Managing the Retail Supply Chain

Book Description
Buying, merchandising and the supply chain is inextricably linked. Product merchandisers play a key role in retail, as profits can be affected by how successfully they undertake their work. Merchandisers set prices to maximise profits and manage the performance of ranges, planning promotions and mark-downs as necessary. They also oversee delivery and distribution of stock and deal with suppliers. Their connection with an understanding of the supply chain is vital. Supported by theories, explanations, and real-life examples, Managing the Retail Supply Chain looks at concepts and core themes that run across all sectors.
Many businesses use a one-size-fits-all solution for any issues which arise, leading to big problems. Managing the Retail Supply Chain presents numerous examples of different business models adopted by a variety of companies. Covering basic principles of the retail supply chain, KPIs, merchandise planning and demand planning as well as Omni channel, vertical integration, on-shelf availability, and e-commerce, Managing the Retail Supply Chain is an essential guide for anyone involved in or studying retail supply chains and merchandising.
My Thoughts
As a retail Safety and Asset Protection Manager, I have worked in stores, in the distribution center network, and at the corporate office. While many retail organizations are thriving, many others are falling behind and failing in today’s global economy. Today’s consumer is savvy and with the erosion of brand loyalty, retailers must provide an excellent shopping experience or face losing sales to a competitor. Margins are razor thin and having the right product available to the customer when they want it is vital to drive sales.
This book was easy to read and understand, which to me is key, as someone not familiar with supply chain “lingo” could easily be lost in a text too heavy on technical terms and too light on real-world examples. The authors did an outstanding job of balancing necessary knowledge with real-life scenarios.Someone considering a career in any facet of the supply chain would greatly benefit from this book, as would anyone just wanting a better understanding of how some companies can consistently deliver products in an acceptable time frame, while others suffer repeatedly from backorders and being out of stock. The success or failure of an organization in today’s world relies heavily on a well-run supply chain and this book did a great job of explaining why.
Thank you, James Topps, Glenn Taylor, Logan Page Ltd. And NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I had quite a learning curve when I moved from store side to the supply chain side and wish this book had been available to me at that time. I have a fairly extensive collection of books related to safety, retail and supply chain and this will be a great addition to my ever-growing knowledge-based collection.