Planning Drives Customer-Centric Growth At Visionworks

By Matt Pillar, chief editor

July 2014 Integrated Solutions For Retailers

How the 620-store national eye care services brand leverages planning tools to support an expanding volume and selection of merchandise.

Few retail businesses operate a merchandise hierarchy as complex as that found in eye care. Endless eyeglass and contact lens prescription permutations coupled with the fast-fashion nature of eyewear result in a dynamic and multifarious merchandise management effort. Without equally dynamic planning and allocation tools, multisite eye care retailers such as Visionworks, which boasts 620 stores spread across 40 states and the District of Columbia, can struggle to meet the product selection and in-stock demands of their customers.

The challenge is compounded by steady growth, which Visionworks has been enjoying in recent years. The company’s plans call for 1,000 locations by 2018.