Talk Retail to Me

Assortment Planning: Expert Perspectives and Insights

In this episode, assortment planning experts, Senior Manager Heidi Csencsits, hosts Principal Marty Anderson and Senior Manager Louann Villasor to discuss assortment planning.  The Parker Avery Group has seen tremendous interest in our clients for improving their assortment planning capabilities, not only bringing in new technology but also revamping business processes and organization to ensure these retailers are providing compelling assortments that drive both customer traffic and bottom-line profit.  Louann and Marty recently completed a major assortment planning system selection and implementation for a large home décor retailer, and the three experts provide their perspectives on the subject.  The team discusses:

• Insights, unique requirements, and some "ah ha" moments experienced during the recent assortment planning implementation
• Why attribution and data quality are so critical for assortment planning
• Where assortment planning fits into the overall strategy, demand forecasting, planning, and buying processes
• Measures of successful assortment planning and retail store clustering methodologies
• The key tenet of simplicity as retailers desire to expand their assortment planning capabilities and expertise
• Where advanced assortment planning and retail clustering strategies should be headed to go beyond sales and margin

Learn more about The Parker Avery Group's services by visiting: https://parkeravery.com/services/ 

 

You may also like:

The Expert Guide to Retail Assortment Planning: https://parkeravery.com/assortment-planning/ 

Global Retailer Anticipates Strong Results With New Assortment Planning Solution: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/global-retailer-anticipates-strong-results-with-new-assortment-planning-solution/ 

Retailer’s Planning System Implementation Expected to Drive Growth and Success: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/retailers-planning-system-implementation-expected-to-drive-growth-and-success/ 

 

Introduction music:  On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay

Success as a Retail Consultant: Introducing Nia McDonald

In this episode, Partner Amanda Astrologo introduces one of the newest members of The Parker Avery Group, Senior Consultant Nia McDonald.  With over a decade of experience across a wide variety of retailers, retail segments, and CPG companies, Nia focuses on merchandise and sales planning, forecasting, and replenishment, as well as pricing and promotional strategies.  

Amanda and Nia discuss her journey into retail consulting, the key skills and characteristics that successful consultants share, what it's like to be on the "consulting side," as well as being part of The Parker Avery Group's unique culture.  

Meet the other members of The Parker Avery Group: https://parkeravery.com/pag-team/ 

 

You may also like: 

Promotional Capabilities Assessment Reveals Significant Bottom Line Improvements: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/promotional-capabilities-assessment-reveals-significant-bottom-line-improvements/ 

Retail Pricing and Promotions Deep Dive: https://parkeravery.com/podcast-retail-pricing-and-promotions-deep-dive/ 

The Expert Guide to Retail Pricing: https://parkeravery.com/retail-pricing/ 

 

Introduction music:  On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay

New Muscles for Effective Retailers

Organizational change management experts Kathi Toll, Deanna Emsley, and Marty Anderson talk about the new muscles retail and consumer brand companies must develop to be effective and competitive.  In this episode of Parker Avery's "Talk Retail to Me" podcast, the team discusses:

• Tenets that must be true for an organization to be effective
• Their experiences of going "back" into the office and traveling
• How communication within an organization needs to change with such a different work environment
• What associates in the corporate buildings can learn from the retail staff "on the front lines"
• Why higher priority must be placed on empathy in a professional setting
• The importance of hind-sighting on a more frequent basis

We invite you to learn more about The Parker Avery Group's consulting services by visiting: https://parkeravery.com/consulting-services/ 

You may also like this content:

The Expert Guide to Organizational Change Management for Retail: https://parkeravery.com/organizational-change-management/ 

Global Organizational Change Focus Energizes New ERP Solution Implementation: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/global-organizational-change-focus-energizes-new-erp-solution-implementation/ 

How to Stop Managing Change and Start Leading Successful Retail Transformation: https://parkeravery.com/start-leading-successful-retail-transformation/ 

 

Introduction music:  On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay

Retail Inventory Management: Post-Pandemic Focus Areas

This week President and Managing Partner Clay Parnell, along with Partner Amanda Astrologo and Senior Director Rob Oglesby discuss key areas retailers are focusing on now and where they must focus in the near future for effective retail inventory management.  This may come as a surprise, but it's less about technology and much more about core capabilities driven by business processes and a sizable shift in traditional organizational roles and responsibilities across the retail enterprise. Further, it's about a focus on foundational elements to ensure resiliency and agility throughout the supply chain to ensure retailers meet customer demand and expectations. 

We invite you to learn more about The Parker Avery Group's consulting services by visiting: https://parkeravery.com/services/ 

You may also like this content: 

The Expert Guide to Omnichannel Order Management and Fulfillment: https://parkeravery.com/omnichannel-order-management-and-fulfillment/ 

Retail Store Inventory Assessment Exposes $65 Per Square Foot in Hidden Profit: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/retail-store-inventory-assessment-exposes-65-per-square-foot-in-hidden-profit/ 

Getting to Global: Managing Inventory in a Unified Commerce World: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/getting-to-global-managing-inventory-in-a-unified-commerce-world/ 

 

Introduction music:  On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay

Master Data Management: The Backbone of Omnichannel Retail

This week, Senior Managers Heidi Csencsits and Mike Johnson talk about a recent client project, where The Parker Avery Group helped a home décor retailer define and standardize product attributes across 50,000 items to improve the omnichannel customer experience and merchandising effectiveness.  The two retail experts also outline the importance of strong master data management and governance as the backbone of all retail omnichannel initiatives, as well as best practices and tips on getting started. 

We invite you to learn more about The Parker Avery Group's consulting services by visiting: https://parkeravery.com/services/ 

You may also like this content: 

Retailer’s Master Data Management Improvements Drive Omnichannel Growth: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/retailers-master-data-management-improvements-drive-omnichannel-growth/ 

The Expert Guide to Data Governance in Retail: https://parkeravery.com/data-governance-in-retail/ 

Project Planning: Four Considerations for Data Readiness: https://parkeravery.com/four-considerations-for-data-readiness/ 

 

Introduction music:  On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay

What You Need to Know About Retail Software Selection Projects

On this episode of the Talk Retail to Me podcast, Parker Avery Senior Partner Amanda Astrologo and Tricia Gustin interview retail expert Julie Cheney. Julie has over 25 years of experience as an executive and consultant in the retail and wholesale industries. She has held leadership positions in buying, merchandise planning & allocation, and program management within specialty apparel, footwear, outdoor equipment, and general merchandise retailers.

In addition to Julie's perspectives on consulting from within and outside the corporate halls, the trio of retail experts discusses how retail system selection projects have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as what elements necessitate more focus in a remote or hybrid environment.

We invite you to learn more about The Parker Avery Group's consulting services by visiting: https://parkeravery.com/services/

You may also like this content: 

The Expert Guide to Retail System Selection: https://parkeravery.com/retail-system-selection/ 

Five Key Tenets to Successful Retail Software Selection: https://parkeravery.com/five-key-tenets-to-successful-retail-software-selection/ 

Core Merchandising and Finance System Selection to Drive Visibility and Results: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/core-merchandising-and-finance-system-selection-to-drive-visibility-and-results/ 

 

Introduction music:  On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay

Bridging the Gap Between Humans & Artificial Intelligence

The Parker Avery Group's analytics team gives their perspectives on finding the balance between artificial and emotional (human) intelligence.  Led by Chief Analytics Officer, Sam Iosevich, this team of mathematics PhDs has been continuously enhancing the firm's advanced analytics offerings for Parker Avery's clients.  In this episode, Scott Kirila, Evan Witz, and Luke Vaicunas discuss how intimately understanding each client's situation is key to providing the best solution--as well as the importance of helping the business understand and embrace artificial intelligence.  They also provide insights into the differences and learnings of bringing deep science from academia into the retail and consumer goods business world. 

We invite you to learn more about The Parker Avery Group's analytics consulting services by visiting: https://parkeravery.com/enterprise-intelligence/ 

 

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A Game-Changing Advanced Analytics Solution: https://parkeravery.com/retail-cpg-advanced-analytics-game-changer/

Annual Profit Improved Through AI-Driven Retail Warranty Price Optimization: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/annual-profit-improved-through-ai-driven-retail-warranty-price-optimization/ 

How to Transform Your Retail Enterprise with Advanced Analytics: https://parkeravery.com/how-to-transform-your-retail-enterprise-with-advanced-analytics/  

 

Introduction music:  On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay

Key Considerations of Remote System Implementations

Retail experts Marty Anderson and Russ Smith discuss how system implementation projects have fundamentally changed during the pandemic.  Based on their experience of halting solution implementation projects mid-stream when the pandemic first hit and then ramping back up months later, Marty and Russ highlight key considerations for implementation success, including:

• How the overall structure of implementation teams changed.
• What activities are better conducted in person vs. remotely.
• How communication, change management, and engagement tactics need to adapt to accommodate a remote environment.

We invite you to learn more about The Parker Avery Group's implementation consulting services by visiting: https://parkeravery.com/solution-evaluation-selection-implementation/

 

Introduction music:  On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay

Chasing Challenges: Parker Avery's Analytics SWAT Team Leaders

In this episode, Parker Avery's Chief Analytics Officer and Managing Partner Sam Iosevich sits down with Senior Director of Analytics, George Arutyunyants to talk about George's lifelong journey into and through analytics, his development philosophies, and his passion for chasing challenges in his eternal pursuit of gaining more knowledge.  Discover how the saying, "We are born with two ears and one mouth" and partnerships with academia, coupled with deep analytical, retail, and consumer goods expertise translate to better solutions for Parker Avery's clients. 

We invite you to learn more about The Parker Avery Group's analytics services by visiting: https://parkeravery.com/enterprise-intelligence/ 

 

You may also like this content: 

One Demand Signal, Endless Growth: EI Hypercube Redefines Retail Success: https://parkeravery.com/ei-hypercube-redefines-retail-success/ 

Enterprise-wide Planning Solution Drives Global Retailer’s Agility​: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/enterprise-wide-planning-solution-drives-global-retailers-agility/ 

A Demand Analytics Time Machine: https://parkeravery.com/podcast-a-demand-analytics-time-machine/ 

 

Introduction music:  On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay

How to Approach Merchandise Financial Planning for 2021

Parker Avery retail planning experts, LouAnn Villasor and Lee Whitaker, discuss how merchandise financial planning (MFP) has changed over the course of 2020.  Based on their deep experience implementing MFP solutions, you will get their perspectives on how retailers need to think differently in approaching MFP going forward into 2021 and beyond. 

Learn more about The Parker Avery Group's services by visiting: https://parkeravery.com/services/ 

 

You may also like this content: 

The Expert Guide to Merchandise Financial Planning: https://parkeravery.com/retail-merchandise-financial-planning/ 

New Merchandise Financial Planning Solution Drives Retail Results: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/new-merchandise-financial-planning-solution-drives-retail-results/ 

Retailer’s Planning System Implementation Expected to Drive Growth and Success: https://parkeravery.com/industry-experience/retailers-planning-system-implementation-expected-to-drive-growth-and-success/ 

 

Introduction music:  On My Way by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4163-on-my-way
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cover image by Jorge Guillen from Pixabay