Footwear Brands: Choosing the Right 3PL for Retail Deliveries

Did you know…? 

  • In 2023, the global footwear market is projected to be worth almost $445 Billion U.S. dollars.
  • The largest shoe brand in the U.S. is Nike, with an annual revenue of $44.5 Billion.
  • The average American owns 20 pairs of shoes, with men owning an average of 12 pairs and women owning an average of 27 pairs.

As the industry only continues to grow, footwear brands must put their best foot forward to meet increased demand and win competitor’s shelf space.  

If you want to kick the competition to the curb, start with mastering transportation and getting on the shelf.  

Footwear Industry & Gross Profit Opportunity  

As the retail industry has evolved throughout the last decade, most retailers have begun to institute strict compliance programs to encourage suppliers to deliver to distribution centers on time. Continually failing to meet these standards can add up to significant costs for any brand. But even more costly is the fact that late deliveries can keep a vendor’s product off the shelves. 

The table below demonstrates the gross profit opportunity available to footwear brands who can meet retailer’s expected delivery performance standards. 

 

How On-Time Delivery Impacts Gross Profit*   

Annual Revenue On-Time Delivery Performance Gross Profit
$1M 77% 346,500
$1M 95% 427,500

*This example assumes the $1M company operates at a 45% gross margin. 

 

In this example, the difference between hitting retail suppliers’ average delivery performance (77% on time) and hitting the performance retail partners expect (95% on time or better) is $81,000 in pure margin. 

In addition to tanking their gross profit, footwear brands that continually fail to meet standards are at risk of damaging their retail relationships and hurting their chances of growth.

 

Footwear Industry Shelf Opportunity 

2023 Expected Annual Revenue 2023 Expected Weekly Revenue Average Out-of-Stock Rate (Jan 2023) Amount Lost to Out-of-Stocks in One Week
$445 Billion $8.56 Billion 9% $770 Million

 

Based on IRI data, the chart above tracks in-stock levels at leading U.S. retail stores versus total domestic annual sales data for the footwear industry.    

Using Zipline expert calculations, the revenue opportunity cost left on the shelf in just one week is $770 Million.

That $770 Million represents the opportunity to win over new customers by keeping your committed shelf space stocked and win expanded shelf space when retailers need to fill gaps left by non-performers.   

This is a top line revenue opportunity gained simply by meeting your retail and distribution partners’ fulfilment expectations. Keep in mind that 66% of CPG buyers stated they have stopped working with suppliers over delivery issues.   

That shelf space can be yours. 

Value of a Specialized Logistics Partner  

The most forward-thinking footwear brands are looking at their retail-optimized supply chains differently.   

Vendors that view logistics as an investment, on which they can eventually see a return, stand to fare better than those who perceive logistics as an expense. They can expect to improve organizational performance and subsequently their retail relationships, which can be vital in unlocking untapped growth.   

The best logistics providers typically take a consultative approach to service. This looks like locating improvement areas and making suggestions that can increase performance, lowering costs in the process. With a deep understanding of complex supply chain functions and specialized industry knowledge, the best providers can help enterprises better understand how their operation needs to perform to meet customer demand and cut costs in the process.   

A logistics provider equipped with the latest shipping technology can make distribution network suggestions that can reduce overall spend and improve on-time percentages, like consolidation programs or warehouse reconfigurations.   

See the Difference Zipline Can Make     

Retail logistics solutions consultants at Zipline Logistics can help footwear brands master their most important customer relationships. 

We believe in creating seamless partnerships with our customers. That means making your goals our goals and working to meet them. We help even multibillion-dollar companies lock in the right capacity partners to achieve the best possible freight outcomes and uncover new savings potential.   

Interested in learning more about what we can do for you?

Boot the Competition With Zipline

The post Footwear Brands: Choosing the Right 3PL for Retail Deliveries appeared first on Zipline Logistics.