Blue Yonder Case Studies DSW Makes Every Foot Count with Optimized Fixed Store Capacities

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	DSW Makes Every Foot Count with Optimized Fixed Store Capacities Blue Yonder

DSW Makes Every Foot Count with Optimized Fixed Store Capacities

Blue Yonder

Technology Category	Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Data Management Platforms
Applicable Industries	Retail
Applicable Functions	Sales & Marketing
Use Cases	Inventory Management Supply Chain Visibility
Services	System Integration
Challenge	DSW, a leading U.S.-based footwear specialty retailer, faced a strategic challenge due to the fixed capacity of its branded locations. The stores, which average over 20,000 square feet and feature approximately 24,000 pairs of shoes and accessories, had limited backrooms to keep excess merchandise. This necessitated exacting assortment management for each market. The existing supply chain processes and technology tools only focused on the highest levels of the business and overall metrics. The planning was done in dollars at the department level, which was not sufficient for the company's needs. DSW saw an opportunity to drop down to a deeper level planning solutions and realize significant benefits. Read More
About Customer	DSW is a leading U.S.-based footwear specialty retailer. The company evolved from a close-out retailer into a large footwear specialty retailer in the mid-2000s. DSW's stores average over 20,000 square feet and feature approximately 24,000 pairs of shoes and accessories. The company's business model involves limited backrooms to keep excess merchandise, necessitating exacting assortment management for each market. DSW sought to improve its supply chain processes and technology tools to better manage its inventory and increase sales and margins. Read More
Solution	To support both financial and merchandise planning, DSW implemented a state-of-the-art Blue Yonder retail solution. This solution was capable of aligning planning, assortment allocation, and pricing, enabling DSW to project the right inventory levels, keep stores optimally stocked, and purchase the right products, including the right mix of shoe sizes. The company transitioned from having a mosaic of Excel worksheets, Access databases, and numerous other independent pieces of technology to relying on a unified set of solutions that were customized to their unique business needs. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Data Management Platforms

Applicable Industries

Retail

Applicable Functions

Sales & Marketing

Use Cases

Inventory Management

Supply Chain Visibility

Services

System Integration

Challenge

DSW, a leading U.S.-based footwear specialty retailer, faced a strategic challenge due to the fixed capacity of its branded locations. The stores, which average over 20,000 square feet and feature approximately 24,000 pairs of shoes and accessories, had limited backrooms to keep excess merchandise. This necessitated exacting assortment management for each market. The existing supply chain processes and technology tools only focused on the highest levels of the business and overall metrics. The planning was done in dollars at the department level, which was not sufficient for the company's needs. DSW saw an opportunity to drop down to a deeper level planning solutions and realize significant benefits.

About Customer

DSW is a leading U.S.-based footwear specialty retailer. The company evolved from a close-out retailer into a large footwear specialty retailer in the mid-2000s. DSW's stores average over 20,000 square feet and feature approximately 24,000 pairs of shoes and accessories. The company's business model involves limited backrooms to keep excess merchandise, necessitating exacting assortment management for each market. DSW sought to improve its supply chain processes and technology tools to better manage its inventory and increase sales and margins.

Solution

To support both financial and merchandise planning, DSW implemented a state-of-the-art Blue Yonder retail solution. This solution was capable of aligning planning, assortment allocation, and pricing, enabling DSW to project the right inventory levels, keep stores optimally stocked, and purchase the right products, including the right mix of shoe sizes. The company transitioned from having a mosaic of Excel worksheets, Access databases, and numerous other independent pieces of technology to relying on a unified set of solutions that were customized to their unique business needs.

Impact #1	DSW was able to establish a much more robust planning system that measures performance in both dollars and units.
Impact #2	The company became much more capable of controlling its sales, inventory, and forecasting.
Impact #3	The implementation of the Blue Yonder retail solution significantly improved DSW's margins.

Impact #1

DSW was able to establish a much more robust planning system that measures performance in both dollars and units.

Impact #2

The company became much more capable of controlling its sales, inventory, and forecasting.

Impact #3

The implementation of the Blue Yonder retail solution significantly improved DSW's margins.

Benefit #1	Increased sales and margins
Benefit #2	Lowered inventory levels
Benefit #3	Improved buyers’ productivity and efficiency

Benefit #1

Increased sales and margins

Benefit #2

Lowered inventory levels

Benefit #3

Improved buyers’ productivity and efficiency

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Overview

DSW Makes Every Foot Count with Optimized Fixed Store Capacities

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit