2024 Simply Brands Distribution Trends
Whilst every distribution locality and retail industry are unique, there certainly are distribution trends that we see affecting our supply chain all over the world. Being on top of these trends and ensuring that we are supplying our distributors and stockists with products and solutions that are pro-active and driven by consumer demand is key. But what are the trends Simply Brands have identified set to take the retail industry by storm in 2024 and what should the supply chain be on top of to increase sales and stay on-trend?
Distribution Trends for 2024
Sustainability
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword that consumers have jumped onto and retailers have used to entice them. This is a whole way of life that everyone is implementing into their everyday for the good of the planet for the long-haul. We are keen followers of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and will continue to do all we can to help achieve these goals in our area of work. In their latest report, the UN SDGs team reported that now is the time for change and for acceleration if the goals are to be met. This means that every person, and every business needs to accelerate their actions; as well as those in political power who can leverage great change for us all.
This means that our distributions channels, methods and resources must work effectively, efficiently and with the environment in mind. In addition, even more consumers are turning their attentions to electric vehicles. They’re becoming more affordable and more accessible with more and more charging points becoming available. With this in mind, we’ll see an increase in the need for EV chargers and accessories for electric vehicles that are affordable and reliable. Our Simply Auto Premium Charging Cable won the Best EV Charging Cable with Auto Express in 2023. With all the features they desired at a reasonable price, it beat many other manufacturers to gain the top spot.
With this focus on electric and hybrid vehicles come the rapid enhancements in automotive technology. Drivers want convenience, style and efficiency with every drive, so they can connect, chat, listen and more with ease as they safely drive to their destination. The call for integration with mobile devices is nothing new, but this is going to be further enhanced by smart information systems being fully integrated into vehicles are we progress further into 2024 and 2025. We need up to date information, we need everything at our fingertips or at the command of our voice and manufacturers that meet these demands are set to become firm favourites. However, these system configurations can be complex and not always reliable just yet, so connecting existing smart phones to our vehicles for music, traffic information and call handling is vital.
Personalisation
Our world is personalised around us whether we realise it or not. The adverts we see and hear are based on our preferences. The choices we make, the people we interact with and the places we go mean that the world we live in and what we see, hear, touch and smell is different to every other person out there. Our demand for products, services and solutions that are tailored to our exact needs is something that is seeing a huge growth. Differentiation through innovation, and providing products that fit exact demographics isn’t easy, but the more we can offer personalised, unique and exact solutions to the consumer, the more in favour we become as stockists, suppliers and distributors.
Recruitment
It’s nothing new for 2024 that we are finding less and less talent to hire in the wholesale industry. However, this is set to become an even bigger issue, particular with consumer-facing roles. This means we need to become desirable and positive places of work with great experiences for employees, enhancement opportunities and deliver on all sustainability goals to ensure staff retention.
The Multichannel Approach.
Shoppers are consuming information every minute of every day. From their smart phones and tablets to the radio in the car, the TV they watch, the books they read and the people they meet. This means retailers and stockists need to be mastering a multichannel approach to marketing to remain top of mind. Through social media, digital marketing, traditional marketing, scent marketing and carefully curating customer journeys instore, retailers are able to craft experiences that are memorable and boost return rates.
Traceability and Accountability
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of how and where their purchases are made. This means being open, clear and honest about the distribution channels and supply chain to enable the consumer to make conscious purchase decisions. Our Simply Brands supply chain is something we work incredibly hard on, and that has seen little impact despite the global challenges throughout the last decade. Mindful manufacturing and small changes to boost sustainability can make a big different in the eye of the consumer, and every small step (like our Simply Power Eco range) is a big move in the right direction for a more sustainable supply chain and distribution network.
Technological Evolution
As technology advances, the rate of changes and improvements is also accelerating. From cloud computing to automation and from ecommerce to artificial intelligence, we need to ensure that our whole distribution industry is fully engaged in the tech evolution and implementing business practises that reflect and capitalize on the opportunities it opens up.
It can seem like consumer demands are becoming impossible to meet, but with consideration, planning and a solid supply chain network of manufacturers, wholesalers, stockists and retailers, we can create an industry that is thriving and sustainable through 2024 and beyond.
