RETAIL MATTERS
Retail matters
Online4baby’s Managing Director, Christy Foster takes a look at business beyond lockdown and logistics.
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ust as it looks like we are growing 700% in 6 months from finally easing out of the $2,500, to up-to $20,000. Naturally, pandemic – the aftermath we always operate with our continues to grow. It’s fair customers front of mind and to say that we have all made many passing these astronomical costs adaptations over the last 18 months, on to them is never a decision we but with the vaccine rollout in full would take lightly. force and an ever-growing green list As a business, we have always of holiday destinations, it almost feels possible that life will begin to get back While present to normal! Unfortunately, it circumstances may seems the logistical impact supply of the aftershocks are ongoing. newest lines being Fear not, this is not another column in which manufactured overseas, COVID takes centre stage! goods that are This month I’m here to considered ‘end-of-line’ share how Online4Baby or ‘clearance’ are a will be ensuring an valuable asset in this uninterrupted supply, despite challenges at sea. climate. You may recall I discussed the issue of shipping in June; I am afraid to embraced change and this attitude report that the situation appears is a core ingredient in our only to have worsened since. successes. This newly evolving International freight prices are the situation is no exception and at highest I have ever seen, steadily Online4Baby we have made some
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nursery today
Online4Baby
key changes to ensure product is available for our customers, whilst supporting our brand partners through this tricky time. Despite early rumours, the statistics have not shown a lockdown baby boom. The 2020 birth rate dropped by 3.9% vs the previous year[1]. That said, we still welcomed 615,557 bundles of joy across England and Wales [2]. For me, that means there are up to 615,557 parents who simply cannot wait for this global logistical hodgepodge to straighten itself out. While present circumstances may impact supply of the newest lines being manufactured overseas, goods that are considered ‘end-ofline’ or ‘clearance’ are a valuable asset in this climate. Our 30,000 ft2 of warehouse capacity means we are perfectly poised to handle large volumes of stock and we are always keen to onboard new brands. Our purchasing department are committed to working with brands to not only accept high quantities of stock but also offer fair prices and, importantly in today’s climate, quick payment. This strategy not only takes steps to protect brand
identities, but also ensures soaring shipping prices don’t leave parents out of pocket. It will come as no surprise that many brands are finding selling clearance lines through Online4Baby to be not only commercially preferable, but also beneficial for the long-term health of their brand. In the UK, an astonishing 48% of parents have had to rely on baby banks since the start of the pandemic, with a further 43% of parents who struggled to get hold of baby products citing the cause as ‘a lack of supply online’[3]. While on-going global supply issues have created a less than perfect climate, we are determined to work with our brand partners to reduce these shocking statistics. Clearance and ‘end-of-line’ stock may not be in the newest colours, or have this season’s ‘must-have’ innovations, but when the alternative of taking baby home from hospital without a car seat, I know what decision parents will make. Sources [1], [2] Office for National Statistics, June 2021 [3] Pampers, via Research Without Barriers, April 2021
