287. The haunt is on at Party City with Odette Welling, Vice President of Merchandising
Retail Gets Real · with Odette Welling · October 25, 2022 · 18 min
Summary
Party City's VP of Merchandising pulls back the curtain on the massive undertaking that is Halloween. This episode reveals the intricate planning, from sourcing costumes over a year in advance to hiring 20,000 seasonal employees, offering crucial insights for any ecommerce operator navigating peak seasonal demand and complex merchandising. It highlights the operational prowess required to dominate a key retail period.
Key takeaways
Begin seasonal product sourcing and development over a year in advance to secure inventory and manage supply chains effectively.
Plan for significant temporary staffing needs during peak seasons, including robust hiring and training programs for thousands of new employees.
Develop a deep understanding of evolving customer trends across various demographics (kids, adults, pets) to inform merchandising and product assortment.
Implement detailed forecasting and inventory management strategies to balance demand with temporary product lines, minimizing overstock or stockouts.
Optimize the omnichannel experience for seasonal shoppers, ensuring seamless integration between online offerings and festive in-store experiences.
Halloween is one of Party City’s biggest seasons and is a huge undertaking that includes hiring and training 20,000 new seasonal employees and sourcing costumes and décor more than a year in advance. On today’s show, Odette Welling, vice president of merchandising — and the self-confessed “Halloween queen” at Party City — talks all things Halloween, including the retailer’s most popular costumes for kids, adults, teens and pets. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
What does this episode say about retail & omnichannel?
Begin seasonal product sourcing and development over a year in advance to secure inventory and manage supply chains effectively.
What does this episode say about product & merchandising?
Plan for significant temporary staffing needs during peak seasons, including robust hiring and training programs for thousands of new employees.
What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?
Develop a deep understanding of evolving customer trends across various demographics (kids, adults, pets) to inform merchandising and product assortment.
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
Implement detailed forecasting and inventory management strategies to balance demand with temporary product lines, minimizing overstock or stockouts.
What does this episode say about retail & omnichannel?
Optimize the omnichannel experience for seasonal shoppers, ensuring seamless integration between online offerings and festive in-store experiences.
