Retailer Charles Tyrwhitt selects Thought Provoking Consulting for project
Charles Tyrwhitt has selected retail consultancy Thought Provoking Consulting to support with the design and implementation of a new sales and stock-planning software. The firm will help draft a roadmap for the changes, before assisting the clothing retailer with the change management process.
Charles Tyrwhitt is a multi-channel British clothing retailer, specialising in men’s shirts, shoes, suits, knitwear, and accessories. The global purveyor of fashion is also known for world-class customer service and eccentric personalised communications. As the retailer has worked to adjust to a turbulent market in the UK, Charles Tyrwhitt recently installed new software to aid the firm with additional business intelligence to effectively manage its stock as it continues to grow internationally. In order to complete the complex process, the group sought the external expertise of Thought Provoking Consulting (TPC) to help support the implementation.
The software implementation comes at at time when retailers are under pressure. Online competitors have made a significant dent on the business of traditional bricks-and-mortar stores, while consumer spending power has been restricted by stagnant wages and a decline in the value of the pound has made importing materials more costly. Amid this perfect storm, however, Charles Tyrwhitt has managed to differentiate themselves from the rest of the market through the positioning of its unique branding.
Beyond this, however, the firm is aware that the role of tech is key, and better stock planning is something that can make companies more agile and cost effective, while better serving customers through fewer stock shortfalls. The project has started, first focusing on designing business processes and defining the blueprint for implementation. Then, once the roadmap is in place, TPC will assist with the rolling out of the changes. Alongside a potentially tricky technical implementation, much focus will be given to change management, and helping existing staff adjust to the new business plan.
Charles Tyrwhitt identified TPC as an ideal partner because of its collaborative approach, proven success at delivering high-value projects and its experience with planning software. Also, the two have a long standing relationship, as this is the fourth time the companies have teamed over the past year, having already worked on plans for the software and in pricing.
Elaborating on the collaboration with the consulting firm Michael Stanier, Chief Executive of Charles Tyrwhitt, commented, “Attracted by their combination of strategic expertise with the real-world experience of their consultants, we began working with TPC just over a year ago. They have already delivered actionable insights to our business; and now we look forward to the successful implementation of a new stock planning and business intelligence tool, which will give us a platform for the next stage of our growth as a global menswear brand.”
Keith Taylor, one of the co-founders of TPC, said he is delighted with the continuation of the partnership. He added, “Charles Tyrwhitt is rapidly evolving, and having improved infrastructure and processes will support their stock planning considerably. The partnership between us is very collaborative, and they are open to exploring new ideas, making it a pleasure to work with them.”
