Retailers are working hard to figure out how to get product to consumers in our new omnichannel world. The bigger challenge looming may be how to deal with all of the stuff that they don’t want. It is inevitable that there will be returns, even in a CPG world. Consumers will make mistakes with their orders, products will get mis-picked, stuff happens. Now you have to move product backwards through a complex supply chain. Those designing good reverse logistics into their omni-channel solutions will be ahead of the pack. A single pool of inventory and real-time visibility are the keys to success. Reverse logistics planning: Three considerations for an omni-channel environment by Check Fuerst You’re trying to do everything right to lure in online shoppers:…
Consumer Confidence Reaches Highest Level in Six Years
With steady improvements in employment this year, the forecast for consumer spending in the United States is the brightest it has been since 2008. Consumer spending accounts for almost 70 percent of the economy today. Americans will be spending more as a whole due to the higher number of people employed. This will lead to a higher consumer confidence that is very beneficial to the economy. Consumers are more likely to buy more expensive items such as automobiles, homes, and appliances when they have a steady income and secure job. All that is left is determining what companies will profit the most due to the increase in consumer spending. Consumer Confidence in U.S. Increases to Highest Since 2008 By Nina Glinski Jun 24, 2014 11:00 AM…
Uber for Logistics: A User-Friendly Way to Transport Things
I received an email this morning announcing UberRUSH it, a messenger delivery service for NYC. The car service is branching into bikes and on-foot messengers to deliver documents or other small parcels in place of a traditional courier service. This service is a natural extension of Uber’s compelling use case, but it is not the first application. In Asia, this sort of approach, dubbed Uber for Logistics, is already happening, reports Supply Chain 24/7. Two startups, Gogovan and Easyvan, offer rentals of white vans and trucks for hauling and transport needs. Before these two companies entered the market, it was a painful process to move anything bulky (couch, mattress, etc.). Customers had to call numerous call centers to see if they serviced the desired route, and…
Improving Health and Wellness a Top Priority
The Consumer Goods Industry Strengthens Commitment to Improving Health and Wellness for Consumers Worldwide The Consumer Goods Forum Board of Directors agrees to new strategic milestones to help ensure the wellbeing of consumers PARIS, Wednesday 18th June 2014 – Recognising the importance of health and wellness to consumers, The Consumer Goods Forum’s Board of Directors has today reaffirmed its commitment to the implementation of its Health & Wellness Resolutions published in June 2011. The Resolutions set out The Forum’s belief that manufacturers and retailers have a key role to play in improving the health and wellness of consumers, employees, their families and the communities they serve. During a meeting of the Board of Directors, held during its annual Global Summit currently underway in Paris,…
A Call for Change at the Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit
The Consumer Goods Forum Calls for Binding Global Climate Change Deal PARIS, Wednesday 18th June 2014 – The Board of The Consumer Goods Forum today called on heads of state across the world to engage and act with determination, leadership and ambition to secure an ambitious and legally binding global climate deal. As part of its call for action around climate change, The Forum has also renewed its own commitment to taking action through the two Board-approved climate change resolutions; namely, help achieve zero net deforestation by 2020 through the sustainable sourcing of key commodities and to begin phasing-out of hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) in new refrigeration installations by 2015 and replace them with non-HFC refrigerants. In doing so, the Board emphasised the unique role of…
Industry Leaders Gather in Paris
The Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit 2014 Gets Underway in Paris Over 1,000 industry leaders from 50 countries gather for annual consumer goods and retailer conference; Keynote opening address to be given by Laurent Fabius, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development PARIS, Wednesday 18th June 2014 – Leaders from the world’s top retail and consumer goods companies have gathered today in Paris for the opening of the premier conference for the consumer goods industry. The three day Global Summit will explore the influences that consumers and technology will play in defining the future, as well as the lessons the industry can learn from governments, thinkers and global companies to achieve growth through change. The Global Summit, organised by The Consumer Goods Forum (The Forum),…
On the Road: Standard Market is Anything But Standard
I spent last week in the Windy City and was lucky enough to make it to Standard Market & Grill, a grocery store with three locations in the Chicago area. In addition to being a beautiful store with fabulous merchandising and selection, the market also featured a variety of food options, including juice, wine, and coffee bars, and an in-store restaurant, the Standard Grill. What most caught my eye was the section of the store just off the farmers market department, with a sign proclaiming “What’s For Dinner Tonight?” As someone who comes home from work and looks sadly at my empty refrigerator, this section had my name all over it. Each week, the store’s Chef curates a menu based on local growing seasons and…
1. 3D Supply Networks
Remember the days of the pink telephone message slips? That was back when we had one-on-one communications. Organizing a conference call was hard to do because the technology was not there to support it. Today, most of our conversations are not one-on-one; we communicate simultaneously with many people through email, online meetings, and shared documents. The benefits of many-to-many communication are faster outcomes, access to a wide pool of expertise, and lower costs. The change from a point-to-point distribution system to a many-to-many supply network has not evolved as quickly as communication. Distribution started with a 1D model where product shipped from factory to retailer, and later evolved to a 2D model, where product ships from the factory to manufacturers’ mixing center. This change enabled…
The Mobile Pantry
Have you ever eaten all three meals in a car? I have. Drive-thrus and other forms of getting food on the road are now being described as part of the “roadside pantry.” That’s when you go to Starbucks for coffee and decide to get a sandwich too so that you do not need to make another stop. Or the dinner that you were planning to make sounds like too much work after a long day so you place a take out order with Chili’s and they bring it to your car. Yes, we are busy and there are more ways to get food on the go than ever before. Now if they could only figure out how to get my gas tank filled without stopping……
2. Digitally Empowered Shoppers: The Consumer is King
A Changing Landscape, Where Digital is King As the world’s consumers become increasingly digitized and connected, industries are racing to engage with the new digital era. Over 274 million Americans have access to the internet, with 117 million using smartphones. Of these 117 million smartphone wielding consumers, 80% are using their smartphones to find stores, make shopping lists, price-check items, research products, share content, and purchase product. With double-digit growth rates in eCommerce, US online CPG sales are expected to increase at a rate of 25% per year. This digitally empowered shopping experience will continue to gain momentum, as more than 200 million US customers are expected to shop online by 2015.1 Shopping Savvy – There’s an App for That! While average consumers today are…