Improving compliance & reducing costs at Blacks

The challenge

store audit
store profile database
campaign management
store specific collation
international distribution
management reports
order hot-line

Outdoor clothing retailer Blacks Leisure Group operates 400+ stores across four brand fascias: Blacks, Millets, Free Spirit and O'Neil. They wanted their in-store POS to work harder to maximise return on their investment. They asked MPD to help.

Our solution

To understand each outlet's specific POS requirements, we undertook a full survey of all Blacks stores to create a national store profile database, including store frontage, window dimensions, departments and number of floors.

Using this information, we now collate campaign POS materials into store-specific kits and distribute weekly to all outlets, providing detailed delivery statistics by 8pm the same day.

Replenishment stock is stored at our London warehouse for call-off by stores via a dedicated POS order line. We also provide a full installation & store dressing service for all concept stores.

The results

Each store now gets everything it needs just when its needed, and Blacks marketing team now have full visibility of every stores requirement via the store profile database. Print runs have been reduced, minimising waste and saving on printing costs. On-time deliveries of POS are running at almost 99%, well above industry norms, and compliance levels are at an all time high.