The Inovis Blog

Read an interesting post today by Jackie Huba on one of her favorite topics - J. Crew and the turn-around they have pulled off. Like a lot of other cutting edge retailers, they are truly listening to their customers, and with social computing, like blogs, looks like that attention to detail and customer focus is paying off with happy online commentary. Hey! I paid attention.

One of the really cool things about my job is that I get to hear various stories around innovation, and one of the industries that is really smack in the middle of all the Web 2.0, e-commerce, supply chain innovation is retail. Terry Lundgren, chairman of Macy’s, recently talked at a University of Arizona school of retailing conference about the My Macy’s initiative to tailor inventory in each store to the realities of each state and region. Gloves and scarves don’t sell well in Atlanta, but milk and batteries do when local weather forecasters mention the word “snow!!” I’ve been here since the late 70’s. I know! Talk about a responsive and flexible supply chain. Check out the Philip Alexander’s column in Ad Age about the My Macy’s initiative. An interesting read.

Just remember that retail is, in many ways, like other industries - follow the leader. Other retail players will sit on the sidelines and watch to see if Macy’s can pull this strategy off. I put my money on the team at Macy’s for what I think will be an interesting operational and integration feat to pull off.

And even though we all agree we’re heading into a recession, much of the research I’ve seen doesn’t indicate a huge drop off in spending - even in the retail industry. So looks like leaders, like Macy’s, understand that if they continue to focus on their convictions, they will exit the recession and enter an economic recovery that might well position them well ahead of those companies that are biting their nails, riding the pine and watching.