Shelf Life: Expert Voices from the Consumer Goods Industry

What if all companies worked toward creating a transparent, efficient, and ethical supply chain landscape?

In this episode, we welcome Peter Smith, a seasoned executive with a rich background working for major companies such as Carters, Party City, and VF Corporation. Joined by our hosts Logan Ensign and Joel Beal, we're diving deep into the evolving landscape of consumer brands and the retail market.

Peter shares his insights on how brands can better collaborate with retailer partners, on the declining dominance of large monolithic brands, the rise of lesser-known brands, and the significance of data transparency and collaboration across various departments and external partnerships. We'll explore the challenges that new brands face as they strive to sustain initial success and navigate a rapidly changing market, and discuss the transformation in data availability and its crucial role in supply chain management.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• How data transparency can improve collaboration across sales, marketing, and supply chain department
• The different strategies your business can adopt to sustain success in rapidly changing markets
• Practical applications of AI that have a profound impact on supply chain operations

Jump into the conversation:

00:00 Critical data areas: inventory and supply chain
09:39 Data-driven market analysis improves product performance
13:04 Supplier challenges in negotiating discounts transparently
18:47 Increased data communication and transparency between organizations
23:13 High-quality global manufacturing accessibility for startup brands
29:58 Advocating for data transparency within organizations
35:58 Leveraging machine learning for supply chain insights
39:05 Machine learning replicates human intuition for guessing

What comes to mind when you hear the words ‘sales data’?
Alloy.ai’s resident expert on all things related to retail data, Manfred Reiche, says there’s a whole realm of information you’re likely missing out on when it comes to the sales data bucket. In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of point-of-sale data and its transformative impact on the consumer goods industry.
Listen in as we explore the critical role of data analysis in uncovering regional problems, managing inventory, and enhancing decision-making across various company sizes. From the importance of granularity in data to the necessity of breaking down silos within organizations, this discussion promises to shed light on how businesses can leverage vast data sets to drive success.
Three Key Takeaways:

1. Accumulating data isn't enough, the key is to convert it into insights that drive action and that’s where granularity and AI play pivotal roles
2. Encourage cooperation between different business units - breaking down silos can lead to more synchronized decision-making and better use of POS data
3. Transition from traditional methods to using real-time POS data for forecasting to better predict market behaviors and enhance supply chain decisions
   

AI in supply chains isn't just about crunching data—it's about creating bridges between complex info and everyday decision-making.
In this episode, Lasse Holmstedt, VP of Engineering at Alloy.ai, joins us to discuss the dynamic role of generative AI and large language models within the consumer goods sector. Throughout the conversation, we delve not only into the innovative application of AI technologies that encompass forecasting and data harmonization but also highlight the critical importance of maintaining clean and accurate data for AI effectiveness.
Listen in for a deeper understanding of the potential and pitfalls of using pre-trained AI models. Along the way we’ll also explore strategies to safeguard sensitive business data and discover how AI can transform sales and demand planning processes.
Three Key Takeaways:

• Explore leveraging textual and qualitative data in addition to numerical approaches to enhance decision-making processes while mitigating risk
• Consider applications of AI for enhanced visibility and predictive capabilities in inventory management, forecasting, and cross-platform product matching for more efficient operations
• Establish a clear data governance framework to ensure that data fed into AI systems is accurate, up-to-date, and free from errors, laying a solid foundation for reliable AI outputs

In this episode, we’re joined by Zach Horton, Senior Director of Logistics and Supply & Demand Planning at Ember Technologies, Inc. From handling Ember's exponential growth to integrating cutting-edge technology into the heart of their supply chain, Zach shares invaluable insights on the role of AI, the essence of culture, and the art of innovative product development.
Tune in to learn not just how to plan for the future but to shape it with wisdom, agility, and the invaluable FIO (figure it out) mindset. Because in today's fast-paced world, it's not just about the product—it's about the people you serve and the team that drives you. Stay ahead of the curve with us, right here, on the Shelf Life Podcast.
Three Key Takeaways:

• The implementation of a robust sales and operations planning process is pivotal for successful startup growth, promoting transparency and accountability
• AI holds the promise to revolutionize planning and analysis, offering a glimpse into future consumer products industry advancements
• F.I.O - Figure It Out: champion a proactive work culture and encourage your team to embrace challenges with an innovative spirit
  

This week's special bonus episode dives into the into Black Friday, consumer spending, and the state of the economy. Our guest, Joel Beal, CEO of Alloy.ai and economist, provides a unique perspective on the early numbers and what they mean for the larger economy. We delve into:

• The preliminary numbers that are emerging post-Black Friday, attempting to decode consumer behavior and market trends
• The possibility of deflation
• How sales are breaking down in terms of in-store vs. ecommerce

Tune in to this episode of Shelf Life, and get a comprehensive understanding of current economic trends, their impact on consumer spending, and their potential implications for the future.