Supply Chain Management Research

     Today in class, we did research on Industry and Innovation; but more important, supply chain management. We focused on three main retailers: Zara, H & M, and Uniqlo and then we did some more research. In an article on Bloomberg Business, I found out the the clothing store Zara was the first clothing store to introduce something that we know of as "fast fashion". Fast fashion is fashion that retailers quickly pick up on so they can sell the newest trends in their store. Therefore, the items in their store are constantly changing. Zara is known for its ability to new deliver and sell new styles for their clothes quickly. On the Bloomberg article, it says that "Twice a week, at precise times, store managers order clothes, and twice a week, on a schedule, new garments arrive. To achieve this, Zara controls more of its manufacturing than do most retailers: About half its clothes are made in Spain or nearby countries. For Zara, its supply chain is its competitive edge." Zara is has one of the top supply chain management system. According to an article on Forbes.com, Zara has built a supply chain that not only keeps up with the most recent fashion trends, but delivers it in "real-time".
     Two other fashion retailers who are strong in supply chain management is H & M. and Uniqlo. H & M takes an approach that includes both Zara's and Uniqlo's system of supply chain management. According to the article on Forbes.com, H & M "manages to merge a commitment to longevity while staying responsive to fashion trends." Like Uniqlo, H & M has specific people called buyers who travel and view samples and and choose people to select the right new trends for the store. H & M also has an IT infrastructure that allows executives to view the process from design to sales. This makes the entire process more efficient.  The article on Forbes.com also states that the company Uniqlo, however, focuses more on the "technological differentiation".