7 Ways to Improve Your Sourcing and Procurement Process

What are sourcing and procurement? How are they different? If you think sourcing and procurement are synonymous with each other or a layman’s terms for talking about getting supplies for an organization, we’re sorry to burst your bubble. Sourcing and procurement are vastly different.  Before you procure, you source.  Sourcing is the stage where an … Read more

11 Tips For Supply Chain Optimization

As your brand grows beyond a handful of SKUs, effectively managing your supply chain becomes a growingly important part of your business. A larger supply chain leaves more room for inefficiencies.  You work with multiple suppliers and partners simultaneously and your products likely travel across multiple regions around the world, so where do you even … Read more

Optimize Production Costs by Conducting a Supply Chain Analysis

Imagine you’re sitting inside a luxury car with fully-electric features, a minimalist design, sporty performance figures, lavender mist, and a high-end sound system, comfortable right?  Now imagine all of that but without wheels. Is the car functional? Not at all. But that is what a great product is without an efficient supply chain. Non-functional.  The … Read more

9 E-Commerce Trends That Shape New Product Development

The world of e-commerce has always been a shifting landscape, with trends coming and going. How consumers buy and what they expect pivots with every new technology. Old-school advertising and modern data analytics have merged with mobile devices and the growth of a global fulfillment network. New e-commerce trends emerge each year, and some change … Read more

Amazon Aggregators and E-Commerce: What You Need to Know

Just before the pandemic started, something was brewing in the world of small brands selling on Amazon. A growing number of well-funded companies were buying up successful small sellers. Then, when everyone was stuck at home and buying even more from Amazon, the idea of consolidating brands took off.  The companies, called Amazon aggregators, buy … Read more

Contract Manufacturing in China — Not as Easy as You Think

Contract manufacturing in China has become increasingly popular. This option suits large organizations that don’t want to own factories or invest in capital equipment and smaller companies where building production facilities isn’t feasible. Beyond the cost savings, using a Chinese contract manufacturer allows firms to focus their efforts on product innovation, sales, and marketing.  Outsourcing … Read more

Is Vietnam Manufacturing an Option for Your Product?

Vietnam manufacturing: cargo ship with MADE IN VIETNAM painted on it

If you are looking to start production on a new product or increase production on an existing one, you may be considering alternatives to manufacturing in China. While there are advantages to Chinese manufacturing, the number of challenges and costs for the region are continuing to increase. In order to mitigate risks and combat increasing … Read more

6 Tips to Get the Most Out of the New Product Development Process

new product development process: employees looking at a laptop

The new product development process is a proven roadmap for taking ideas into products, and it’s used by thousands of companies across hundreds of industries every day. The steps in this process are tools that, when used properly, can deliver a true competitive advantage and increase your company’s bottom line.  The benefit you derive is … Read more