Below you will find links to the recordings and slides from the Retail/Apparel Track sessions held during RFID Journal Virtually LIVE! 2020.
Wed., Sept. 30, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Tommy Hilfiger Improves Visibility and Reduces NOF (Not on Floor) With RFID
RFID Journal Award Finalist: Best RFID Retail Implementation. Fashion company Tommy Hilfiger is using radio frequency identification technology to improve its inventory visibility and reduce the amount of time associates spend searching for products in the back room. After successfully piloting the program at eight stores, the firm implemented the technology at 243 retail locations throughout the United States and Canada. Key takeaways: Learn how Tommy Hilfiger designed and constructed its “RFID Rooms” to preclude the need for shielded locations at its offsite warehouses. Understand how the firm has built a robust RFID program that provides additional value to its overall business.
Speaker: Joseph Todaro, SVP, Planning/Allocation/Merchandise Operations, Tommy Hilfiger
Recording | Presentation Slides
Wed., Sept. 30, 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Can Retailers Be Omnichannel-Ready Without RFID?
In order to satisfy today’s consumers and to effectively compete, retailers need to be omnichannel ready. Omnichannel features such as buy online pickup in-store (BOPIS), ship from store (SfS), research online buy in-store (ROBIS), buy online, and buy in-store are essential. Yet, many retailers struggle to efficiently and effectively offer a true omnichannel experience. Key takeaways: This session will present the empirical results of an Omnichannel Ready Assessment of several major retailers. In the assessment, the study examines the role of RFID in their readiness and answers the question: can a retailer be omnichannel ready without RFID?
Speaker: Bill Hardgrave, Provost and Vice President Auburn University
Recording | Presentation Slides
Wed., Sept. 30, 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Retailer Reduces Operating Costs With RFID
Havan, one of the largest department store chains in Brazil, with stores in over 17 states, is using RFID-enabled technology to reduce costs and increase efficiency. The technology helps to authenticate the arrival of the correct goods to the distribution center in a few seconds and guarantees the products will be shipped to the stores efficiently. Key takeaways: Learn how RFID has decreased errors and improved efficiency. Hear how Havan’s operating costs have fallen and the firm is becoming more competitive in the market.
Speaker: Alexsandro Venancio, RFID Product Owner, Havan
Recording | Presentation Slides
Thurs., Oct. 1, 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Beyond Inventory Management: RFID in Visual Merchandising
Tracking retailer inventory levels and out-of-stocks is among the most frequent uses of radio frequency identification. One Italian men’s clothing retailer has completed a successful pilot using the technology to provide visibility into how well its merchandise performs at specific store display locations. The retailer tracked what was displayed in each area of a store, then compared the net profit from the sale of each piece of merchandise against the cost of displaying that item. Key takeaways: Understand how the RFID tag reads, as well as the data culled from those read events, enabled the firm to optimize its merchandizing in the store. Learn how the test-site stores, using the RFID data to better manage their displays, achieved an increase in sales.
Speaker: Antonio Rizzi, Full Professor—Industrial Logistics and Supply Chain Management, University of Parma
Recording | Presentation Slides
Thurs., Oct. 1, 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Stadium AB Improves Inventory Accuracy With RFID
RFID Journal Award Finalist: Best RFID Retail Implementation. Stadium AB has successfully carried out an RFID pilot to manage fast rotations of products ranging from kayaks to apparel to shoe laces. Headquartered in Sweden, Stadium AB sells retail sportswear and training clothes, as well as sports-related merchandise and has stores located throughout Europe. For the pilot, the firm tagged products at its distribution center and used sled readers to interrogate the tags as they were applied. The tags were then read upon receipt at the two participating stores, and periodically throughout the days following, during inventory counts. Key takeaways: Hear how the use of the technology improved inventory accuracy to about 98 percent and provided in-store staff with confidence in what inventory they have onsite. Learn how the improved inventory accuracy allows the company to more easily adopt the omnichannel model of sales online since it can be sure products are where the software indicates they are.
Speaker: Johan Stenstrom, Supply Chain Developer, Stadium AB
Recording | Presentation Slides
Thurs., Oct. 1, 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Southern Fried Cotton Reduces Customer Chargebacks By 98.8%
American clothing brand Southern Fried Cotton (SFC) has leveraged an RFID system to automatically capture data about what is being shipped for each order. SFC’s introduction to RFID came with a request to tag its products with EPC UHF RFID tags from one of its large retailer customers. The solution is designed to prevent errors and increase efficiency at its wholesale location in Clemson, S.C. Learn how the firm leveraged a technology more commonly deployed by big companies, which resulted in bringing its customer chargeback rate down by 98.8 percent, increasing its warehouse efficiency and achieving an ROI within less than a year.
Speaker: Susan Pichoff, Senior Director – Industry Engagement, Retail Apparel and General Merchandise, GS1 US
Recording | Presentation Slides