So the retailer often deals with import regulations, which makes it crucial to know and understand customs codes and capture product history. Much of what Earthbound Trading sells are unique items from exotic locations, from small towns and villages in China or Brazil, for example. "We really had to create a collaboration tool with an efficient workflow," Fleitas explained. Like many retailers, one of the biggest challenges Earthbound Trading faces is collaboration with vendors, particularly those from other countries.Įarthbound Trading deals with all sorts of partners, big and small vendors as well as with various departments such as accounting and marketing - including the photographers who take inventory pictures for the online store. The company still managed to do very well, but it realized that technology would really make operations efficient. The entire infrastructure was clearly not tech friendly.
Feedback was given by managers over the phone. Despite having 30 stores, no formal analytics were in place. Products were stored in a warehouse, counted visually, and tracked using spreadsheets. "Customers in today’s world request a lot of information, so we need to provide it," said Marcelo Fleitas, VP of Information Technology at Earthbound Trading.īut at that time, they did not have the technology tools to do it.īack in 2001, Fleitas explained, Earthbound had five computers, Internet dial-up service – yes, it was AOL - and merchandise was replenished by faxing orders to headquarters.
Its 136 stores are found within regional shopping malls, tourist markets and outlet centers in the US.
#Earthbound trading co pro
identified that challenge, and knew also that addressing it properly would be tremendously beneficial both in revenue and in customer experience – so the retailer chose Retail Pro POS and retail management software as the solid backbone to their tech strategy.īackground: The Need for Digital TransformationĮarthbound Trading is a lifestyle retailer that sells an eclectic mix of globally sourced products and focuses on minerals, native art, hand-crafted items, essential oils, incense and jewelry. For retailers, gathering that type of specific information for hundreds – sometimes thousands – of products and then communicating it to multiple store locations and to customers is an enormous IT undertaking.Įarthbound Trading Co. More than just wondering about cost, customers are routinely asking questions concerning products' origin, fair trade status, material, etc. Today's shoppers also want quite a bit of information about the products they are interested in buying. When expectations are clearly defined, retailers can expect to be able to deliver a high quality customer experience. Data - and its analysis - needs not only to be accurate, but also to be shared with vendors. In order to meet that goal, retailers must have excellent two-way communication with their suppliers first. End of shift duties includes sweeping and mopping as needed, taking out the trash, general tidying of merchandise, as well as closing the cash drawers, and making the deposit bag if you are a Key Holder.One of the tenets of excellent service is to provide clear communication with customers. Each week there will be a truck delivery and every employee is usually working on unboxing and stocking new or restocking merchandise, making sure to also "stop drop and sell" when guests are in need of attention. In addition, you will be doing other tasks like fitting room sessions, steaming clothes that have been tried on, cleaning shelves or fixtures as needed, and also executing sign changes at the end of the shift. After that, you will be walking the floor, engaging with guests, and using your various sales techniques to help them find the perfect items. A typical day consists of a "chat in" with the Leader On Duty, in which they will go over the goals for that day and your KPI numbers. So definitely be prepared for that and be ready to put an effort into making sales and keeping track of your numbers. Do keep in mind, this is a sales-based job.
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