Trying to work out what the latest must-haves are in the high street is no easy task. So it comes as no surprise that demand forecasting is ranking ever higher on the supply chain management wish-list.
But for those demand forecasting stalwarts in the “rag trade” beware of the “celeb”, most notably our very own Prime Minister. Who can forget those green beach shorts featuring an apple motif that the PM wore several times during his summer holiday to the Caribbean? It appears that Vilbrequin would like to, having seen sales for the trendy beach wear slump – to nil.
Commenting recently on the lack of business at the labels Fulham Road, West London store, Vilbrequin manager Aurelie Guitevay said: “We haven’t actually had any interest in those particular shorts since Tony Blair was seen in them on holiday.”
May be demand forecasting software programmers should be including TTBF – the Tony Blair Factor – in to their products!
One of the great mysteries of life is where do all the odd socks go? Woolworths must be asking that very question after about 50,000 odd socks destined for its stores were stolen from a lorry park in Suffolk. The odd socks were to promote the children’s book series “The Oddies”.
Turning to sport, Bath Rugby has a new signing – 3PL heavyweight Wincanton. The Wincanton branding will appear on the team’s match day shorts, official club website and around the ground.
The recent relocation of Wincanton’s head offices to Chippenham has seen it become one of the largest employers in the area. Its support of Bath Rugby strengthens its links with the local community. Wincanton’s Charles Carr says: “Wincanton is very proud of its West Country heritage and this move serves to reinforce its integration with local business and the community. In Bath Rugby, one of the Guinness Premiership’s leading teams, we have a partner that shares our desire for sustained excellence and to be associated with such a successful sporting brand is a great honour.”
Tim Davies, commercial director, Bath Rugby, says: “We are pleased to welcome our newest signing to the Bath team. Wincanton’s reputation as a market leader extends across not only the South-west, but throughout the UK and Ireland and across Europe. It is great to have another big name supporting the club.”
Ever thought about reducing your logistics operation? Never like this, I guarantee. M1 Marketing, a leading commercial vehicle marketing specialist, is offering a new service for those companies who would like a scale model of any of its vehicles. Built up to 1m in length, the models are constructed from metal and can include full moving parts. They can even be made remote-controlled! Forget any fuel crisis – soon enough we will all be riding to work on one of these.
Staying on the subject of models, ‘Who Let the Dog Out!’ is the cheeky message on die-cast giant Corgi’s new delivery truck. The UK’s leading die-cast model company unveiled the livery incorporating the famous canine logo recently at the site of its new warehouse and distribution supplier, Rutland-based haulier C S Ellis.
