Andrew Laudato

It's interesting how retailers are slowly landing on the same three options for Self Checkout refinement to solve shrink. 1. Adding employee assisted checkout, 2. Adding barriers to leaving the store without confirmation of purchase (mechanical or human) or as a last resort, 3. Completely eliminating the option. From the consumer perspective its slowly becoming a negative experience... Curious what other options might exist..

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Dear Retail Friends,   If you’re a wholesaler, access to data from suppliers and retail customers is critical in enabling optimal service levels with minimal inventory. But getting that data, and acting upon it, can be challenging.   While there are many hurdles to this kind of collaboration, it can be done. And the benefits are numerous – not just for wholesalers, but their suppliers and retail customers as well.   https://lnkd.in/dbxub36v   #supplychain #supplychainoptimization #wholesaledistribution The future of wholesale supply chain collaboration | RELEX Solutions Unlock insights on boosting wholesale collaboration for supply chain efficiency and profit in this expert interview.

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The Retail Monitor, a monthly survey from CNBC and the National Retail Federation (NRF), found that sales ticked up 0.26% from March to April. NRF CEO Matthew Shay attributed the modest increase to “a growing job market and real gains in wages,” but qualified that “consumers remain focused on value and price and are shifting their spending patterns where needed to make ends meet.” #retailsales #economicgrowth

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Good read for points to consider. I would add a few more. On data, capture the right level of detail that allows observable corrections to improve the scorecards. Get agreement from all stakeholders on the measurement and the details behind the measurement. I remember a previous role where it took several months for accounting and merchandising to agree on the inputs for the margin calculation. Do not underestimate the need for change management. You create a scorecard to ensure success. It will flush issues that require change in the retailer and supplier networks. Leaders must be expect and support those changes. Some of those changes will be uncomfortable and may strike close to home.

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This interview with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon is a #retail #masterclass. A bit of context and perspective, combined with a lot of detail about every aspect of their business — #merchandising, #SupplyChain, #stores, #digital / #omnichannel, #international, #technology, #marketplaces, #RMNs, and more. And this will make an excellent base prompt for a retail #AI assistant — one of my #WeekendProjects

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With sustained inflationary pressures into early 2024, the consensus in the convenience store industry is that the consumer is looking for value with nearly every dollar they spend, according to the Convenience Distribution Association (CDA). Convenience stores typically do not have the lowest price on consumables such as candy, milk, soda, or various sundries. The trade-off on prices is the quick in and out parking at the door. #convenienceretail #consumerinsights

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It's unsurprising that some consultants for retail are still completely missing the boat with new technology -- to argue that retailers need a "war room" for inventory management because retailers have siloed data is ridiculous. Umm, maybe replace the disconnected systems with a modern unified platform instead of adding more labor, inefficiency, and complexity to the retail chain. A unified system like FieldStack running a retail chain will easily, provably outperform a "war room" of people looking at siloed data sets -- the "war room" will invariably induce personal bias, be slower, and much harder to scale... there is a much better way --- fix the problem! #retail #retailstrategy #inventorymanagement

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Hello Retail Friends, I am proud to announce that RELEX is once again designated as a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Collaborative Supply Networks, Q4 2024 report. This prestigious recognition underscores our commitment to enhancing supply chain transparency, resilience, and efficiency for US retailers. Our top scores in innovation, vision, and several key areas, including embedded AI and ML, highlight our dedication to providing cutting-edge solutions. These capabilities enable seamless collaboration between retailers and suppliers, ensuring that our customers can anticipate changes in demand and supply, and continuously align production and transportation schedules. This acknowledgment from Forrester reaffirms our mission to drive mutual success through advanced supply chain and retail planning capabilities. We remain committed to delivering the tools necessary for our customers to achieve unparalleled supply chain visibility and operational excellence. Read the full press release here: https://bit.ly/3YJHbFU #SupplyChain #Forrester #AI #Innovation #RetailExcellence RELEX recognized as a Leader for the first time in this report by independent analyst firm, for demonstrating “a superior vision of an adaptive and autonomous supply chain…”…  

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The state of the consumer in 2024 is already taking shape — even before the country’s major retailers begin to report first-quarter earnings, starting with Home Depot and Walmart next week. There are signs that the U.S. consumer is still spending, especially on experiences. But stubbornly high prices are squeezing consumers with lower incomes, pressuring everyday purchases and corporate profits. #retailsales #consumerinsights

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Aloha Friday! 🤙🏼 Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Friday, September 13: 🥗 Kroger posted $33.9 billion in sales during the second quarter, a level that was essentially flat compared with the same period in 2023. Identical sales growth excluding fuel came in at 1%. 🛋️ Shares of RH jumped about 19% in the extended session Thursday, after the retailer said it continues to see healthy demand for its furniture and home furnishings, and reported a quarterly earnings beat. 🚚 Amazon is giving another pay boost to its subcontracted delivery drivers in the US amid growing union pressure. Drivers who work with Amazon’s Delivery Service Partners, or DSPs, will get a 7% bump in pay. 👜 Coach’s owner Tapestry and Michael Kors’ owner Capri Holdings Limited are in the courtroom this week for a federal antitrust challenge. The firms announced the $8.5 billion deal more than a year ago. 🏈 Academy Sports + Outdoors lowered its net sales outlook for fiscal year 2024. But that’s not stopping Academy from moving forward with expansion. The company plans to open 15 to 17 stores this year. 💰 Big Lots has received interim court approval to immediately access $550 million of $707.5 million in available bankruptcy financing. The financing is expected to provide enough liquidity to continue normal operations. 👕 After two-plus years in development, Macy's’s on Thursday launched Mode of One, a men’s private label, part of what the department store said is the latest in its ongoing private brands reimagination. 👗 German luxury etailer Mytheresa reported a 9.8% rise in net sales to €841m ($933m) for the full year to 30 June, driven by a 25% growth in the US market. However a decline in profit margin has led to an increase in net loss. 🦊 As upscale convenience store chain Foxtrot plots a comeback, licensing, staffing and lease renegotiations are among its biggest challenges, CEO Mike LaVitola said Thursday. 🍔 The McDonald's’s $5 meal deal is staying on menus until December, a sign that inflation-weary customers are devouring value meals recently offered by fast food chains. 💳 Retail credit card interest rates have reached a record high. The average rate on a store card was 30.45%, up from 24.35% in 2021 and well above the current average of 21% for credit cards overall. 📉 US wholesale price increases mostly slowed last month, the latest evidence that inflation pressures are cooling enough for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates next week. 💍 Shares of Signet Jewelers sparkled on Thursday, after the diamond seller beat quarterly profit expectations, and indicated it was on course to break a long streak of same-store sales declines as marriage proposals are rising. 🏠 Nearly half of all renter households in the US were cost-burdened in 2023, meaning they paid more than 30% of their income towards housing costs, according to new government data. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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Insightful article in C-Store Dive about how retailers can manage loiterers and which solutions are effective but not inhumane. In my discussions with retail leaders, they're concerned with how to keep their stores safe and inviting for workers and customers. However, they know it's also important to act respectfully and kindly to those hanging out around their properties and have compassion for them. They want to know about the best mix of solutions available to address the issue. I agree with Rodney Gray from March Networks who said: "Too much prevention can kill a business and too little can." As c-stores try to figure out the right solution balance, it's also vital to develop a comprehensive strategy to address their store and the community's unique situation. As you build the plan, keep in mind information that will help future-proof it, including: -Knowing local laws and ordinances -Aligning with corporate headquarters on policies -Auditing employee training  -Partnering with other local retailers. By making your tech solution selection part of the overall strategy, you will be more successful in creating a safe and welcoming environment for your shoppers and associates. Read more of my thoughts in the full article. I’m curious about your take on the topic. https://lnkd.in/gTmNuvp2

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Hello Retail Friends, I think it’s crucial for grocery retailers to have the freshest produce for your customers without costly overstocking and waste. Which would you rather spoil — your food or your customers’ loyalty? The good news is, thanks to RELEX, you don’t have to choose. Here are 3 essential strategies for optimizing fresh food inventory management.   https://lnkd.in/ej53RsFV   #grocery #freshproduce #retailplanning How to improve retail fresh food inventory management | RELEX Solutions Tackle fresh food inventory management challenges head-on with the right strategies and robust planning software. www.relexsolutions.comhas context menu

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According to the National Retail Federation, May retail sales were up as consumer spending continues to grow supported by strength in the job market and wage gains. https://lnkd.in/espVk75K #retail #consumers #economy #privatelabel

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I recently sat down with our ECRM & RangeMe partner Wayne Bennett and discussed how Walmart develops suppliers. We covered everything from recruiting events to resources for onboarding to how we want suppliers to grow alongside us. Check out our conversation below 👇.   #WalmartSourcing #SupplierDevelopment

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A brutal mix of factors over the last few years led to retailers absorbing excess inventory shocks. But with the cost of capital increasing, it’s more important than ever to ensure inventory levels do not rise to unsustainable levels while also avoiding out-of-stocks. Our latest insight by Amit Mahajan, Young Hu and Aabha Rathee reveals how leveraging AI and ML can transform inventory management, leading to a 10-20% reduction in working capital, a 50-60% reduction in stock shortage in stores, a 2-4% uplift in sales, and a 1-3% margin benefit. Discover how these technologies can help retailers optimize supply chains, reduce markdowns, and enhance customer satisfaction. Read the full article here:

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Hello Retail Friends,   I cannot stress enough how important fresh products are to grocery retailers. When it comes to inventory planning, “point solutions” that lack end-to-end integration and only address store-level planning simply are not enough!   Retailers need proven, multi-echelon planning solutions that extend beyond the store - unifying, automating, and optimizing planning in stores, DCs, and omnichannel. This is the only way to get crucial visibility and insight across the end-to-end value chain.   https://lnkd.in/ej53RsFV #supplychain #grocery #freshproduce How to improve retail fresh food inventory management | RELEX Solutions Tackle fresh food inventory management challenges head-on with the right strategies and robust planning software. www.relexsolutions.comhas context menuCompose

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“Currently, 75% of our U.S. stores contribute roughly 100% of our segment AOI (adjusted operating income). For the remaining 25% of the stores in our network which are not currently contributing to our long-term strategy, changes are imminent. To start, we are finalizing a multi-factor store footprint optimization program, which we expect will include the closure of a significant portion of these underperforming stores over the next three years. For the remaining portion of this cohort, we are taking action to improve profitability.” #walgreens

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One of the key topics in the industry is what to do with hard tags in the context of frictionless stores and move to embedded RFID labelling. See what our customers found below. The need for a security hard tag remains a key tool in the toolkit for controlling and reducing shrink

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Shein has been repeatedly rejected in its attempts to become a member of the National Retail Federation, the largest trade association in the industry. The NRF's acceptance could provide validation for Shein and help legitimize the company in the eyes of U.S. lawmakers. Shein is facing scrutiny over its supply chain, use of a tariff law loophole, and geopolitical concerns related to China. The NRF's approval could be a positive catalyst for Shein, although the organization has not completely shut the door on Shein's membership application. The NRF's board leadership team and executive committee play a significant role in membership discussions, with key industry insiders involved in the decision-making process. #shein #nrf #ipo

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