Despite some bright spots, retail has had a bumpy road lately, with shifts from malls to online, store closings, bankruptcies, restructurings, liquidations and the like. Yet as Tolstoy might have put it, “Successful retailers are all alike; each distressed retailer is distressed in its own way.” In this fireside chat, Rob Gorin, managing director a…

It seems as if tech is one of the biggest recurring stories that touches many facets—economies, societies and businesses. In this episode we will discuss why retailers should care about AI and what makes a successful tech-rich organizational environment. In this fireside chat, Michael Appel, managing director and head of retail practice, Getzler He…

Well-trained, committed frontline workers are key to a retailer’s success, but that’s proving more and more elusive. With a worker attrition rate of about 60 percent, retailers are essentially replacing more than half their staff every year. That’s a lot of churn. In this fireside chat, Christine Tutssel, co-founder of Axonify, Michael Appel, manag…

How are smart retailers bringing their own customers into the mix as co-collaborators and co-creators? PacSun is a leader in this regard, making sure its brand resonates with Gen Z, and not just in product, but in overall vibe and messaging. Whether this means using its own consumers as models in advertising campaigns or soliciting Gen Z customer a…

Are retailers really listening to their customers? In this fireside chat for business hub Retail Rx, Michael Appel, managing director and head of retail practice for Getzler Henrich & Associates, and Greg Petro, CEO of consumer insight platform First Insight discuss the importance of digital tools to gather voice of customer insights data and apply…

In response to a challenged and constantly shifting retail market, WWD and Sourcing Journal have joined forces and teamed up with Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC, a Hilco Global Company, to launch “Retail Rx.” This digital content microsite presents news and insights to help executive leaders make better-informed business decisions. Fresh content …

“Green.” “Eco-friendly.” “Low impact.” As companies compete for consumers’ dollars, they are touting sustainability benefits alongside other product attributes. But rather than talking about vague sustainability claims, brands must track and show their work toward targets to effect change and meet consumers’ ethical expectations. Part of this accou…

The benefits of producing closer to home are well known—convenience, speed to market, lower costs, better sustainability, easier communication, less geopolitical risk, and so on. But as nearshoring production in The Americas still has a way to go, what is keeping countries like Mexico from reaching its full potential with American brands and retail…

Product development has long been undergoing a digital revolution, but the pandemic pushed these efforts into overdrive. Today, fashion companies continue to experiment with digital product creation software, and one of the main ingredients required is virtual materials. Even ahead of 3D design’s work-from-home boost, research and promotion organiz…

Bananas are a big business in Pakistan. The South Asian country grows around 154,000 tons of the fruit each year. But with this production comes waste; annually, 10 million tons of banana stems are burned. A new project between Pakistan-based manufacturer Interloop and sustainable denim consultancy Simply Suzette has transformed banana stem fiber i…

The fashion industry has finally come to the realization that it needs to adopt circular practices, and that’s a great start… But now what? Circularity implementation—or what could be considered Phase 2—is much more difficult. It requires having the visibility, traceability and verification tools to analyze your carbon footprint, then mindfully rew…

Artificial intelligence has been a buzzy topic in the retail field for a few years, but the industry is still falling short of using this technology to its full potential. In a recent survey from supply chain management technology firm Blue Yonder, the retail executive respondents self reported that they know about AI and are currently using it. Ho…

In fashion, there’s a lot of talk about innovation and technological advancements, but when it comes to efficiency gains from technology, the industry has been slow to progress. Apparel design and production tends to be a long stepwise process, which slows down workflows and makes it harder to meet demand. Technology, however, holds the potential t…

An all-too-common consumer experience is finding that the “correct” shoe size is not a perfect fit. Numerical sizes are not standardized across brands and styles, leading to frustration and a potential missed sale opportunity. Retail technology firm Volumental has created foot scanning devices that help consumers avoid a footwear sizing headache. A…

The past few years have ushered in a sustainability sea change for Pakistan-based manufacturer AGI Denim. Although environmental and social initiatives were already underway, the recent investments and operational shifts have created more standardization and transparency around these efforts. AGI Denim's directors Ahmed and Hasan Javed spoke to Sar…

Navigating the complexities of the current apparel supply chain can be cumbersome, particularly as consumers demand more sustainable and traceable alternatives and share concerns about greenwashing and labor conditions. As such, brands cannot afford to continue making sourcing decisions based exclusively on traditional pillars like cost, quality an…

The 132-year-old Cone Denim, the oldest denim manufacturer based in the United States, knows a thing or two about denim but is hardly resting on its laurels. With vertical mills in Mexico and China, Cone Denim has recently invested about $14 million on more sustainable production initiatives, notably including creating a certified supply chain pipe…

While some designers use 3D design merely as an add-on for existing sketches, others have realized the tremendous benefits of designing in 3D from the outset. 3D software lets designers virtually experiment and share versions with their teams—increasing ideations and creativity, all while decreasing time and sample costs. Lauren Parker, Director of…

Every retailer’s mantra is—or at least it should be—“Get the right product to the right place at the right time in the right amounts.” Yet in today’s increasingly complex retail climate, getting that right is harder than ever. As we’ve seen, having too much or too little product, or the wrong product, wreaks havoc on pricing, margins, financial liq…

The strategic benefits of on-demand garment production are plentiful: inventory alignment, trimmed waste and higher margins. Today, this model is not the norm, but digital printing firm Kornit’s goal is scaling up made-to-order manufacturing. Here, Kornit's vice president of marketing Don Whaley speaks with Jessica Binns, managing editor and techno…

In 1973, Cotton Incorporated debuted a brand image for cotton fiber and the cotton industry that has had a lasting impact on cotton usage and consumer sentiment. Today, the Seal of Cotton can be seen on products across 70 countries, and 8 in 10 consumers say they are familiar with the trademark. The seal stands for three C’s: cotton, clothing and c…

Cotton pricing depends on various factors, including basic supply and demand. Due to pandemic pressures, the market experienced volatility as circumstances changed rapidly. Although Supima and other extra-long staple cottons are unique in the market, these premium fibers have also been riding a pricing rollercoaster. Listen to the chat between Lewk…

Namza Akter remembers being on her way to her office in Dhaka when she heard about the 8:57 a.m. collapse of Rana Plaza. Before the workers rights activist and Bangladeshi Awaj Foundation founder learned there were more than 3,000 workers inside, more than a third of whom would be found dead in the rubble, her first thought went to news reports fro…

As brands seek to say more about sustainability, they need facts to back up their statements. This is where supply chain visibility comes into play, enabling communications to go beyond greenwashing. “You can't have sustainability without traceability,” said Buxton Midyette, vice president, marketing and promotions at Pima cotton organization Supim…

An efficient fashion supply chain has a lot of moving parts. It requires retailers, brands and suppliers to gather, centralize and act on sustainability compliance data in real time—across many teams and time zones. Visibility is key. Traceability is essential. But how can you build a collaborative supply chain ecosystem that goes beyond compliance…