Party City unifies supply chain data management
Party City Holdings Inc. is deploying a new multi-enterprise supply chain platform.
The specialty party supply and novelty retailer is deploying the CBX suite from supply chain management solution provider TradeBeyond in an effort to improve operational efficiency across inventory management, end-to-end merchandising, and vendor compliance.
Previously, Party City had been managing enterprise supply chain operations with Excel- and email-based manual processes. Leveraging the TradeBeyond CBX suite, the retailer has streamlined its vendor onboarding and purchase order management processes, while introducing functionalities like e-signature and work-in-progress (WIP) tracking, which it says have already created significant efficiencies.
“With TradeBeyond, we finally have one system to manage all data,” said Lorne Cytrynbaum, Party City director of sourcing and product operations. "In an era that demands agility and efficiency, TradeBeyond’s comprehensive suite eliminates redundancies and ensures smooth collaboration and communication between all stakeholders. We now have the foundation to continue to significantly optimize all of our supply chain operations."
"Our vision has always been to empower businesses with innovative solutions tailored around their existing workflows,” said Michael Hung, CEO of TradeBeyond. “We’re excited to play such a critical role in Party City’s digital transformation as they harness the full capabilities of our platform. This collaboration underscores our commitment to supporting retailers as they navigate the complexities of the global supply chain.”
Party City went live with the first phase of the implementation in September 2023, and plans to roll out additional capabilities in the months to come.
Party City restructures
Party City recently emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company initially filed for bankruptcy in January 2023 amid lower sales, ongoing supply problems and a liquidity problems. In September 2023, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas approved the company’s restructuring plan, which eliminating nearly $1 billion in debt, enhanced its liquidity and negotiatedimproved lease terms and closed less productive stores.
The company will move forward with nearly 800 locations nationwide, after closing about 60 stores as part of the bankruptcy proceedings. Also as part of the approved plan, Party City’s equity value will be turned over to lenders that helped support its restructuring.
Party City Holdings Inc. operates across more than 70 countries around the world. The company is also the largest vertically integrated designer, manufacturer, distributor and retailer of party goods in North America.
Party City operates across multiple businesses within its retail division and consumer products division. On the retail side, Party City is the leading omnichannel retailer in the celebrations category, operating more than 750 company-owned and franchise stores, as well as Halloween City seasonal pop-up stores.