Replacements, Ltd: Case Study

Replacements, Ltd. began as a hobby for Bob Page, who enjoyed scavenging flea markets for crystal and china. In 1981, that hobby became a full-time occupation for Mr. Page. Today Replacements, Ltd. is the leader in its field, and employs 400+ employees. Not only is Replacements, Ltd. the largest retailer of its kind in the world, but it is also literally a large facility comprised of two buildings which span the size of eight football fields. Although Mr. Page’s original dream has been realized and grown exponentially, the company is experiencing a downturn in its profits and trying to determine how best to reinvent itself.
Replacements, Ltd. has several areas of functionality. Logistically, they have a receiving department that accepts not only large lots of kitchenware, but also individual pieces or collections from sellers. These materials are inspected for value and authenticity and placed into stock. Inventory is indexed and photographed, before being added to the floor for sale. Some items are located in the showroom, while others are kept …show more content…
Clearly there are large lots of inventory that Replacements, Ltd. is finding difficult to unload. However there are also one of a kind items that are stocked too. Based upon Replacements, Ltd. own general information, their product mix is approximately 70% discontinued and 30% active pieces. Currently Replacements, Ltd. is using an in-house developed computer tracking system called ORION, however it does not have a warehouse management component included. With this in mind, I questioned Mr. Garrett as to the frequency of stock-outs, and he noted that it was not an issue and that the pickers make them aware of low inventories. Although, this may have been a working process in years past, in order for Replacements, Ltd, to continue to continue to grow and offer world class customer service, this is an area that will need to be addressed