Real-Time Inventory Management: One Size Fits All

By Samantha Murphy, Chain Store Age

Robert Wayne Footwear hit the scene more than 25 years ago as a single store in Los Angeles. But as it grew into a multichannel retailer with 45 stores across 11 states, its inventory-management needs expanded, too. By integrating front-end and back-office systems, it has found a better way to serve its customers and eliminate out-of-stocks.

Its Web storefront, created in 2001, presented a particular challenge, especially during the critical holiday shopping season.

"We had to upload inventory files and use spreadsheets," said Adrian Rosas, director of online operations for Robert Wayne Footwear. "It was an outdated system, and it was hard to keep up with inventory levels." This process was not only time-consuming, it was not always accurate. "We were getting orders for items we couldn't fill," Rosas said.

Reprinted With Permission From Chain Store Age, October 2008. Copyright Lebhar-Friedman, Inc., 425 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022