Jane Siskin, founder of Cinq à Sept, reveals how her fashion brand thrives in a "scary" retail landscape by leveraging a "fast-track program." This program uses granular sales data to quickly reorder popular styles and adapt designs, demonstrating the crucial role of agile supply chains and data-driven decisions in navigating market volatility and optimizing product development.
Key takeaways
Implement a 'fast-track program' to rapidly reorder and adapt best-selling styles based on real-time sales data, significantly reducing lead times for popular items.
Utilize granular sales data (by store, color, and size) to inform production decisions, ensuring inventory aligns with consumer demand and minimizing waste.
Strategically manage supply chain relationships and fabric sourcing to optimize turnaround times, understanding that new materials or unique fabrics can add weeks to production.
Recognize the power of brand positioning, even in naming conventions, to create a distinct identity and leverage perceived value, as demonstrated by Cinq à Sept's French name.
Acknowledge and prepare for the inherent volatility of the current retail environment by building flexibility into production and merchandising strategies.
Cinq à Sept founder Jane Siskin prides herself on the fashion brand's ability to quickly respond to the stuff that sells. "We have a great 'fast-track program' where we can quickly build on the good styles," said Siskin. To do that, she and her team lean on sales data -- "We can see by store, we can see by color, we can even see by size if we want to," she said -- though the actual turnaround time depends on a few factors. Fabric is a big one.
"If it's a repeat style, exactly as it was before -- a reorder in a fabric that we own -- it could be four to six weeks. If it's something new, there's a material change to it, add another couple weeks to it. And if we don't have the fabric, you're adding a month."
On this week's Glossy Podcast, Siskin spoke about fashion, the branding boon that is having a French name (even if you're based in Los Angeles) and the reason why "you have to have your head in the sand if you don't think it's a scary time for retail."
What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?
Implement a 'fast-track program' to rapidly reorder and adapt best-selling styles based on real-time sales data, significantly reducing lead times for popular items.
What does this episode say about brand & content?
Utilize granular sales data (by store, color, and size) to inform production decisions, ensuring inventory aligns with consumer demand and minimizing waste.
What does this episode say about product & merchandising?
Strategically manage supply chain relationships and fabric sourcing to optimize turnaround times, understanding that new materials or unique fabrics can add weeks to production.
What does this episode say about analytics & attribution?
Recognize the power of brand positioning, even in naming conventions, to create a distinct identity and leverage perceived value, as demonstrated by Cinq à Sept's French name.
What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?
Acknowledge and prepare for the inherent volatility of the current retail environment by building flexibility into production and merchandising strategies.
