Firm Foundation
If you’re like many people, you’ve probably been wondering, “Why is Lawson so big in women’s underwear?”
As it happens, women’s underwear is an exceedingly complex business. The style/color/size/cup size matrix is extensive, the supply chain is long, and the distribution channels are very complex. Intimate apparel companies also have to deal with constantly changing technologies of both textile and trim components. Plus, styles change quickly so the whole industry moves at lightning speed.
So far, so good. We support several dozen intimate apparel customers representing dozens of brands. In the broader Fashion industry, we serve approximately 300 customers. Why do we do so well in Fashion – and especially in intimate apparel? In a word: complexity and speed. (OK, two words).
Our applications support a very extensive style/color/size/cup size matrix. You can even add attributes on the fly to keep track of things like special packaging for different customers. We can also help you see more clearly into your supply chain, plan your assortments more rigorously, and replenish your retailers more nimbly.
Add to this, the fact that the industry is changing rapidly. In the good old days, one set of companies created Fashion brands. Another set manufactured the items. Yet another set offered the merchandise through retail channels. Today, it’s all mixed up. Some brand owners are also manufacturing. Other brand owners create designs, source the manufacturing, and then take charge of distribution. Some manufacturers are moving in to retail. And so on.
Again, so far, so good. Amongst our Fashion customers, we have brand owners, manufacturers, and retailers and virtually every combination of the three. We’re especially strong with companies that combine multiple processes, like Design/Source/Distribute. We can support most every process from cotton field to consumer in an integrated package. In general, the more complex your fashion business, the more we can help you.
So what’s next for Lawson Fashion? Helping you work more collaboratively with your supply chain. You know that you can gain major economies by communicating more rapidly, concisely, and clearly with your supply chain partners. We’re here to help. We took a major step this week with our acquisition of the Freeborders PLM division. Freeborders PLM helps you convert your designs into the precise specifications needed to produce them efficiently. You can take your design and clearly communicate your requirements to your manufacturers. That makes you and your manufacturers more efficient. That makes your customers happy.
Watch this space for more announcements about collaborative applications for complex supply chains like those found in Fashion and, especially, in intimate apparel. After all, we’ve built a firm foundation in the foundation business and we’re investing for growth.
>>> Fashion overview brochure
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