Advertising Feature
PLM and Tech Trends in Retail, Footwear, and Apparel
Can you imagine a clothing store where all the racks are arranged not according to size, but by how many Facebook “likes” each garment received? There are no changing rooms, only augmented reality mirrors where you can “virtually” try on whatever you want. Back at the design studio a new collection is underway, based on feedback gathered from social media. The designer accesses an online materials library where every item has been meticulously screened for compliance. Customers login to retailer websites and interact with intelligent video overlays to find their perfect shade and size, then drop the item into a virtual shopping cart.
Science fiction? Nope, not really.
The recently published WhichPLM Annual Review 2012 takes a look at some of these new and emerging technologies and explains how they tie into core PLM solutions. From the review, here’s a summary of the top technology and PLM trends in retail, footwear, and apparel for 2012:
The birth of E-PLM. Traditionally, PLM has supported core product development processes – design, sourcing, sampling and manufacture. But today the retail, footwear, and apparel industry demands extended PLM or E-PLM which includes color management, merchandise planning, mobile applications and trend analysis.
Closer Supply Chain Partnerships. As global supply chains become ever more complex, a unified approach (with PLM at its core) is called for. This isn’t just about tracking audits to ensure compliance, it’s about making sure the supply chain adopts standardized technologies and methods.
Green. Ethical. Sustainable. Today, environmental regulation, compliance—with RoHS and REACH, for instance—and sustainability are front and center, and businesses that neglect them risk their brand.
Hazardous chemical found at the Well Dying Factory Limited in China reflected badly on well-known clothing brands
Retailers engage with consumers using social media
Businesses need to know what substances and materials make up their products – splitting the completed garment down into separate libraries of fabric (raw materials, intermediate, aggregate), trim, labels, components, packaging, cleaning agents, transport mode, process energy and emissions. And then even further to thread, rivets, buttons, seams, dyes, chemical composition, and chemical processing.
Outsourced manufacturers and suppliers should be able to audit their own processes in a transparent, traceable way. It’s essential suppliers be educated on regulation such as RoHS and REACH. They should have full disclosure of all restricted substances and practices. They should understand the end product’s use and application and themselves show strong corporate governance and ethical compliance practices.
In the past, environmental compliance modules have been retrospective add-ons. Going forward compliance should and will be a foundation strategy of a PLM system.
Shopper Engagement. Retail is responsible for 20 percent of the United States’ GDP, and has the largest workforce of any industry. But the current economic climate has consumers spending less of their disposable income, which in turn is having a devastating impact on retail. Breaking the cycle will mean finding new ways to evolve and engage the consumer. Seventy percent of retail customers shop online or on mobile devices, and integration between social media, mobile technology, online shopping and physical retailing is vital.
Consumer-facing or storefront technology like that offered by Microsoft and Google is growing in popularity. Microsoft Kinect offers an augmented reality experience to shoppers – using gestures, customers are able to select from popular items and looks before having them superimposed on their digitized selves – turning when they turn and moving when they move. Google Wallet allows for an in-store contactless transaction via an iPhone.
Consumer Power. Retailers can no longer dictate to consumers.
Rather, consumers play a greater role in the creation of products. Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter are not places to push new collections but to solicit ideas and opinions from consumers. This information is then fed back to core PLM and extend PLM solutions to inform merchandise planning strategy, garment design, store layout and advertising strategies.
Mobile Tech. While customers are engaging with virtual representations of retail products in-store, designers and garment technicians are increasingly reducing their reliance on costly physical sampling with product image capturing and virtual sampling, which can then be entered into a PLM solution quickly and easily.
For more information on getting the most out of product lifecycle management in retail, footwear and apparel, and consumer products visitwww.ptc.com/go/flexplm.
Customer Success: Deckers Outdoor
Deckers manage more than global brand and global product development with PLM
Recently Pam Buckingham, PLM/Process Improvement Manager and Jamie Tantleff, Assistant PLM/Process Improvement Manager were interviewed by PTC to give their perspective on the three main business pain points that Deckers have had addressed with their PLM business initiatives and were critical to the success of the Deckers brands. These challenges included managing global brands, global product development and process improvement.
Deckers Outdoor Manages Global Brands with PLM- PLM gave Deckers a single source that enables communication and visibility required for a growing retail manufacturer.
Part 1 0f 3
Global Development at Deckers Outdoor- PLM enabled Deckers to take one of their brands’ calendars from 90 weeks to 70 weeks,
which allowed them to be on trend and closer to market.
Part 2 0f 3
PLM Process Improvement at Deckers Outdoor- PLM allows Deckers to integrate customer feedback or key account requests into
their line in real-time.
Part 3 0f 3
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Latest related market research
Apparel Specialist Retailers in the Philippines
On the back of a better economic performance and improved demand for casual clothing, apparel specialist retailers in the Philippines saw improvement in sales growth during 2012. The year saw total revenue growth of 4% while the entire channel generated Ps99.5 billion. The increasing number of teens and 20-29-year-old demographic have stimulated demand for basic casual clothing, like jeans and t-shirts.
Published: May, 2013 | Price: $ 900.00 | Read more >
Apparel Specialist Retailers in the United Kingdom
Sales of apparel specialist retailers were affected by the wet weather characterising the British summer in 2012, which discouraged consumers from buying spring/summer collections. On the other hand, an eventful 2012 for the country, with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London’s hosting of the Olympic Games, boosted sales as more tourists flocked to the country.
Published: May, 2013 | Price: $ 900.00 | Read more >
Homeworld Shopping Corp in Retailing (Philippines)
Homeworld Shopping Corp is seen to take advantage of the opening of more SM malls both in the northern and southern key cities in the country. With SM poised to expand its market base by tapping more lucrative geographic areas.
Published: May, 2013 | Price: $ 150.00 | Read more >
