Case Study: Storm Kits
Perceive:
Chain saws are a critical response tool following weather events like hurricanes. Supply issues inevitably occur in areas impacted by storms.
Oregon had programs available for multiple distribution channels to address shortages, but the product mix/configuration would not work within Big-box retail inventory management systems leaving them out-of-stock in times of great customer need.
Perform:
The first storm kit was used as an example of superior vendor partnership by the SVP of Merchandising at a meeting with their Board of Directors
Critical supplies to facilitate post storm clean up were made available in 4 of the most active weather disaster years in history.
It demonstrated deep partnership and earned credibility with our retail partner
Prescribe:
I championed an initiative to develop and implement a manual over-ride procedure that enabled EDI acceptance of orders for a specific combination of SKUs which were then kitted, shipped and positioned in the customer’s warehouse near high frequency store areas.
This benefitted the customer needs because they could:
Have pre-packaged retail-ready assortments of chain and bar products stocked in the retailers “storm-response” warehouse available for immediate distribution to affected areas
Receive orders and bill as individual SKUs, but inventory and ship as a kit
Offer the appropriate mix for their shopper
Satisfy the critical needs of the community