Alex and Ani outsources warehousing and fulfillment
Alex and Ani is moving its inventory into third-party warehouses and utilizing a hosted last-mule delivery platform.
The jewelry retailer, best known for its signature expandable charm bangle bracelets, is partnering with cloud-based supply chain services provider Stord. After handling distribution, fulfillment, and manufacturing in-house since its inception in 2004, Alex and Ani, recognizing a need to outsource its warehousing and fulfillment, decided to deploy hosted technology from Stord.
Alex and Ani filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2021, citing inventory management troubles and a big decline in store traffic. Following restructuring, the company closed on a $17.5 million loan provided by Second Avenue Capital Partner in 2022 to support its working capital needs and business operations. The company also entered into a restructuring support agreement with its lenders and equity sponsors that was implemented with the filing.
Now, Alex and Ani is leveraging a comprehensive, scaled solution from Stord which combines physical warehousing and fulfillment with an end-to-end order management (OMS) platform. This software allows Alex and Ani access to real-time data for making more informed supply chain decisions.
As its customer base continues to grow, Alex and Ani is looking to implement fast delivery times and low costs. By moving its inventory into Stord's nationwide network of warehouses, the company intends reduce delivery times and distances while improving customer expectations.
In addition, Alex and Ani is deploying Stord Parcel, a carrier-agnostic last-mile delivery solution, to automatically select the most efficient and cost-effective carrier and service level for each package. Advanced modeling capabilities help ensure expected delivery dates are met.
"Our e-commerce business has rapidly grown, and we wanted a partner with expertise across our supply chain that delivers a high-quality experience for our customers," said Scott Burger, CEO of Alex and Ani. "Trusting Stord with DTC and B2B fulfillment allows our team to focus on scaling our brand, developing products, and further elevating the customer experience."
"Partnering with a company that aligns with your vision and values is crucial in delivering outstanding customer experiences," said Sean Henry, CEO and co-founder of Stord. "We're excited to join forces with Alex and Ani in its next phase of growth, and aim to be a key strategic partner by streamlining supply chain operations, reducing costs, and delivering best-in-class customer experiences."