Episode Details
Back to EpisodesGuest: Phil Rich of Sweetwater on his company's holiday season preparations; Transportation continues to be a volatile sector; and shippers prepare for the Brexit deadline.
Description
In this episode, guest Phil Rich, chief supply chain officer and senior VP of Sweetwater, talks about being an online retailer during a very different holiday season. Sweetwater is the nation's largest e-tailer for musical instruments and audio equipment. Increasing inventories and gaining better visibility with suppliers were key steps the company has taken. He also is preparing for a higher level of returns in January.
Transportation continues to be a very volatile sector of the supply chain. There is a huge demand for logistics services at a time when it is difficult to even find available containers. On top of that, some parcel carriers are refusing additional volumes. We also discuss key company moves this week, such as XPO's decision to split its operations into two companies and new acquisitions from some major transportation players that further shake up the market.
Is the world ready for Brexit? The deadline for the United Kingdom to sever economic ties with the European Union looms large at the end of the month. How can American companies prepare for new ways of trading in the UK and the EU? We discuss how many are taking a two-pronged approach to reach European customers.
Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Sweetwater.com
- Empty shipping containers face delayed returns
- XPO to split into two companies
- Penske Logistics acquires Black Horse Carriers
- J.B. Hunt expands last-mile network with latest acquisition
- CSX expands East Coast rail network with Pan Am acquisition
- Logistics takes center stage in Europe as Brexit deadline looms
- DC VELOCITY's Covid-19 coverage
- Visit DCVelocity.com for the latest news.
- Send feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.
Podcast sponsored by Yale Materials Handling
Other links