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As holiday peak approaches, retailers face a familiar choice. Shoppers want more options and fast delivery. Extra stock ties up cash, raises markdown risk, and complicates planning. DSW and Marks & Spencer took a third route: expand assortments through partner networks, keep firm control of fulfillment, and build on systems already in place. Rithum provided the operational layer so teams could see what was happening, add suppliers quickly, and protect delivery promises when volumes rose.
DSW grows online presence with high-performing dropship operations
DSW set a clear goal: give online shoppers the same breadth they see in stores, without lowering accuracy or service. Dropship opened the door to a larger catalog. As partners multiplied, holding vendors to DSW’s standards got harder.
The retailer turned to Rithum to upgrade and expand its dropship operations. Teams gained a live view of performance, onboarded brands faster, and corrected issues the day they appeared. The catalog kept growing while delivery promises held up in busy periods.
The impact:
- Nearly 100% fill rate year-round
- 250 brands live on the platform
- 152 supplier connections through rapid onboarding
- Ability to track and act on vendor performance in real time
Marks & Spencer expands digitally without new inventory
Marks & Spencer, one of the UK’s most recognized retailers, aimed to expand digitally without buying more inventory. The team needed one way to connect partners, products, and channels so growth would not add operational strain.
Rithum’s Commerce Suite provided that flexibility. With Commerce Suite M&S connected supplier onboarding, order management, and returns in a single flow that fit its existing systems. Partners went live faster. Teams worked from the same data. Customers saw a wider range of products while service stayed consistent through seasonal swings.
The impact:
- New partners onboarded quickly and efficiently
- Broader assortment without holding more inventory
- Unified operations across systems and channels
What these outcomes share
Both retailers used partnerships as the growth lever and relied on one system to run the work. That pattern let them widen choice without cutting into on-time delivery or order accuracy:
- Supplier onboarding ran as a repeatable process, so new brands moved from yes to live quickly.
- A single view of orders and supplier performance guided daily decisions.
- Live signals drove action to keep fulfillment standards steady, especially during holiday peak.
Why this matters now
Leaders want breadth without freezing cash in extra inventory and want vendors held to clear standards. They want to build on the stack they have. These two examples show a practical path to all three as holiday peak season nears.
Want to learn how Rithum can help your business? Schedule a demo with our team today.
