Tompkins International

Download the Keynote Presentation by Jim Tompkins: Retail at a Crossroads, from NRF 2013 Global Supply Chain Summit

Jim Tompkins — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:07:26 +0000

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Retail at a Crossroads: CEO Jim Tompkins’ Presentation from NRF’s 2013 Global Supply Chain Summit

Jim Tompkins — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:54:32 +0000

Download the keynote presentation by Jim Tompkins and view video from the event.

Online Sales Tax Bill: How Does it Click with Amazon’s Long-term Strategy?

Jim Tompkins — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:57:58 +0000

Retailers, both online and brick-and-mortar, have been closely watching new legislation being debated in Congress. Will it affect your business?

An Evolution of Crossroads: Roles Converge for Consumer Products Companies and Retailers

Jim Tompkins — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:33:47 +0000

The separation between the consumer products industry and retail is blurring. Consumer products companies are beginning to operate in retail by selling to the end consumer, while retailers are moving to private label products more and more. Consumers themselves are changing. Download this paper for more about how times have changed, perspective on these changes, and strategic directions to take.

Supply Chain Technology: Applying the Latest Products and Features to Your Supply Chain

Jim Tompkins — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:29:51 +0000

The most successful retailers are looking to ensure that their supply chains are prepared to support the evolution of consumers, whose shopping preferences are requiring companies to have demand-driven operations that support an omnichannel vision. Download this report to learn more about how the world’s leading companies are using technology to meet this challenge and create value using visibility, flexibility, and speed.

Six Ways to Save Costs in Transportation and Logistics

Jim Tompkins — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:33:08 +0000

NRF Supply Chain Summit: Tompkins International CEO to Reveal Tips for Retailers to Thrive

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:33:48 +0000

Supply Chain Expert Jim Tompkins to Deliver Opening Keynote on ‘Retail at a Crossroads,’ May 20

The Dos and Don’ts of Selling to Customers in China: How to Avoid Getting Caught Between the Tiger and Dragon

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:47:34 +0000

You may be debating whether or not to conduct business in China. Or perhaps your company has already entered the market in Asia and finding it to be a difficult path. There’s no doubt that China presents a huge opportunity through its growing class of consumers that are hungry for new products. But can you [...]

Fickle Consumer Trends Demand Greater Automation in Food & Grocery

Jim Tompkins — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:29:15 +0000

Food distribution center automation creates flexibility, better efficiency, and greater productivity. The grocery industry and food companies have been slow to adopt, however. Consumer demand and the ability to gain a competitive edge are both driving these companies to move their operations to automation.

The $5 Fancy Cupcake & the Old Twinkie: Fickle Trends Demand Greater Automation in Food & Grocery

Jim Tompkins — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:26:51 +0000

When it comes to food trends, consumers can be fickle. The Hostess Twinkie made huge headlines when its producer and distributor closed operations last year, and some were wondering how they would survive without the long-standing and popular sweet treat. But the Twinkie will soon be back on store shelves after the Hostess snack cake [...]

Consortium Report Reveals Greatest Challenges for Supply Chain Leaders

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:13:46 +0000

Industry Executives Consider Costs & Software/Technology Among Biggest Obstacles in Business Today

Competing Against Today’s Biggest Supply Chain Challenges

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:31:40 +0000

I have often said that the job of being a supply chain leader is one of the most difficult jobs in a business. So, I tip my hat to you. I know, sometimes you can feel like you spend most of your day putting out “fires” and solving systematic issues. So, the Tompkins Supply Chain [...]

Amazon: Nothing Can Stop Them – Because They Personify Long-Term Thinking

Jim Tompkins — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:31:15 +0000

Amazon’s numbers are out for the previous quarter, and since Amazon is the company to watch, investors and news outlets are putting their earnings reports under a microscope. Some are saying the numbers were good, but others are disappointed and concerned about the short-term challenges ahead for Amazon (sales tax changes in the US and [...]

Top Supply Chain Challenges for Consumer Products Companies in 2013

Jim Tompkins — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:29:02 +0000

Future Proof Your Distribution Center Against Uncertain New Business Realities

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:22:56 +0000

Are your distribution centers and supply chain operational strategy ready for the new rules of material handling? Most DC design is done based on past data, but using some strategy and technology, you can create a plan that lets your DC respond to unpredictable future needs and uncertain business realities. This podcast features Paul Faber, supply chain technology and systems integration expert, and Chris Ferrell, director of the supply chain benchmarking and best practices forum, the Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium.

Hot Topic Report: The Biggest Challenges for Today’s Supply Chains

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:46:51 +0000

See the biggest short-term and long-term challenges that executives face today, taken from surveys of company leaders in private equity, 3PLs, wholesale, distribution, retail, and manufacturing. Download the full report below.

Post-Acquisition Logistics Operations Assessment and Plan

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:37:29 +0000

A leading national specialty retailer of apparel for women needed their two different delivery methods from recent acquisitions to be evaluated and optimized.

Fashion Retail Department Store Executes Optimized Distribution Network

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:30:42 +0000

A leading fashion specialty department store in the US needed an additional fulfillment center, as their existing one was not meeting their delivery standards.

DC Design and Turnkey MHE and Systems Implementation

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:14:09 +0000

While high volume was exceeding capacity, an industrial manufacturer needed a DC that would help improve customer service and efficiency while providing room for growth.

Tepid Upswing in M&A Activity Reinforces the Need for Supply Chain Due Diligence

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:49:49 +0000

Supply chain due diligence, especially during this time of uncertainty in business, is essential to a successful merger and acquisition strategy.

What We Can Learn About Retail Strategy from J.C. Penney’s Leadership Saga

Jim Tompkins — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:09:33 +0000

J. C. Penney’s Biggest Challenge: Leadership ‘Got Mud in its Hair’ by Running with Ron Johnson’s Strategy

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:01:17 +0000

Business leaders and retail media are still trying to wrap their heads around what happened at J.C. Penney after its board pushed out CEO Ron Johnson. They had brought Johnson on to take advantage of his experience with creating the highly successful Apple Stores, as well as for his previous work in establishing new brands [...]

Three Men and a Strategy: How Jeff Bezos and Sam Walton Compare to J.C. Penney’s Ex-CEO Ron Johnson

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:42:06 +0000

The six factors to consider when comparing the retail strategies of ousted CEO of J.C. Penney, Ron Johnson, to Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Wal-Mart's founder, Sam Walton.

A Closer Look at Retail Strategy: What J.C. Penney’s Ron Johnson Did Wrong and What He Did Right

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:14:23 +0000

Johnson’s strategy was wrong for J.C. Penney, but it could have worked at a different company. What can business leaders learn about retail strategy from Ron Johnson's departure as CEO? See the tipping points retail business leaders are facing and also see exactly what today's customers want when they shop.

Retail at a Crossroads: Future Hangs in the Balance as Retail Industry Passes Tipping Points

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:19:21 +0000

All signs point to a major crossroads for retail companies. Download this paper to find out more about the seven tipping points that are impacting retail now, as well as the four pillars of success needed to survive long term in this changing environment. Fill out the form below to download the white paper.

Tompkins & One Network Paper Proves Value of Demand-Driven in Consumer Electronics

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:29:45 +0000

Supply Chains Can Maximize Sales Using Real-Time Supply & Demand Matching

Ten Rules for Contract Manufacturing in China

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:01:11 +0000

Is your company producing or buying goods in China, or considering it? Then I’d recommend taking a look at Michael Zakkour’s Ten Rules for Contract Manufacturing in China recently featured in Material Handling & Logistics. Zakkour, a China supply chain expert and principal at Tompkins, shares three overarching “must haves” for manufacturing in China. You [...]

The Amazon Cure: How Businesses Can (and Should) Create Long-Term Value and Leave the Island

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:55:42 +0000

You haven’t read about it in a travel magazine, or seen it in a commercial on TV, but many businesses have been vacationing on a new island. “Uncertainty Island,” that is. This undesirable destination is marked by the inability to innovate and think with a long-term perspective. Excuses about politics, Wall Street, and global recession [...]

CANCELED: Business at a Crossroads, May 8, 2013, Houston, TX

Jim Tompkins — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:11:19 +0000

Register below for the upcoming event on new strategies for executives to succeed beyond the crossroads, hosted by Tompkins International and Cassidy Turley.

Automation in the Grocery and Food Industry Supply Chain: The Final Frontier of the Warehouse

Jim Tompkins — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:09:27 +0000

Automation can be found everywhere, from home computers to space missions. Now technology is set to impact the dinner table. Food DC automation offers better flexibility, better efficiency, and better productivity, but the grocery industry and food companies have been slow to adopt the technology. Experts are saying that ROI for automation is getting better and better, and more companies will be implementing it soon in the grocery supply chain. In this podcast, Tim Pyne, VP of business development for the food and beverage industry at Tompkins International, explores the benefits and cost savings automation can create. Listen and find out why automation applied to the grocery industry is different than in other industries, a profile of how employee training and expectations change in automated facilities, and competitive advantages from automation.

CANCELED: Business at a Crossroads, May 7, 2013, Dallas, TX

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:49:35 +0000

Register below for the upcoming event on new strategies for executives to succeed beyond the crossroads, hosted by Tompkins International and Cassidy Turley.

Distribution & Transportation Network Evaluation

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:55:56 +0000

A specialist in food and beverage products has acquired two new product brands that did not fit within their existing distribution model. They needed a new model to fit the new products, and they needed it fast.

Tompkins Video Reveals Amazon Cure to Today’s Plague of Short-Term Thinking

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:43:35 +0000

Supply Chain Expert Jim Tompkins Outlines Path to Create Long-term Business Value

Supply Chain Operations: The Path to Value Creation for M&A

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:52:35 +0000

Even though the global economy is sluggish and unpredictable, opportunities for M&A activity are shaping up to be attractive in the next 12 to 24 months. However, companies will not see the same high returns and quick exits of earlier times.

The New Rules of Material Handling in the Distribution Center

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:14:01 +0000

Get a look at the changing art of distribution center design, and its effects on material handling equipment design and IT architecture within the warehouse. Download the paper from the Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium.

Has Inventory Really Gone Out of Style?

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:59:12 +0000

There are some fashion trends that I hope never come back in style. I’m sure you could guess a few (I’m looking at you, plaid bell bottoms). Just like fashion trends, the way we do things often shifts and changes. With supply chains, we’ve seen a major shift in inventory to historically low levels. Inventory [...]

Distribution Center Retrofit Design

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:12:46 +0000

One of the largest apparel manufacturers in the United States needed room to grow, as its distribution centers were quickly becoming maxed out.

Distribution Network Evaluation

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:03:26 +0000

A major cooperative wholesale distributor needed to improve its network and evaluate the effects of planned changes in the future.

The Amazon Cure to the Plague of Short-Term Thinking in Business: Bezos Gets it Right

Jim Tompkins — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:42:35 +0000

Are you weary of hearing companies blame an uncertain economy, Wall Street or the government for their short-term business thinking? In this new video, Jim Tompkins – noted supply chain strategy expert and CEO of Tompkins International – injects some new truths into this current plague of short-term thinking.

Leveraging Supply Chains for Increased Long-Term Value

Jim Tompkins — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:34:26 +0000

Supply chains have the potential to create long-term value for companies that act upon it. Tap into new areas of innovation through the value creation framework that is outlined in this white paper, including profitable growth, margin improvement, and capital efficiency.

Transforming Your Pharmaceutical Supply Chain in Five Meaningful Steps

Jim Tompkins — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:06:22 +0000

With today’s complex products and heavy regulatory requirements, revitalizing pharmaceutical and medical device supply chains can be a real pill. Have you seen some of the recent news about pharmaceutical supply chain improvements? One in particular is a new guideline to identify, trace, and serialize pharmaceutical products using unique GS1 identification numbers. The guideline helps [...]

Multichannel Competition Transforms Industrial Distribution Market, Tompkins Reports

Jim Tompkins — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:19:45 +0000

New Paper Discusses Current Industry Trends and Tipping Points

How Reinventing Your Supply Chain Is Like Racing in an Old Impala

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:00:14 +0000

Reinventing your supply chain: It can sound like a huge undertaking. And I’m certainly not going to tell you that it’s a simple process. However, you can’t let the size of a task deter you from something that will greatly benefit your organization. Just start with the strategy and go from there. Once you break [...]

Consumer Products Manufacturers and Retailers Team Up to Meet Consumer Demand

Jim Tompkins — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:05:58 +0000

Consumer products manufacturers are feeling the effects of consumer demand, and so are retailers; the marketplace calls for the two to team up to meet customer expectations.

Weathering the ‘Perfect Storm’: Major E-Commerce Competitors in Industrial Distribution Market Just Ahead

Jim Tompkins — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:31:46 +0000

How do you prepare for a storm? When I know a winter storm is coming, I bulk up on food essentials, put on my warmest clothes and heat up some tea to fight off the chill. Right now, industrial distributors need to know about and prepare for a new storm brewing. Industrial distribution is at [...]

Tompkins Offers Guide to Move Consumer Products Manufacturers Past Crossroads

Jim Tompkins — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:22:07 +0000

Companies urged to reinvent selling strategies, protect brands & engage supply chains

Grocery, Food & Beverage Industries Hear Urgent ‘Click’ With New Service Models for Customer Delivery

Jim Tompkins — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:14:43 +0000

You know that moment when there is an invisible click … and the conversation becomes urgent? This is happening now with distribution networks around the world, including the grocery and food and beverage industries. Advances in technology, along with changes in consumer demands for delivery and convenience, are turning distribution on its head. Amazon is [...]

Linking Sustainability with Financial Outcomes (PDF) from Supply Chain Brain

Jim Tompkins — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:45:42 +0000

Read the entire article in the PDF version of Supply Chain Brain's January issue!

Network Studies: What Are They Really Good For?

Jim Tompkins — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:36:45 +0000

Sometimes topics come at you in coincidental waves. For instance, I’ve had several business leaders from different industries ask me about network studies and redesigns over the past month. I wanted to share the feedback that I provided to these colleagues. Q: From a retail executive: “I know a network study would help us minimize [...]

Consumer Products at a Crossroads: Major Changes Ahead as Consumer Products Manufacturers Reach Tipping Points

Jim Tompkins — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:52:11 +0000

Download the white paper.