Industry Challenges
Our apparel and footwear consulting team is prepared to help your company face today’s most pressing challenges.
Inventory Planning
Matching supply and demand has become more of a challenge as omnichannel functions increase the complexity of predicting where inventory should be to minimize time to customer.
Diverse Competition
DTC-native, subscription, and concierge fashion services continue to erode loyalty amongst traditional retailers.
Technology Modernization
Retail technology continues to move forward at a torrid pace, forcing investments in point-of-sale, omnichannel, merchandising and eCommerce platforms or risk being left behind.
Pricing Challenges
Pervasive discounting is eroding profits from even the most loyal customers.
Frictionless Associate Experiences
Contextualized field communications, efficient workforce scheduling, and maximization of staff productivity remain elusive for retailers struggling with aging technology infrastructure.
INDUSTRY TRENDS
Digital Strategies
With the consumer’s increasing shift to digital channels, apparel and footwear companies must have a unified digital experience. Research, social, and e-commerce channels should seamlessly work together to help guide the consumer throughout the path to purchase. Data-driven decision-making creates personalized experiences for consumers and, ultimately, drives engagement and loyalty.
Sustainability
Retailers are seeking to improve their image around sustainability, especially with the rise in purchase power for younger generations who put a premium on environmental protection. Recycling and upcycling products is becoming more popular for apparel retailers.
Omnichannel
Omnichannel continues to be a focus for retailers who need to ensure that they have the right product in the right place at the right time. Investments are being made in technology to enable flexible fulfillment options such as in-store or curbside pickup, or same day delivery so consumers can wear their purchases faster than ever.
Leveraging Analytics for Growth
Advanced analytics are helping to drive improvements and efficiencies across organizations. From staffing decisions to product assortments, advanced analytics is turning data that retailers already have into meaningful, actionable insights.
Apparel Industry Trends
Read our annual trends report to stay up-to-date with where the apparel industry is headed.
Download the 2025 ReportCASE STUDY
Footwear Retailer
Point of Sale (POS) Solution Vendor Selection for a Footwear Retailer
This client designs, develops, markets, and distributes footwear for men, women, and children – operating through three segments: domestic wholesale sales, international wholesale sales, and retail sales. Clarkston performed a technology assessment for the client, and the POS (point of sale) system was identified as a foundational system that needed to be modernized for the client to reduce some of their technical debt and increase operational efficiencies.
Secure and scalable code base; Centrally managed promotions
Country packs to ensure fiscal compliance and speed to international deployment
Ease of integration with internal client systems
Featured Clients
