With a drive to fuel further omni-channel and international growth, the brands Coast, Oasis, Warehouse and Karen Millen have selected Retail Assist’s supply chain solution, Merret. Following a competitive tender process, the womenswear fashion brands chose Merret to underpin their future strategies due to its inherent multiple channel functionality, scalability and international trading foundations.
Mike Shearwood, Chief Executive, said: “Each of the brands has distinct strategies and business drivers, and requires a solution to underpin these exciting advances in an omni-channel world. Retail Assist have proven experience of working with recognised brands and we look forward to growing our business with them.”
The Merret solution – provided by Retail Assist - has been designed with multi-channel at its core and is used globally by many successful retailers, including ASOS, Whistles, Mint Velvet and the Jacques Vert Group. Merret is an integrated merchandising and warehousing supply chain solution that is proven, scalable and flexible – working from a central stock pool and covering all aspects of stock control and retail supply.
Having supported numerous retailers through change management, Retail Assist are well positioned to facilitate the Coast, Oasis, Warehouse and Karen Millen brands as they undergo a significant period of change to set them in a strong position for future growth.
Ish Patel, Group Omni-channel Director, added: “The decision to implement Merret was centred on its capability to readily support our omni-channel vision, so we know it will give us the best results possible when it comes to delivering a consistent and integrated approach across our numerous channels and customer touch points. Merret is able to work across multiple territories, currencies, languages and channels, which will enhance the success of our global growth strategies. We felt this was the best solution to support Coast, Oasis, Warehouse and Karen Millen for future growth in a climate that is so heavily reliant on agility and flexibility to succeed.”
Retail Assist already provide complete IT support following the outsourcing of Aurora Fashions’ IT Team in 2011, a partnership that includes their Ra-X data exchange and managed helpdesk services. Implementing Merret across the group’s 2,017 sites extends the already successful working relationship.
Richard Glanville, Chief Financial Officer, said: “Merret is set to deliver excellent returns for us through not only a lean total cost of ownership, but more strategically by enabling each of the brand businesses to further refine and optimise inventory across all channels."
