brand experiences. During “The Science of...
Importance of working with real data, not anecdotes
Thanks to the capabilities of today's analytics, it's possible to make decisions based on real data, real facts and real patterns, rather than relying on anecdotes, subjective observations and gut feelings. Imagine this scenario: a supplier has its products in several...
![5 Defining Attributes of the Post-Omnichannel Era [Infographic]](https://www.spscommerce.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/SPS-5-defning-attributes-Infographic-header-1080x675.png)
5 Defining Attributes of the Post-Omnichannel Era [Infographic]
Over the past 5 years, omnichannel retail has evolved from a new concept into the new normal for what consumers expect from retail. Recent research shows that retail is now moving beyond omnichannel, seeing it not as a standalone project but a strategy that must be...
Do you need to find new vendors?
As part of a year-end or Q4 analysis and planning for an improved future, it's not uncommon for retailers to start looking for new vendors. Now is a great time for looking at all your data from last year, especially from the holiday shopping season, and seeing if...
Should my business sell through a marketplace?
To join a marketplace or not - that’s the question most sellers are asking these days. So what’s the clear answer? If I’m going to be honest with you, I have no idea…it really depends on your business. Listed below are a few of the major pros and cons that often come...
Growth through innovation: How golf retailing is changing the game for today’s consumer
Collaboration amongst retailers and suppliers is a key facet to the changing omnichannel retail era. During SPS Commerce In:fluence 2016, Harry Arnett, senior vice president of marketing and brand management for Callaway Golf, and Randy Peitsch, senior vice president of operations for PGA Tour Superstore, revealed how they built a set of merchandising strategies to grow market share and mindshare with today’s omnichannel consumer.
Top 3 challenges facing industrial distributors
Retail is undergoing a major transformation that is affecting all industry trade partners, including distributors. A combination of global market forces and consumer-driven demands will make this a particularly tough year for distributors that sell into the construction, oil and gas, and other heavy-industry segments.
Supply chain automation: add $1+ million dollars back to your business with three-way match
Want to add a million dollars to your bottom line, without making any drastic changes? Traditionally there are two ways to add to your bottom line, increase sales and reduce expenses. Increasing sales could mean raise prices, take on new products or open a new store. Many companies have infrastructure in place for using supply chain automation to address the “reduction of costs”. Using this automation, you could see dramatic improvements to your bottom line.
Infinite Retail Power
Earlier this month we unveiled our new brand identity, here on this blog, on our website and in our suite of supply chain services. Our identity conveys SPS Commerce’s commitment to constantly delivering more value to you, and to focus on how we can help you perfect...
Supply Chain 101: Order to Payment process overview
Some of the brightest technology and business strategy minds often don’t understand the complexities of today’s supply chain. It’s simply not their focus. However, odds are that their work interacts with the supply chain at some point and a general understanding is...
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