Global Fashion Accessories Manufacturer And Retailer Improves And Streamlines Collaboration Among Suppliers

From its start in 1941, the company’s brand has represented authenticity, innovation, and relevance to its customer’s everyday lives. The high-end products range from handbags, wallets, and other accessories. In 2013, the brand expanded into apparel and footwear, simultaneously shifting its outsourced sourcing operation in-house at that time.

Today, its heavily-branded products are available on five continents in over 1,000 directly-operated stores worldwide and many more under agreements with global wholesale and distributor partners. A recent competitor company acquisition is positioning the company for more growth and expansion.

THE CHALLENGE

During a period when the company was in the process of diversifying its China-centric sourcing base to other Asian countries (Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, India, and Korea, etc.), its leadership set objectives to meet growth targets while containing costs and reducing risk. Amber Road was selected to address both of those objectives.

During the multiple phases of implementing Amber Road modules for each area of functionality, one key business value came into focus - reducing material liabilities. This company typically incurred up to $17 million per year in material liabilities with its suppliers. To address this substantial cost, it was critical to implement a material management program that enabled internal and external teams to have visibility into the processes involved, key to managing material commitments and usage.