Lesson from NRF’s Big Show: Expand Internationally

Posted by Kelsey Barker on January 28, 2013

Apparel magazine compiled their top 10 takeaways from the National Retail Foundation’s infamous Big Show last week. Among many other gems of retail wisdom was something that we here in the GTM community know very well: To grow your apparel business, expand internationally.

The lesson may seem simple, but the implementation is a bit more complex. As companies go global, they can take one of two paths: the “clone” model or the “distributed” model. The first model perfects its brand and copies it in other locations – like Apple, for example. The distributed model, on the other hand, lets its brand develop relatively independently around the globe. Many of the companies in this second category began as wholesalers, like Levi’s. The clone-model companies often struggle with local relevancy, while the distributed-model retailers tend to struggle with brand consistency.

Levi’s, an Amber Road customer, struck a balance between the two models in order to solidify its brand worldwide. Whereas Levi’s originally used a regional-focused model to expand globally, the company has now changed its mindset and organizational structure to create a unified global brand experience.  According to Enrique Atienza, SVP of retail at Levi Strauss Americas:

“We completely reorganized the way we operate. Previously, we had an overwhelming assortment of product catered to regional markets … 20 different models across the world … leadership in every country … and a local-only, single-channel mindset … [that made for an] inconsistent customer experience.”

Now, Levi’s has three global retail teams, has aligned every retail channel, and has reduced the number of styles by about 60 percent, Atienza says.

To read more about how Levi’s streamlined its global expansion, and to see the nine other Big Show takeaways, click here.

 

 Global Trade Management for Retailers Brochure

Read More

Topics: GTM Best Practices, Global Trade Management

Upcoming Webcast: 2013 Logistics Rate Outlook

Posted by Emily Thornton on January 24, 2013

2013 Rate Outlook: Soft Spike Ahead

Read More

Topics: Webinars, Amber Road News, Contract & Rate Management, Transportation Management

Cardboard Alternative Notbox Comes to U.S. and Canada

Posted by Caroline Brown on January 18, 2013

London-based Notbox has expanded its eco-friendly cardboard alternative to the U.S. and Canada, hoping to increase its market share in the $424 billion global packaging industry, 25% of which resides in North America.

Read More

Topics: GTM Best Practices, Transportation Management, Global Trade Management

New Video: Removing the Headaches of Cross-Border Logistics

Posted by Emily Thornton on January 16, 2013

Now more than ever companies are seeking a single global trade management (GTM) solution that will allow them to be able to not only execute their domestic transportation, but also their entire global transportation operations as well.

Read More

Topics: Global Trade Management Software, GTM Best Practices, Global Trade Management

US Oil Imports Predicted to Fall to Lowest Level in 25 Years

Posted by Caroline Brown on January 10, 2013

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has predicted that US oil imports will fall to their lowest level in over 25 years by 2014. By then the US is projected to only import 32% of its oil, down from 60% in 2005. This will decrease crude oil and other petroleum product imports to 6 million barrels per day, half as many barrels as in 2005.

Read More

Topics: Import Management, Global Trade Management, Oil & Gas

Tentative Agreement Reached for ILA Negotiations

Posted by Emily Thornton on January 9, 2013

Earlier in September we discussed the potential strike between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX). Negotiations have been taking place ever since and a tentative agreement on the main point of contention, the issue of container royalty payments, has been reached.

Read More

Topics: Transportation Management, Global Trade Management

Executive Spotlight: Jim Preuninger

Posted by Kelsey Barker on January 8, 2013

The Executive Spotlight series will feature several of Amber Road’s key thought leaders as they discuss what they see as the biggest challenges and trends in the GTM space.

What do you believe to be the key challenges facing your customers and their supply chains in the year ahead?

Read More

Topics: Global Trade Management Software, GTM Best Practices, Global Trade Management

Electronic Waste “Recycler” Convicted for Illegal Exports

Posted by Caroline Brown on January 8, 2013

Two executives of an electronic waste recycling company were convicted in December of smuggling, environmental crimes, mail and wire fraud, and obstruction of justice in conjunction with the illegal export of hazardous waste to China and other countries, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.

Read More

Topics: Export Management, Export Compliance, Export Violations

Executive Spotlight: Stephanie Miles

Posted by Kelsey Barker on January 2, 2013

The Executive Spotlight series will feature several of Amber Road’s key thought leaders as they discuss what they see as the biggest challenges and trends in the GTM space.

What do you believe to be the key challenges facing your customers and their supply chains in the year ahead?

Read More

Topics: Global Trade Management Software, GTM Best Practices, Global Trade Management

Cookie Settings