Eileen Fisher, a U.S.-based women’s wear retailer, is developing an integrated business process plan to support its ‘business as a movement’ sustainability strategy.
The retailer enlisted Columbus Consulting to develop the process from design to distribution. Key elements include introducing a merchandise financial planning function, and creating a companywide universal calendar that supports Vision2020 — the retailer’s plan of reaching its ambitious environmental and social goals by 2020.
Columbus Consulting began work on the 8-week project by interviewing 45 associates across the organization to gain an understanding of current processes. The company then conducted process workshops with 20 members of the Eileen Fisher community to design future processes.
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The process mapping project lasted 13 weeks, including compiling the project in one “virtual-binder” that catalogs and calendarizes all activities of the omnichannel planning organization. The binder is designed to include all peers involved throughout the process,including merchandising and finance departments.
With the merchandise plan in place, Eileen Fisher can now ensure all components of its company, including design process, merchandising, marketing initiatives and sell-in strategies, can support Vision2020.
The retailer also can integrate creative processes with customer-centric data and channel business plans, as well as develop an assortment plan that will be informed with all of its cross-functional partners’ input. Additionally, the retailer is currently working toward providing more visibility throughout its seasonal product development cycle.
