Harvard Business Review

DECEMBER 5, 2011

Since consumers have many retailers at which to shop, premium prices are quickly competed away. The large UK retailer, owned by Wal-mart, lowered its 2010 expenses by over £70 million ($110 million) through energy and waste reduction throughout its retail footprint of 500 stores. Consider Asda. Their distinctive insight?

Retail 14

Retail Apparel Supply Chain Agility 14

Harvard Business Review

DECEMBER 20, 2011

Ok, this one is cheating a bit, but on a fundamental level, the top themes in green business haven't actually changed too much ( see the 2010 list ). Coca-Cola was not alone in facing increasing costs in 2011; one of my clients, Kimberly-Clark, took an earnings hit from record pulp prices. Business as usual is no more.

Supply Chain 15

Supply Chain Apparel P&L Long-term 15

Harvard Business Review

JANUARY 27, 2012

While GILT and its rivals sell across verticals (apparel, home, travel, kids, local), OKL deals in just one big one: home. With six to eight boutiques opening every day, at prices 50 percent below retail, Mack says the goal is to make every day "Black Friday" — without selling out too fast given the 72-hour lifetime of each boutique.

Retail 14

Retail Fashion Merchandising Apparel 14