DSW creates the endless aisle with Rithum's dropship efficiency 

• Proactive supplier management drives delivery targets improvement
• Maintaining high fill rate across the year with Rithum dropship
• 250 brands live on DSW through quick dropship onboarding with Rithum

Background and challenge

Senior Vice President of Distribution and Logistics Jeff Girard says the goal is to offer customers a never-ending selection of footwear, “Our customers are familiar with the broad assortment in our brick-and-mortar locations, we want the online experience to be equally expansive using dropship to create an endless aisle.” 

Once DSW’s dropship solution got underway, Jeff and the team realized that managing the vast inventory associated with dropshipping could pose significant challenges, particularly in managing the quality and accuracy of individual orders and shipments. In 2019, based on growth in their dropship business, DSW realized they needed a more reliable and scalable platform. This prompted DSW to reach out to Rithum to manage their burgeoning dropship operations and facilitate growth. They were drawn to Rithum’s reputation for providing technical solutions and high performance across supplier networks.  

Addressing the challenge

Rithum worked closely with DSW to migrate their dropship operations onto its platform, providing the retailer with the tools needed to add vendors and expand their product offerings. By implementing new capabilities such as vendor monitoring solutions, Rithum enabled DSW to maintain high-quality standards like timely order fulfillment and proactive customer messaging. Through the Rithum platform, DSW gained visibility into their supplier network, allowing them to manage orders effectively and address any issues in real-time. DSW Senior Manager Fulfillment Operations and Dropship Aiesha Pitts says Rithum’s onboarding process has been a differentiator, “We’re always looking to add new SKUs, especially from known and emerging brands. Rithum’s rapid onboarding has made them a strong partner in the growth of our network.”   

Results

Since partnering with Rithum, DSW has seen significant improvements in their dropship operations with minimal disruptions, thanks to Rithum’s support and proactive communication even through the challenges of peak season. DSW can maintain an impressive fill rate of almost 100% throughout the year across their dropship supplier network using the Rithum platform. The DSW team says Rithum’s supplier performance insights and reporting dashboard has been extremely helpful in identifying areas of improvement. For instance, Jeff and team were able to identify where certain suppliers were falling behind in their click-to-porch speed. DSW was able to use Rithum’s visibility tools to set and quickly achieve its delivery standards.  

Furthermore, DSW has been able to onboard suppliers more efficiently, with 152 connections and 250 brands integrated into the platform. The benefit is a quick path to a broader selection of products and an ease in adding new products from existing suppliers. With Rithum’s assistance, DSW has not only overcome past challenges but also positioned itself for continued growth and success in the competitive retail landscape.